Two Copper Coins

November 10, 2024 homily on Mark 12:38-44 by Pastor Galen

“A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then [Jesus] called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.” – Mark 12:42-44

If I Had a Million Dollars

What would you do if you suddenly inherited a million dollars? Some might say that in today’s economy, a million dollars isn’t what it used to be. So what if you suddenly inherited ten million dollars?

If you’re like me, you would most likely want to buy something nice for yourself—maybe a new house or car. Perhaps you would give some of it away to friends or family, or invest in your children or grandchildren’s education. Maybe you’d put some away into savings or retirement, or start a trust fund for your grandchildren. Hopefully you’d give some of it to our church! We could do a lot of good with even just a fraction of that money.

The Widow Who Gave All She Had

But few (if any) of us would give it all away. And yet that’s exactly what the widow in today’s Gospel lesson did. She gave away everything she had. No, she didn’t have ten million dollars or even a million dollars. All she had were two small copper coins. And yet she gave them both away. And Jesus said that she contributed more than the wealthy people who gave large sums of money. For while they contributed just a small portion of their excess wealth, she gave everything she had.

In some ways, this doesn’t feel prudent. How will she be able to live, now that’s given away everything she had? How will she buy food for herself or her loved ones? How will she survive?

The answer is that we have no idea. We’re not told whether God provided miraculously for her, like how God provided oil that never ran out for the widow of Zarephath in our story from 1 Kings. We really don’t know anything about this woman’s life, or what happened to her after she gave her last two pennies. All we know is that she gave all that she had. And in giving all she had, she stands in stark contrast to the religious teachers of her day—the scribes, who Jesus said liked “to walk around in long robes and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets!” (Mark 12:38-39). Jesus said that “They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers” (Mark 12:40).

A System of Provision

Now, the Hebrew Bible, which Christians often refer to as the Old Testament, had laid out a system in which the widows and orphans and resident aliens and anyone else who couldn’t support themselves financially would be taken care of. This system included the tithe, in which everyone in the society was instructed to give 10% of their earnings to the temple (Leviticus 27:30). And the people weren’t just instructed to give ten percent of their money, but also ten percent of their crops—the fruits and vegetables and grain that they harvested, and the firstborn of their flocks (Deuteronomy 14:22-27). 

These were to be brought to the temple where they would offer them to the Lord, and then their whole household would feast together there in God’s presence, sharing the produce they had brought with the priests and Levites who worked in the temple, since they did not own land and thus could not grow crops of their own. Some of what they brought was also distributed to those who were in need, or stored away for those who might have a future need. Deuteronomy 14 specifically names the “resident aliens, the orphans, and the widows” who were invited to “come and eat their fill” (Deuteronomy 14:29). 

In some ways, it was like they had a big ol’ barbecue or potluck when they came together in worship, and anyone who was in need was invited! And this was just one of several systems that had been set up to care for those who were in need in the Hebrew Bible.

A Broken System

But according to Jesus’s statements here in Mark 12, it seems that somehow this system was not working the way it was intended. And it wasn’t the system’s fault, but rather the religious leaders and teachers were not overseeing the distribution of money and food to the poor, but were instead finding legal loopholes that allowed them to “devour widows’ houses” (Mark 12:40). Jesus told his disciples to watch out for these hypocritical religious teachers of the law.

If Jesus were here today, he might tell us to watch out for certain televangelists of our day who deliver empty promises that God will bless their listeners 100-fold if they will but “sow seeds” into their ministry, and then proceed to use their listener’s donations to build bigger mansions or buy fancier wristwatches and cars for themselves. Jesus might tell us to watch out for politicians who are looking out only for themselves and their cronies, rather than serving the full range of their constituents. He might also warn us to be cautious of megacorporations that attract consumers with low prices on low-quality products, intent on maximizing profits for their shareholders, all while exploiting the workers who produce and sell those goods. I believe that if Jesus were here today he would tell us today to watch out for these hypocrites, just as he warned against the scribes of his day.

But then Jesus pointed out this poor widow who gave all she had to the very temple system that should have been providing for her, that should have been looking out for her needs. Like everyone else, she was called to give generously in faith and trust, but here she was giving all that she had to a system that had largely failed her, with no guarantee that her own needs would be met. And yet she gave her generously, sacrificially. She gave all that she had, like the widow of Zarapheth, in complete faith and utter trust and dependence on God.

As we look at this story, I think it is appropriate to have two very different reactions. One is that we probably feel sad and even angry at the system that had so obviously failed her. The system had been designed so that there would be no one left destitute, and yet here she was, with nothing but two copper coins. We can and should look out for systems in our world today that similarly have let people down, and work for a world in which no one goes hungry and everyone’s basic needs are met.

Radical Generosity

At the same time, we can admire this widow’s radical faith and generosity, and be inspired to give generously and sacrificially for the good of others and of God’s kingdom. So often we hold back more than we should. So often we are selfish with our time, or talents, or resources. We needlessly hold on to them, even when we feel that God may be calling us to let go or to use them for the good of others.

This doesn’t mean that we should give our money away to very organization that is out there. Indeed there are a lot of businesses and organizations that are quite corrupt, and we should exercise wisdom about how we spend and give our resources. But we have to remember that ultimately our trust and dependence is in God, not in people nor institutions, and we are called to give to God in faith and trust, believing that God can take the little that we have to offer and use it for good.

As I think about this widow this morning who gave generously and sacrificially, even to a system that had largely failed people like her, I’m reminded of the sacrifice that Jesus made for us, in giving his own life on the cross. Jesus gave his all, even though many of the people he came to save turned their back on him and rejected him. Jesus gave his all, generously and sacrificially, no strings attached, with no guarantee that the people he gave his life for would accept his free gift of salvation. And yet Jesus gave his all.

And so this morning, may the widows in 1 Kings and Mark and the example of Jesus Christ himself inspire us to radical generosity, to give all that we have and all that we are for the work of God’s Kingdom. May we pray and work for a more just and equitable world, where everyone’s basic needs are met. And may we ask God to multiply our generosity for God’s work and for God’s purposes.

Amen!

Questions for Personal Reflection in Response to Today’s Sermon:

1. How often do I give out of my abundance, and how often do I give sacrificially, trusting in God to provide?
2. Are there areas in my life where I feel called to be more generous with my time, resources, or skills, even if it feels uncomfortable?
3. The widow gave to a system that had failed her. Are there systems or institutions I support that may be failing those in need? How can I work toward justice in those areas?
4. In what ways am I holding onto my resources out of fear or self-preservation, rather than trusting in God’s provision?
5. What steps can I take this week to live with greater faith and generosity for the good of others and God’s kingdom?