from the tree of good & evil

bring you fruit of the knowledge of your heart

The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark the 12th Chapter!

Well; like it or not, it’s stewardship season…

And let me guess, you’re in the “or not” camp; aren’t you?

I know, I know.
You already have so many other demands placed on you. There are so many good causes already asking for a part of your time, a part of your funds. Everyone wants a piece of you…

I know. It feels like there isn’t any more you can give; and perhaps you’d rather not think about it in the church.

Everyone wants a piece of you. 

We are an over-burdened people, spread so thin, probably too thin. What with work, raising children, volunteering and everything else, we’re lucky if we can even find the time to get eight solid hours of sleep. 

Such are the demands placed upon us. Everyone wants a piece of us…

And now, even the church is getting in on the action. The one place you thought you could come and get a little relief, is getting in on the game, too…

Even here, yet another request is being made upon your limited resources.

Even here, you’re confronted with the needs of yet another good cause. Everyone wants a piece of you.

Let’s be honest; despite all it’s flaws - and there are flaws - the church is a good cause. The church is the one place God has promised to show up as the gracious savior we can trust. The church is where we come come, overburdened as we are, and seek respite. 

Those of us who have received this good news, frankly, have a duty to support this place. We who have heard the Good News proclaimed here, we who have had our children claimed by God here, we who have been welcomed to God’s holy table here; we must support this place. 

So, take a moment. Figure out what you can spare, figure out what you have left to support the church…

While there was a time when the church would dare to ask for a tenth of your income; at this point, we’ll take whatever we can get. Whatever you have left. We know how busy and strapped you are, we know how everyone wants a piece of your time and money.

We’ll take whatever you can spare; whatever you have left…

In today’s Gospel, one women actually does, one woman literally gave what she has left; everything, the last of her meager funds…

We give what we think we can spare. The widow in today’s Gospel keeps us all honest - she shows what we . Don’t fool yourself, either; this women isn’t some made up character, there are faithful examples like this all around us — some worshipping with us right now.

This widow, she gave what she had left; everything.

Just as today, her honesty is a threat. Just as today, everyone tries to ignore her. We prefer to think that we can only part with, what we can spare; we’d rather ignore this widow and her witness.

No one notices this widow’s measly coins. 

And anyway, what is her change compared to the other generous contributions from the big donors in the room?

No, this widow’s contribution doesn’t register amongst those present. 

There are bigger fish to fry. The significant donors need to be courted, we can’t risk ignoring them and losing their benevolence. The big donors need to be identified and acknowledged; they need to be invited to a special “thank you” banquet, they need to be given a place of honor —perhaps a custom row, with access to a special bathroom and instead of those uncomfortable pews have have gold recliners way at the back of the sanctuary…

• Sounds good, right?

The room is full of significant donors, and there just isn’t any time for this poor widow and her pathetic penny.

She’s ignored…

Jesus, though; he can’t ignore her.

All the donors are going up and throwing their money in the treasury. If you think modern fundraising is gaudy, get this: apparently the receptacles were metal so sound of the offering falling in could be heard by all. The platinum level donors make their donations, the widow comes and puts in two tiny coins, barely making a clink. Then the next donor comes and really makes the treasury sing. 

The scene continues; no one notices the widow’s meager contribution. No one, except Jesus. 

In a room full of extravagant gifts, Jesus notices two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. In a room full of wealthy donors, Jesus notices a destitute widow.…

Jesus can’t ignore this woman because she knows something no one else knows. Why, she knows something you don’t know…

The widow knows that God isn’t satisfied with our petty 10 percent, when we’re feeling generous. The widow knows God doesn’t need our time or talents, for that matter. Why, the widow knows that God won’t be sated by our morals or our piety. The widow even knows that God doesn’t want our respect or admiration, either. The widow, she knows what God really wants…

• God wants your soul. 

God wants what the widow gave: everything, all you have to live on.

In a world that just wants a piece of you, God wants it all; God wants all of you.

It’s stewardship season, but let me give you a clue; this widow is not an example to be copied. And I don’t mean that she’s being too reckless, and you all need to be responsible with your giving.

No. Frankly, as far as the Gospel is concerned, the widow’s giving is the norm. When the rich man asks Jesus what to do to inherit eternal life, Jesus tells him to sell everything and give the money away. When the poor widow gives away everything, Jesus stops the show to point her out.

It’s not that the widow is too reckless. Honestly, the Gospel assumes that kind of risk from us.

No, the reason the widow is not an example to be copied, is because she is more than that. The widow is a picture of what happens when God gets all of you.

Everyone else, they’re only interested in a piece of you; and let’s be honest, only the good parts. The advertisers, they’ll take whatever extra you have in your disposable income. The bill-collectors, they’ll take from you whatever is their due. The charitable organizations, they’ll take your presence at a meeting once a month or an annual gift. 

Why, the church for that matter; the council will be happy with whatever modern folks will be willing to part with; and from that, they’ll try mightily to draft a budget. Me, even. Why, I’d be happy with whatever I can get.

But not God, not Jesus. 

God wants all of you.

Jesus wants your soul. Jesus wants all of you. Jesus wants to be everything you live on. Jesus isn’t satisfied with a mere piece of you, Jesus wants all of you. 

And that’s the good news, isn’t it? We all have parts of our lives we try to hide, we make excuses for, we wish would just go away. We think there are parts of your lives we have to get in order, parts we have to hold back; but Jesus shows up, and says he wants it all.

Jesus wants all of you. 

And frankly, when you finally come to grips with that, the church won’t need to plead for a little of your earnings. Why the church won’t even have to convince you of the truth that you’re earnings haven’t been earned; that everything is a gift from God.

When you finally come to find the truth of the matter, that God wants all of you, you’ll be just like that widow. Yeah.

When you finally come to grips with the fact that God wants all of you, you’ll know for yourself that there isn’t anything you need to hold back from God.

That’s what’s so hard about giving, isn’t it?

We all think we need to hold back. We worry that at the end of the day, we’re alone. We think we’re all we have, so we have to hold back, we need to store up for ourselves.

We need to be ready to save ourselves if needed; as if we actually could…

Or, we think there are parts of our lives no one would want, so we try to hold those parts back; as if we actually could…

The advertisers, the charitable organizations, the church even — they only want is a part of you — the good part; but not God.

God wants all of you. 

There is no part you have to hide from God —not that you ever could anyway. God wants all of you. There is nothing you have to fix before you can come to God —not that you ever could anyway. God wants all of you. 

You don’t have to hold back, you can be like that widow; all in. God wants all of you. 

God wants all of you. And because God is God; God is going to get it, one way or another. In fact, God already has; at your baptism. 

I could go on, I could hand you a pledge card and ask you to take a little time for you to figure out what you can spare, but it’s already too late for that —God has all of you, you have nothing left.

Well, there is one here who could hold back, Sawyer. But let’s not test God’s patience more than we already have. We have a hymn to sing. On the last verse, let’s have Brandon and Samantha bring their girls and Sawyer up; sponsors, come up with them. We will gather around the font.