In the course of his teaching Jesus said,
"Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes
and accept greetings in the marketplaces,
seats of honor in synagogues,
and places of honor at banquets.
They devour the houses of widows
Jesus warned his listeners to beware seeking honor for honor's sake, especially in matters of religion. His examples the type of behavior to avoid were scribes who were motivated by the pride they enjoyed from the esteem of others, by their desire to be noticed, respected, and celebrated. This led to a sense of entitlement in which they came to believe their own hype. This in turn led them to take advantage of others who were weak and dependent, as a matter of course.
as a pretext, [they] recite lengthy prayers.
We know we've veered into troubled territory when our prayers become a pretext. This means that we have forgotten the fear of the Lord that causes us to depend on him and cling to him. Instead our prayers become perfunctory, designed to give a religious veneer to what is in fact entirely self-directed and self-oriented lifestyle. That we could be sincere in prayer on the one hand and ignore those needy ones beloved by God on the other is meant to be impossible. Genuine prayer would open our hearts to God's concern for the widow and the orphan. It would remind us that any honors we receive in this world do not really accrue to us but rather to God who has given us any gift that others might notice and celebrate.
A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents.
In contrast to the scribes who succumbed to an imagined sense of self-sufficiency and entitlement Jesus presented a widow whose complete dependence of God was evident. The scribes would not have even noticed a woman like this, trampling over those like her in their own desire for profit. Had they seen her small gift to the treasury they would not have been impressed. They would likely have criticized the apparent functional uselessness of such a gift. Why, a voice like this might ask, give something when it will accomplish nothing for the temple and only leave the giver bankrupt? The value of such a gift is indeed hidden in the eyes of the world which measures only that which is useful and successful as good. But Jesus measured with different metrics than those of the world.
Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more
than all the other contributors to the treasury.
We prefer to remain in control, to give only from our surplus, only what we can easily do without. But the widow was an icon of the true Christian life, surrendered for others out of love, just as Jesus himself did on the cross. The logic of such self-gift is only evident in the giving when we realize the freedom that comes from basing our lives in total dependence on God himself. No one thought the cross was a good idea in advance when Jesus warned them about it. But it was the ultimate source of resurrection and of life.
The point is not for us to intentionally ruin ourselves financially. It is rather for us not be fooled by worldly honors but instead to remember our own poverty such that any gifts we might give are only tokens of the love we ourselves have received. When we learn that all that we have and all that we are comes from God we will no longer feel the need to hold anything back from him. We will then be able to give when we are asked to give and what we do retain we will keep in for his service. Because ultimately our gift is not merely supposed to be about money, but our very selves. This is good news because it means we don't have to be rich our successful to be pleasing to God. He looks, not at our skill, but at our love.
give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you (see Luke 6:38).
It is true that when we give of ourselves God is able to unleash more of his power in our lives, as he did with Raphael in the case of Tobit, Tobiah, and Sarah. He can do this because in doing so he won't sabotage us with human honor, but any glory will instead redound to his praise.
Raphael called the two men aside privately and said to them:
"Thank God! Give him the praise and the glory.
Before all the living,
acknowledge the many good things he has done for you,
by blessing and extolling his name in song.
Honor and proclaim God's deeds,
and do not be slack in praising him.
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