Award-winning sermon teaches love, generosity

This was presented by Kathye Austin, a layperson, and the Rev. Janna Sandidge playing the role of the widow with two copper coins. The pastor wore a simple costume, then changed back into her usual clothing for the last part of the sermon presentation.

Kathye comes forward and announces that it is time for the children to come to the front for their Bible lesson.

Kathye:
Today, boys and girls, we are going to hear a story from Mark’s gospel (Mark 12:38-44):
As (Jesus) taught, he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like 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! They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”
He sat down opposite the treasury and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums.

Janna, assuming role of widow, enters and acts out the next scene.

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.”
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Boys and girls, Jesus uses the example of this woman, someone who has very little, to help us understand that all of us, no matter how little we might have, can give to God. When we give something that means a lot to us, it pleases God.
We give to ministry that helps others, and we are able to show other people in the world how much God loves them, with our own loving actions. Jesus told this story about this woman who lived a long time ago.

In the role of the widow, Janna speaks to the children and congregation.

Janna:
You know, it is true that I am a woman who lived in biblical times and who had very limited means and a very lowly social station in that society. But one of the wonderful things about the Bible is that we can learn so much from the things that happened a long time ago.
In Jesus’ time, widows—married women whose husbands had died—had very few resources to take care of themselves. If they had grown children or other relatives, the relatives would often take care of them—give them a place to live and enough to take care of their basic needs. But widows were usually poor and had very little to spare.
I am not much different from other widows. My husband died, and we had no children. Because my husband had a certain status in the temple, some of the leaders agreed to provide a very modest amount to help me—enough so that I would not starve. Others in the community gave me a place to stay, and because of the kindness of many other folks, I have my basic needs taken care of.
I am a character in one of Jesus’ stories in the Bible. In scripture, “widow” is a word for the most vulnerable, those on the bottom of society. Folks tend not to notice such people. But Jesus notices.
I give less, monetarily speaking, than the rich givers at the temple. Yet, because I gave everything, all that I had, Jesus made me an example of stewardship.
I want all of you to understand that I did not give to the treasury to make myself look good or faithful. I did not give out of guilt, although a lot of people do that.
When my husband died, many kind and wonderful people helped me. I learned much about God’s grace through their actions, and through their generosity.
God blessed me, and even though I have very little, I am so grateful to God, that it makes me feel good—in my heart—to share whatever I can.
Since others have shared with me, I feel that I am passing God’s blessing along, so that others might be helped also.
I gave everything that I had, and I did it willingly and joyfully. When asked by his critics, “What is the greatest commandment?” Jesus had replied, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. “
I did something very basic. I loved God with all that I have.
I am an example that Jesus uses to make a point, and one of the wonderful things about the Bible is that it is a living document—that is, Bible stories don’t just exist on the pages of the book. I come alive.
And I don’t just exist way back in what we like to think of as “olden times.” I have lived on in faithful people through the ages—not just widows, but others who have given sacrificially, and who have loved God so much that they gave everything they could to help others.
You might have noticed that in this story, you don’t hear my name. I am simply called “a widow.” Historically, some of the most generous and faithful stewards and disciples have remained anonymously in the background.
Even in this church, there are lots of people who have done—and who continue to do—much for the Lord with no thought of their own reward or recognition. Working quietly behind the scenes, taking care of whatever needs to be taken care of. Quietly faithful—giving sacrificially of themselves.
When you read this story about me in Mark’s gospel, Jesus doesn’t just want you to think of me, some widow from “olden times,” but of me, the hard working, generous and faithful member of your own community or church family.
Who am I today? Look around you. I am here someplace, perhaps in several of these pews. Or perhaps I am even at home this morning, not feeling well enough to get out and about. But I faithfully send my gift to the church when I cannot be there.
I gave two copper coins, but what each of us can give—and give joyfully—is determined by our own circumstances. What each of us chooses to give is to be determined between us and God.

Kathye:
Boys and girls, this woman Jesus talked about put two copper coins—two pennies—into the offering. It might not sound like so much to us, but because it was all she had, it meant a great deal to God.
I am going to give each of you two pennies to help you remember that it’s not how much you give to God, but what’s important is that you remember that everything we have comes from God, and when we give back to God, we are giving to ministry that helps others.
And that pleases God. God loves all of us.
Janna:
In my experience, some of the most generous and faithful givers to the church are those who give without much fanfare or recognition. They just quietly give, as they know they should, regardless of public praise.
Though the world may not see acts of generosity, Jesus does. I know a great many people who have quietly, unobtrusively given a great deal to others. Most of their giving was rather anonymous, quiet. The world never noticed their generosity. Jesus does.
One of the problems with percentages is that they can fool us into thinking that, if we just meet a certain level, a certain percentage, we have thereby fulfilled all righteousness. I’ve given my 10 percent, and I’m done with giving.
So the question ought not to be, “How much should I give to God from what I have?” but rather, “How much, of all that God has given me, should I keep for myself?”
There is a good reason we did not notice this poor woman and her giving patterns. There is a good reason Jesus needed to notice her and point her out to us. She is a threat to us. She probably doesn’t mean to be a threat, but she is.
In noticing her, we notice our own system of values, and how out of balance it has become, the way that we speak of what’s “mine.” She gives all to the God who has given all. When it came time for Jesus to demonstrate how much he loved us, note that he did not say, “I am willing to love the world, but only up to a point.”
No. He stretched out his arms and died. He gave all. And all he wants from us is all. That’s a big number.
Few of us are there yet. We still hold back, guardedly preserve a bit of ourselves for ourselves. One day a week, one hour a week, 5 percent off the top. Our discipleship is miserly.
All he wants is all.
Therefore he has us notice this woman whom we would have overlooked had it not been for her extravagant giving.
Thanks be to God.

Let us pray:
Most merciful God, from you comes every good gift.
Your goodness created us, your bounty has daily sustained us, your Son has forgiven and saved us.
To you we owe all that we are and all that we have.
Enable us to show our gratitude through our cheerful, exuberant service to you and to others.
Inspire in us that honest vision that sees our possessions not as our achievements, but as your gifts.
Give us the grace to give to others in the same fashion as we have been blessed by you—generously and graciously, happily and thankfully.
Amen.