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160 He speaks of the widow’s sacrificial giving Mark 12:41-44 Then Jesus sat down opposite the Temple almsbox and watched the people putting their money into it. A great many rich people put in large sums. Then a poor widow came up and dropped in two little coins, worth together about a halfpenny. Jesus called his disciples to his side and said to them, “Believe me, this poor widow has put in more than all the others. For they have all put in what they can easily afford, but she in her poverty who needs so much, has given away everything, her whole living!” In the moment… With a deep sigh, she lifts her hand to the slot in the box and, one by one, listens to the fall and chink of the pair of coppers. She lifts her eyes to Heaven and entreats. Then she turns again and walks toward the gate through which she’d entered and begins her long, trudging journey back to her barren room. She can already imagine her arrival there: of opening up the thin, broken door upon its creaking, loosening hinge, and shuffling to her bed to sit down; of nibbling at the remaining crust of bed and then lying down—in the gathering darkness—to consider her life; of nodding off to sleep amidst the bustling sounds of the city and then rising tomorrow to another such day of poverty.
All this she can clearly see as she walks off. But then she also sees another sight... She sees the look in the eyes of a man—sitting on a bench o’erlooking the treasury box—who is intently regarding her. His head is set to one side; the hint of a grin is curling up the edge of his lip. His eyes are lovely. They are love. She nods her head at him, as if to say a quiet hello, as she passes. His hint of a grin becomes a full, beautiful smile. Suddenly her whole inward prospect changes. For she knows this man, suddenly. She is certain she has seen the one who will provide for the morrow. This poor widow just knows it.
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Two hours ago,—after a day He’d spent in healing, teaching, and speaking parables—you’d gotten into the boat, by moonlight, to sail to the other side of the Sea. Jesus, exhausted, fell asleep in the stern. Can you see Him there?
Thirty minutes ago,—after an initial stretch of smooth sailing—an enormous storm came rushing down the heights and made the sea of Galilee into a boiling cauldron. The wind howled; the waves began swamping the boat. Can you see Him, just behind you, still asleep? Less than a minute ago,—after you’d stumbled back to wake Him, screamed your fears right in His face—He stood up, lifted His hands, whispered quietly… and everything stilled to the most profound silence. In fact, the only sounds you can hear now are your own breath and the drip-drip-drip of droplets from the sailcloth, onto the water. Can you see Him, standing in the stern, glancing over at you—smiling good-humoredly? Just as surely as He was trustworthy on that night--and totally present—He is trustworthy with everything this Monday, and this week, might hold. (And, just to remind you, just as present as always!) For the last few months, I've been positively stuck on the words of Colossians 1, and I want you to join me in that "stuck" spot. Consider the overwhelming progression of theological concepts (and Heavenly realities!) offered to us by Paul, here:
"Now Christ is the visible expression of the invisible God. He existed before creation began, for it was through him that everything was made, whether spiritual or material, seen or unseen. Through him, and for him, also, were created power and dominion, ownership and authority. In fact, every single thing was created through, and for him. He is both the first principle and the upholding principle of the whole scheme of creation. And now he is the head of the body which is the Church. Life from nothing began through him, and life from the dead began through him, and he is, therefore, justly called the Lord of all. It was in him that the full nature of God chose to live, and through him God planned to reconcile in his own person, as it were, everything on earth and everything in Heaven by virtue of the sacrifice of the cross... "For I am a minister of the Church by divine commission [as are we too!], a commission granted to me for your benefit and for a special purpose: that I might fully declare God’s word—that sacred mystery which up to now has been hidden in every age and every generation, but which is now as clear as daylight to those who love God. They are those to whom God has planned to give a vision of the full wonder and splendour of his secret plan for the sons of men. And the secret is simply this: Christ in you! Yes, Christ in you bringing with him the hope of all glorious things to come." (Col. 1:15-20, 25-27) “Give us, O Lord, a steadfast heart, which no unworthy affection may drag downwards; give us an unconquered heart, which no tribulation can wear out; give us an upright heart, which no unworthy purpose may tempt aside. Bestow upon us also, O Lord our God, understanding to know you, diligence to seek you, wisdom to find you, and a faithfulness that may finally embrace you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” Thomas Aquinas
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Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S.A.
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