Mark 12:38-44 (NRSV)
Read Mark 12:38-44 on biblegateway.com
Verse 38As he taught, he said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, Verse 39and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! Verse 40They devour widows' houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation."
Verse 41He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. Verse 42A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Verse 43Then he 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. Verse 44For 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."
Devotion
Like the scribes, we are way too focused on the apparel of the faith. The health of the body and care of the heart can often be overlooked in favor of style and flash.
Billy Collins, an American poet laureate, has a wonderful poem entitled Questions About Angels.
"of all the questions you might want to ask about angels,
the only one you ever hear is how many can dance on the head of a pin."
He then explores interesting questions about angels and paints delightful images of angels moving in and out of our lives in ordinary daily ways. Collins concludes with these words,
"...perhaps the answer is simply one;
one female angel dancing alone in her stocking feet,
a small jazz combo working in the background.
She sways like a birch in the wind, her beautiful eyes closed,
and the tall, thin bassist leans over to glance at his watch
because she has been dancing forever, and now it is very late, even for musicians."
And a poor widow in stocking feet danced up to the treasury and dropped in two small coins. In a spirit of abundance, she danced off knowing that the bassist will keep playing well into eternity.
Prayer
Oh God, give tempo to our dancing, a beat to our serving, and delight to our wondering. For Jesus sake. Amen.
Excerpt from poem "Questions About Angels" from the book QUESTIONS ABOUT ANGELS, by Billy Collins, © 1991. All rights are controlled by the University of Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh, PA 15261. Used by permission of the University of Pittsburgh Press.