September 18th - Reflection

Mark 12:41-44 (NRSV)
A widow's offering

He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then 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. 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."

Reflection
Out of her poverty, she put in all she had to live on. We are all in poverty in this respect. We all deserve death and eternal damnation. We all fall short of the mark. There is absolutely no way we could ever make up for our sin and enter heaven based on our own actions. And I think in God's love God saw this. God loves us so much that God provided a way for us. But, I also believe that in most cases, it comes to the realization of our own poverty.

We can live life oblivious to eternal life. We could, if we chose to, believe that this is it, we live and we die and that's that. We could if we chose to believe that sin is just some fabricated way of controlling people and keeping order. We could if we wanted to ignore the Bible, Jesus, and all of the ways of God. But what would life be? I can hear now the responses. All how great life would be. But then...at the end...then what?

Life is tough at times. Sometimes life is tough most of the times. But through the love of God and the gift of Jesus and the presence of the Holy Spirit, we can, if we choose and sometimes when we don't choose, fall into a wonderful relationship of love with our Creator and our neighbors.

We can give out of our poverty this life of ours and choose to let God take it. We can live in relationship with our Creator, Savior, Redeemer and neighbors in this same love God chose to freely give  to us. We can live, not under the threat of eternal death and damnation, but live under and in the Love of God.

Listen to the Word and contribute your life out of your poverty...all of your life to God, and this will be much more than you could ever imagine or expect. You have received a wonderful gift and opportunity through the love of Christ, respond with joy. Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, thank you for your contribution of all your life. Thank you! --- Amen