The Widow's Mite

John and I have enjoyed Father Mark's homilies over the years as they are humorous and show much wisdom. They are insightful, relevant, challenging and yet practical. We leave Mass feeling inspired and uplifted.

Brother Jack has been teaching our Scripture studies and has many of the same talents, but an altogether different method of opening up the Scriptures. He is a Capuchin Fransican Friar who travels from Boston to be with us. We all look forward to his classes as he forces us to dig deeper to gain more understanding.

During class we read and look at the Bible in three different ways. First is a exegesis reading. "What jumps out at you? What did you notice?" What does the Scripture text actually say?" Here we are not looking at any interpretation, just things to notice and ponder. We will come back and discuss them later.

Next comes the hermeneutic reading. Hermeneutics is the art and science of interpreting the Scriptures and examining their true meaning. Now we ask those questions and look at explanations.

Finally, Brother Jack gives us the historical and cultural background that impacts the meaning and helps to give a fuller intrepretation.

Lots of big vocabulary words, but here are some of the insights he gave us today as we discussed yesterday's Gospel, Mark 12:38 - 44 (the Denunciation of the Scribes and the Widow's Mite).

Mark's Gospel was written to an audience of the poor. The Scribes are the VIPs in the village. They are one of the few literate people, study the Law, and write down the insights of the rabbis. Because of their education, they would know Jewish Law better than anyone. They would know what is expected of the communnity to take care of the poor.

The Scribes are only supposed to wear their long robes (special symbolic clothing) in the Temple and when they visit the poor. However, they are wearing this clothing all the time out in public to show off their importance. Yet they aren't visiting or taking any action to help the poor. Their actions don't match what they know they should do. Much is expected of them, but they aren't doing what is expected. Mark is telling the poor to beware of the Scribes. They aren't being good role models since they aren't concerned about and helping the less fortunate.

The widow symbolizes the poor and the voiceless in society. During ancient times women were considered property. According to Levite Law if a woman's husband died, she was her son's property if he was of age. However, if her son was young or she had no son, she became the property of her husband's oldest brother. If he died, she was handed over to the next brother, etc. She had no rights, could not own land or property, had nothing, and couldn't support herself.

In verse 40 it says "They devour the houses of widows . . ." The widow is made even poorer by the Scribes. She is expected to tithe as she enters the Temple. A part of this tithe goes to help support the Scribes. Even though they know they should, the Scribes are doing nothing to help her. In fact, they are making themselves richer while trying to make it appear that they are helping others. She forgot herself and her needs in order to help others. Even though her contribution was practically nothing, it was all she had. The rich were getting richer while she was getting poorer. She was helping others. She gave her all, everything that she had while the Scribes gave their "extra" money. It didn't hurt them at all to give the money they tithed.

This passage affirms the place of the poor. God loves them and appreciates them even more because they give what little they have to help one another. Jesus is the supreme example of giving everything for those he loved.