25th Sunday after Pentecost
1 Kings 17:8-16; Psalm 146; Hebrews 9:24-28; Mark 12:38-44
Whatever the scribes were doing with the properties of widows was criminal. They likely ran the temple beurocracy for the High Priest and would handle the legalities associated with Jewish religious costumes, such as inheritance and property transfer upon an individual’s death. While the Torah does not provide specific laws or even guidelines for the rights of widows, two things are clear in the Old Testament. Based on the tales of Ruth and Naomi, life could become extremely precarious for women who suddenly lost their husbands. Therefore, the law (Exod 22:22; Deut. 10:18, 24:19, 24:21, 27:19) and the prophets (Ezek. 22:7; Zech. 7:10; Mal 3:5) mandated justice and care for them – also the orphan and the alien – and severely admonish against taking advantage or oppressing them. It is, however, precisely what the scribes are doing. They are prospering on the backs of the people they should care for.
This widow, on the other hand, is not your typical vulnerable and weak lady. Quite the opposite, her trust in God alone is prophetic. She is defiant and courageous enough to catch Jesus’ attention in a very honorable way.
Perhaps she knows of Elijah’s obedience and trust in God during times of famine and profound distress. The widow in Zarephath is ready to die of starvation alongside her orphaned son (1 King 17:12). Both are aliens or gentiles, yet Elijah is sent to them as a divine agent of hope, mercy, and love.
The author of Hebrews once more reminds us of Jesus’s character as our High Priest, who was in diametrical opposition to the temple’s arrogance and neglect of his time. As our ultimate intercessor, his sacrifice at the cross was sufficient and eternal (Hebrews 9:36b).
The Psalmist proclaims:
“Put not your trust in rulers,
in mortals in whom there is no help.
Happy are they who have the God of Jacob for their help,
whose hope is in the Lord their God;
The Lord cares for the stranger;
the Lord sustains the orphan and widow but frustrates the way of the wicked (Psalm 146:3, 5, 9; Evangelical Lutheran Worship, ELW).”
Bridging Faith 