Great Generosity in Small Packages

Today is All Saints Sunday when we remember those members of our church who have died in the last year. We are in the midst of a sermon series using selections from chapters 9 through 14 in the Gospel of Mark, and today’s reading is the familiar story of “The Widow’s Mite.” Although we often hear the story as an affirmation and example of this poor woman’s offering of her gift of everything she had, it could also, in its context of the criticism of the scribes by Jesus, be considered a condemnation of the system wherein this poor widow was giving everything rather than was being cared for by the congregation and the community. If we can see both views of this story, both are lessons for us in our own time and situation.