Christ the King-Epiphany, Wilbraham

The Rev. Martha S. Sipe

November 10, 2024 / 25th Sunday after Pentecost / Lectionary 32B

Mark 12:38-44

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room – the thing that none of us wants to talk about, though we all know it’s there.  Something big happened this week.  It happened to every person here today.  But we didn’t all experience it the same way.  If we, in this parish, reflect the demographic make-up of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, which I suspect we do, then roughly 3 out of 5 people in this room are disappointed in the outcome of the election, while 2 out of 5 of us are satisfied.  But the elephant is bigger than a mere matter of disappointment vs. satisfaction.  Because some of the 3/5 of us who are disappointed are bitterly disappointed, even anxious and fearful of what the future may hold.  And at the same time, the 2/5 of us who are satisfied I assume whole-heartedly believe that the country will now be headed in a better direction.  Which will be the more accurate prediction?  Only God knows, at this point, and we’re just going to have to trust that God’s got this.  But there is no doubt that we are in a time of seismic change.  While this period of change may prove an existential threat to our nation, it will not be an existential threat to the church because, as the prophet Isaiah says, “The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand forever.” (Isaiah 40:8)

And it’s to God’s word that we turn for wisdom and guidance in times of turmoil and change, and our Gospel lesson this morning – it doesn’t let us down.  In Mark chapter 12, we read the story of the widow’s offering.  Although the widow’s offering was small – two coins compared to the extravagant gifts of the wealthy – proportionally, her gift was much greater because she gave everything she had.  That’s why this woman is often lifted up as a model of generosity – because she gave freely, holding nothing back.  I hope that word generosity rings a bell of recognition in your minds because you’ve just received a letter from me about practicing generosity as you plan to make your pledge of financial support at the end of the month.  But it’s a different kind of generosity that I’m asking you to practice this morning in light of our current state of affairs:  a generosity of spirit.  As Randy Hollerith, the dean of the Washington National Cathedral, wrote this week, “We must start by showing grace to ourselves and to others.  There are many among us who are hurt, fearful or angry, and they may have no desire to extend a hand, of give their neighbor the benefit of the doubt.  Others among us may be tempted to write this next chapter with a sense of winner-take-all vengeance.  We are weary of division and bitter politics; we have no need for more of that.  Instead, let us aim for a better way to move forward together, as one people, one family of God.  We may not agree, we may not understand each other, we may not even like each other.  But we are tied together in our shared humanity, and as hard as it may be to hear, in the end there is no us and them; there is only us.”  Showing grace to ourselves and to others:  this is the spirit of generosity that I am hoping to invoke.  But let’s be clear – that generosity comes with a cost:  the price is vulnerability.  The generous widow in Mark’s gospel, who is already vulnerable, makes herself even more vulnerable by holding nothing back.  Can we allow ourselves to be vulnerable enough to listen to and love those with whom we disagree?  Can we practice generosity of spirit in a way that erases the line between “us” and “them”?  With God’s help, we can.

Here's another thing about Mark 12 that causes me to think about our national situation.  While the widow’s generosity is often lifted up, what is sometimes overlooked in Mark’s story is how Jesus uses the woman to point out what is wrong with society.  Today’s lesson begins with Jesus describing the hypocrisy of the Temple leaders who act all righteous and important while at the same time devouring widows’ houses, that is, exploiting the weak and helpless.  Then, as if to illustrate Jesus’ point, into the scene walks the widow, one of those weak and helpless ones, one of the ones that the leaders ought to be helping, not exploiting.  This, too, is an important message for us in this time.  In the midst of all the changes that we expect are on the horizon, as people of faith, we must continue to advocate for and give assistance to the weak and the helpless.  As the church, we must continue to stand for the dignity and human rights of all people.  As followers of Jesus, we must walk in love, taking care of the last and the least:  in other words, feeding the hungry, welcoming the stranger, clothing the naked, caring for the sick, and visiting the imprisoned.  The church matters, now more than ever.  We need to step up in taking care of each other.  We need to step up in taking care of our at-risk neighbors, here and around the world.  We need to step up in taking care of our vulnerable planet.  And with God’s help, we will find the courage to step up.

Generosity of spirit and embracing our mission:  these are our pathway forward.  And while the path may be rocky, we do not walk it alone.  We walk it with Jesus.  And we walk with one another.  Because while it is true that some of us cried this week, while some of us celebrated; while it is true that in our responses to the election, we are divided; we are united in faith.  Let us remember, and remind one another, that all of us are deeply and eternally loved by our Creator.  Let us remember, and remind one another, that all of us fall short of who we were created to be, and yet all of us are forgiven through the generous love of Jesus.  Let us remember, and remind one another, that all of us have access to the Holy Spirit, who is just waiting to give us the tools that we need to build God’s kingdom of love, mercy, and justice for everyone.

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1 https://cathedral.org/blog/a-message-from-dean-hollerith-the-work-we-have-to-do/ 

2 The Most Rev. Sean Rowe