Deut 26:1-11; Ps 24; 2 Cor 8: 1-9; Mark 12: 41-44
Introduction
This past week, I heard about a young 18-year-old learner, who decided to end his life.
He made the decision. However, I wonder whether he thought of the many people’s
lives who would be impacted – changed through his one decision. He had control over
his decision, but no control over the choices his friends and loved ones might be making
because of what they experienced.
Control is a need we all have.
It helps one to feel independent.
As soon as a baby discovers that she can walk, she refuses assistance. She wants to
walk on her own. She also wants to walk where she wishes to go.
The teenager pushes the boundaries in order to see how far she can have
independence and control over her own life. As soon as the young person leaves
school, and leaves home to study, they resist any attempt of parents to guide as they
want to control their own lives. They want to make their own decisions.
Parents then allow young adults (I hope) to make mistakes – to fall and get up
themselves as this is how one learns. If parents continue to rescue children, they never
learn to find their own way.
So, we learn and grow and then start working and build our lives. Our quest for control
continuous.
We become our own developers and growers of our lives.
We decide and we plan, and we implement. We are aware of God, and we do our
prayers and attend services – if we can. We support the church when able. There is
nothing wrong with this picture, one would say, apart from the fact that I am in the
driving seat of my life. There is a danger: One can become so good at life, that we
become our own god. I decide.
Readings
Our OT reading shows us how the Israelites used law to assist people in remembering
that their connection with God. Esther Menn explains that “Deuteronomy 26:1-11
presents a theological interpretation of the summer harvest, during which choice
agricultural produce was brought to the temple in Jerusalem. This offering from the
bounty provided by God through the gift of the land was associated with the pilgrimage
festival known as Shavuot, held seven weeks after Passover”. All practicing Israelites
attended the festival. We must remember that Judaism is a way of life. There is no
separation between spiritual rituals and daily life rituals.
We have let many of our rituals – our ‘rules’ as Christians, go. Remember? Rules about
Sunday? Etc. These assisted us in our daily living.
Furthermore, “offering of first fruits, whether at the temple in Jerusalem as in this
passage or locally in the outlying towns every third year as a tithe (26:12-15; cf., 14:28-
29), ensures that the entire community shares in the land’s abundance. Israelite
landowners and their families are instructed to partake of the harvest together with “the
Levites and the aliens who reside among you” (26:11). The Levites, generally equated
with the priests in Deuteronomy, were a tribe not allotted a territory of their own but were
rather supported in their religious service through such offerings (12:12). The “aliens,”
were foreigners who lived among the Israelites without owning land” (Esther Menn).
The offering of their first fruit also created an opportunity to come together and share
with each other. Share with those who do not own land to plant, like foreigners and
priests. A communal life was encouraged.
The idea of sharing with others are also encouraged in our NT reading. We usually like
to make sure that we have before we give away to others. That is what most people do
and nothing wrong with taking care of yourself. However, we are challenged by the
writer of the second letter to the Corinthians. The people from the churches in
Macedonia in chapter 8 didn’t hold back and were truly generous. They shared with
others. He writes that their “poverty overflows in a wealth of generosity.” Although they
were poor, they were generous.
This is what Jesus is highlighting in our Gospel reading from the Gospel of Mark chapter
8. The widow did not have a man to take care of her and therefore no regular income,
but she was still generous and gave all she had. This reminds me of a woman I met at a
Workshop on HIV/AIDS a few years ago. I complimented her on her beautiful skirt she
was wearing one day and the next day she gave me the skirt, although it most probably
was the only ‘special’ skirt she had. I had to take it and still have it. I remember her
generosity every time I wear it.
Conclusion
Our readings encourage us to have a look at our lives.
Who is in control? Have a look at who in the driving seat of our lives. If we are at the
driving seat, we make the decisions based on what we know and am sure of. It is logical
and has reasons which are defended and for which we often are willing to die.
But if God is in the driving seat, we make our decisions very differently because we live
by faith. It is not logical and sometimes we do not have the language to explain what we
know in our hearts. We live in awareness of the presence of God in every moment. God
in who we live and have our being and where we know we have no control over things.
We understand that we are small creatures who are dearly loved by God and taken care
of by God.
Everything we have and who we are come from God and we are on our way back to
God.
We are here to serve God by serving others and that is how we live closer to God daily.
We therefore serve with love and generosity as we do it for God.
Moment of silence
Become aware of your body – all it can do. Become aware of your skills and talents. All
of these are gifts to serve with.
Prayer on leaflet
Loving God, you bless us through your goodness and provide all we need:
Grant that we may use what we receive from you to your glory and the relief of those in
need. Everything comes from you and of your own, we give you. Amen
