Hallfold 12 November 2006
Mark 12: 38-44
A couple of weeks ago we looked at power and the alternative power structure of the Kinship Community of God
In our Act of Remembrance and in our reading of Mark's gospel we are again looking at issues of power.
War is the ultimate power game - the way in which one group, nation, group of nations imposes their will on another - the way in which a nations glory and power is measured - we must remember - yet little changes - the war to end wars ended nothing - war has continued unabated - and still young people die & suffer to fulfill the ambitions of an older generation.
In the temple jesus is involved in power plays - what is to become of the symbol of religious power the temple? -
William Loader at http://wwwstaff.murdoch.edu.au/~loader/MkPentecost23.htm spells out the situation, "Warnings about the temple have been simmering under the surface of the narrative since Jesus reached the temple as his final destination in 11:11, travelling from Caesarea Philippi in the far north (8:27). The shrivelled fig tree interprets Jesus’ symbolic act in the temple as a statement of judgement (11:12-21). The temple, his Father’s house, had become a place of corruption. It was a mountain which faith must cast into the sea (11:22-23). Mark celebrates a new temple: a forgiving community of faith which will pray (11:24-25). It will be a community tended by leaders who will make it fruitful (12:1-9), a new construction build on the Son/Stone (12:10-11). This Jesus, the promised Son of David, but more (12:35-37, will build a true temple where mercy will matter more than sacrifice (12:28-34)."
Jesus contrasts the wealthy scribes with the widow - those who benefit from the system and those who are oppressed by it - and that their fine clothes, rich lifestyle is bought with the sacrificial gifts of one who is oppressed by the system.
God’s way is the way of sacrificial, self-giving love - widow is giving to a doomed institution but her instincts are right - the new community - the kinship of God is built on sacrificial love - but it must not be abusive, it must not allow any of us to flaunt our positions of power - we are all in need of the sacrifice that Jesus has made - it will not be made again - once for all time - the sacrifice to end all sacrifices - human power requires the poor, the vulnerable to make constant sacrifices for the benefit of the rich and the powerful - Jesus - the Son of God, the powerful one - made one sacrifice so that we can live in the kinship of God.
How does such sacrifice make an impact on the way we live our lives?