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?