Sermon in 100secs OFFERING
When Jesus was in the temple with his mates. They’re looking
in awe at the size of the place, number of people, and particularly, religious
leaders striding about the place, in their element. Robes flowing, money bags
jingling and loving every minute of it as people treat them with honour and
respect.
Jesus draws his friends attention to where the temple
offerings were. Rich people like the religious leaders casually threw in large
amounts of money, obvious, visible and very loud, heard all round the courts.
The religious leaders were known to even sound a trumpet or ring a bell when
they were giving money. Jesus says, “Watch her!” pointing to a poor widow as
she places 2 small copper coins in. They make barely a sound but Jesus says “her
offering from her poverty was greater than that of all others who gave out of
their wealth.”
You see the big money offerings though showy are barely seen
by God, though noisy in the temple they’re barely heard in heaven. The widows
offering shone like the midday sun in God’s presence and the sound of the coin
fall rang out in God’s throne room.
As we think about the climate emergency facing us, the pandemics
of Covid, racism, sexism, homelessness, and others, we can wonder if our tiny
sacrifice to help is worth anything at all compared to the offerings of the
rich and famous. Just know, that when you give all that you are able, no matter
how small, that offering makes a big noise in heaven.
Pocket Prayer.
Generous and loving God, maker of heaven and earth and giver
of every good gift. All that we have comes from you and the entirety of
creation belongs to you.
We can ask what we can give you in offering that is not
yours already.
We can assume that the only acceptable gifts are gifts as
grand as the ones you give.
We can believe that our gift is embarrassingly small
compared to you.
We can feel the need to compare, to judge what we can offer against
what others give.
Gracious God, help us we pray to perceive gifts and giving,
offers and offering in the way that you do. Looking not on the gift, its size
or quality but on the love behind it, the heart which gives.
Gives not what it can afford but that which is sacrificial.
Help us to know that offerings given out of wealth and
plenty make less noise than the fizz of spring rains in your courts but the
offering given of a sacrificial heart, a gift of love poured out, a gift which
means something sounds as thunder in your throne room.
Just as the sacrificial gift of your son for us filled
existence with light and sound for all eternity.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer, receive our offering,
Amen
Comments