Faithful Conversations #89
Introduction to Readers:
We make hundreds of decisions every day, and the quality of DISCERNMENT has been on my mind this week. The origin of the word is the Latin discernere, — a combination of dis (meaning apart) and cernere (meaning to separate or sift). Discernment, then, refers to our ability to judge wisely and sift things out on our daily walk. I regularly pray for discernment because life is filled with difficult decisions. Spend time this week thinking about those “discerning souls” in your background, people who modeled clear thinking for you in your formative years. We need reminders of their voices!
The Face of Jesus (using AI)
Discernment, of course, is important when choosing leaders, and on election eve, this week’s Lectionary readings are a great reminder of the counter-cultural nature of our faith. Think about the thousands of messages we have been hearing for many months (are you as overwhelmed by the political ads as I am?), and how little we hear about the poor or those suffering from injustice in our world. Frustratingly, the appeal from candidates always seems to focus heavily on selfishness, as if the only question we should be asking ourselves is, “What is best for me?!” I shudder to consider what Jesus thinks about the language running in and through our political dialogue!
Thanks for visiting the blog again this week, and for your continued interest in grappling with issues of faith! Amazingly, we have three Sundays left in this church year and will turn the calendar to “Year C” of the Lectionary on December 1st. We have been in the time of Pentecost since May — and a reminder that it was during Pentecost that our spiritual ancestors received the Holy Spirit. Once exclusive to a select group, that Spirit and God’s blessing extend to everyone — a good reminder for us! My reflection this week will key in on the connections between the passages from 1 Kings, Psalm 146, and Mark’s Gospel.
Pentecost 25 Readings
1 Kings 17: 8-16
Psalm 146
Hebrews 9: 24-28
Mark 12: 38-44
Common Themes in the Pentecost 25 Readings
First Reading: 1 Kings 17: 8-16: The Widow of Zarephath
8 Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, 9 “Go now to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and live there, for I have commanded a widow there to feed you.” 10 So he set out and went to Zarephath. When he came to the gate of the town, a widow was there gathering sticks; he called to her and said, “Bring me a little water in a vessel, so that I may drink.” 11 As she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, “Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” 12 But she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of meal in a jar and a little oil in a jug; I am now gathering a couple of sticks so that I may go home and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.” 13 Elijah said to her, “Do not be afraid; go and do as you have said, but first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son. 14 For thus says the Lord the God of Israel: The jar of meal will not be emptied and the jug of oil will not fail until the day that the Lord sends rain on the earth.” 15 She went and did as Elijah said, so that she as well as he and her household ate for many days. 16 The jar of meal was not emptied, neither did the jug of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah.
Psalm 146: Praise for God’s Help
1 Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!
2 I will praise the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praises to my God all my life long.
3 Do not put your trust in princes,
in mortals, in whom there is no help.
4 When their breath departs, they return to the earth;
on that very day their plans perish.
5 Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord their God,
6 who made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them;
who keeps faith forever;
7 who executes justice for the oppressed;
who gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets the prisoners free;
8 the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
the Lord loves the righteous.
9 The Lord watches over the strangers;
he upholds the orphan and the widow,
but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
10 The Lord will reign forever,
your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the Lord!
38 As he taught, he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces 39 and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! 40 They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.” 41 He sat down opposite the treasury and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. 43 Then he called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. 44 For all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”
Reflection: “let us learn from the widows”
Elijah and the Widow of Zerephath
Widows figure prominently in three of this week’s readings. My sense is that the widow of Zerephath and the poor widow Christ observes after his denunciation of the Scribes in Mark’s Gospel account, represent those on the fringes of society — those who lack money, status, or power of any kind. In the patriarchal culture of the ancient world, widowhood presented difficult financial challenges. Some quick research indicates that widows, in fact, are mentioned 103 times in the Bible and, not surprisingly, their status affords the opportunity for sharing theological insights (orphans receive 30 mentions, by the way). What should we take away from these stories?
The encounter between Elijah (700 BCE) and the widow from Zerephath has always puzzled me. Elijah, this rugged “confronter of kings” from the Northern Kingdom, is brusque in manner toward the widow, almost rude (verses 10-12). She is clearly destitute and afraid, and yet he expects her to serve him. What must she have been thinking at this moment? Imagine her stress level! The storyline, of course, highlights the need for faith in God, even in desperate circumstances. Because of her actions, God provides for her and her son from that point forward. The story does not end there, however, because soon thereafter, the widow’s son dies (verses 17-24), and Elijah revives the child with God’s help. What a moment!
“The Widow’s Mite”
Artist: James Christensen
(1942-2017)
It is not hard to imagine that Christ had this story in his mind as he sat teaching in the Temple. We first see a flash of righteous anger directed at the Scribes (Mark 12: 38-40). And isn’t it interesting how Jesus seems to continually call out the power brokers within the faith community and broader societal structure? He has very little patience for them. He then directs his attention to the poor widow and her extravagant generosity. I recall this story being utilized during stewardship drives, as if she is a model for giving. But after reflecting on it this week, that version of the story makes me uncomfortable. Rather, it seems plausible that Christ elevates the widow, contrasting her with the rich and powerful. Though she possessed little, this humble woman was rich in faith and challenges, to the core, our notion of power, and the various complex societal structures that foster poverty in our midst. The Sermon on the Mount comes to mind.
Finally, take time to read Psalm 146 with this week’s election and the two widows in mind — a good reminder of the timeless wisdom of the Bible! And let us pray for discerning minds this week and going forward!
Soli Deo Gloria!
prayer reflection: “Post-Election Day”
Walter Brueggeman
(b. 1933)
Note: This poem by Walter Brueggemann (b. 1933) jumped out at me this week. Brueggemann is a professor emeritus of Old Testament studies at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia, and has authored over seventy books. This poem appeared in Prayers for a Privileged People (Nashville: Abingdon, 2008), pp. 149. I retrieved it from the Journey With Jesus webzine, a source I utilize frequently.
You creator God
who has ordered us
in families and communities,
in clans and tribes,
in states and nations.
You creator God
who enacts your governance
in ways overt and
in ways hidden.
You exercise your will for
peace and for justice and for freedom.
We give you thanks for the peaceable order of
our nation and for the chance of choosing—
all the manipulative money notwithstanding.
We pray now for new governance
that your will and purpose may prevail,
that our leaders may have a sense
of justice and goodness,
that we as citizens may care about the
public face of your purpose.
We pray in the name of Jesus who was executed
by the authorities. Amen.
An Announcement Regarding an Adult Education Opportunity!
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
(1906-1945)
We are planning a book study on Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s 1937 classic, The Cost of Discipleship. The goal will be for people to read it between now and the end of the year in preparation for several in-person sessions at ELC in early 2025. While giving us an opportunity to dive into some Lutheran history, Bonhoeffer’s book remains incredibly relevant for 21st Century Christians! We plan to order several copies of the book, and also hope that many will purchase it for themselves. In addition, be aware that a film on Bonhoeffer will be coming out around Thanksgiving, and my intention is to reference the book and Bonhoeffer’s life within the blog as well.
We will meet on sunday 10 November after church in the library, for those that want to participate in some in-person discussion of the lectionary readings. our pattern typically is to take one of the readings, apply the four-question approach to it, and let the discussion flow from there! All are welcome!
And, one more thing . . .
Bishop Elizabeth Eaton
Fourth Presiding Bishop
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
With elections on our mind, Bishop Eaton recently released this statement regarding voting that I appreciated very much: “Voting is not just a civic duty; it is a way to serve our neighbors. When we vote, we have the chance to advocate for policies that reflect God’s justice and compassion. When we vote, we should think more about the policies that affect the most vulnerable people in our communities, those that Jesus called upon us to serve.”
The Past is a Foreign Country 
Might a congregational trip to see the Bonhoeffer movie be of interest? Or would it be possible to rent it before the classes begin?
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Our hope is to view it as part of our discussion sessions in January or February, yes.
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