As we
celebrate Memorial Day this weekend, it is fitting that we focus on the
foundation for sacrifice. Memorial Day
is a special day set apart to remember and give thanks for military personnel
who died in the service and defense of our country. So, this Sunday, I want to explore sacrifice. Specifically, I’m interested in the question,
“What empowers someone to make a major
sacrifice?”
My scriptural
basis for thinking about sacrifice is the story of the poor widow’s offering in
the Temple, found in the Gospel of Mark:
Jesus “sat down opposite the
treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich
people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which
are worth a penny. 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. 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.’”
In this story, Jesus and
his disciples visit the great Temple in Jerusalem. In the Temple, they go to the “Court of the
Women” where the Temple treasury is located.
It is at the Treasury that people stop to make their financial offerings
to God by dropping their money in one of 13 treasury chests, called
Shofars. This was usually a good place
for people watching.
Jesus
and his disciples sit down, across from where the Shofar-chests are
located. Frequently, rich members of
society would deposit large sums of money.
However, as the various people came and deposited their offerings, a
poor widow meekly crept up to the treasury and deposited two small copper
coins, which together were worth about one penny. Two such coins were practically worthless in
the economy.
However,
Jesus turns to his disciples and says, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has
put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury.”
We
can imagine that Jesus’ disciples were initially perplexed by his
observation. Surely, Jesus had witnessed
the vast sums of money which the wealthy had placed in the treasury.
Jesus
responds by observing, “For all of them [the rich] have contributed out of
their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all
she had to live on.”
Again, as I
reflect on sacrifice this Memorial weekend, my question is “What empowers someone to make a major
sacrifice?” Consider all of those
who gave their lives in the service and defense of our country. Perhaps some of their comrades turned and fled
that day. Yet, they remained and gave
the ultimate sacrifice. What empowered
them to make their sacrifice?
In my proclamation, I will suggest
that what empowers and enables major sacrifice has to be a deep love and a
great hope. In order to make a major
sacrifice, we must have a deep love for what (or who) will be the beneficiary
of our love. Secondly, a major sacrifice
must be grounded in a great hope that the sacrifice will actually make a major
difference. So, the military person who dies
in the service of our country must have a deep love for our country and also a
great hope that their sacrifice will make a huge difference. As a nation, we are grateful for that
sacrifice. Similarly, the widow in the
Temple must have had a deep love for God and also a great hope that her
sacrifice would make a huge difference.
I once had a Bishop who was fond of
saying that he thought all United Methodist clergy should be willing to do
three things at a moment’s notice:
1.
Pray
2.
Preach
3.
Die for Jesus
I have always thought that I would be able to pray or preach
at a moment’s notice. But, I think that
the only way we could say with certainty that we were willing to die for Jesus
is if we were presented with that scenario.
Many Christians have been willing to die for Jesus—both in the past and
sometimes even today. I, personally,
have never been confronted with that possibility.
Still, I
think that the Bishop’s challenge raises an important question for me and all
other Christians: How deep is our love
for Jesus and how great is our faith (hope) in Christ? Do we have the depth of love and faith exhibited
by the poor widow?
My church is Christ United Methodist, located at
4530 “A” Street. We have three worship
services on Sunday mornings at 8:30, 9:45, and 11:00. The 8:30 and 11:00 services feature a
traditional worship format and the services are held in our Sanctuary. “The Gathering” at 9:45 is held in our Family
Life Center (gym), and it is more informal and interactive. Join us this Sunday (May 26th), as we
commemorate Memorial Day and reflect upon the foundation for sacrifice.
Everyone is welcome and accepted because
God loves us all.
