As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” Luke 21:1-4
“The self-restraint of the religious should not be gloomy, but sincere; no murmurs of complaint should be heard from those who are never without the consolation of holy joys. The decrease of worldly means should not be feared in the practice of works of mercy. Christian poverty is always rich, because what it has is more than what it has not. Nor does the poor man fear to labour in this world, to whom it is given to possess all things in the Lord of all things. Therefore those who do the things which are good must have no manner of fear lest the power of doing should fail them; since in the gospel the widow’s devotion is extolled in the case of her two mites, and voluntary bounty gets its reward for a cup of cold water. For the measure of our charitableness is fixed by the sincerity of our feelings, and he that shows mercy on others will never want for mercy himself.”
Leo the Great (c. 400-461) pope and doctor of the church, in Sermon 42 on Lent.
How is your Lenten journey going? I found three points of fresh inspiration today from this excerpt of Leo the Great’s sermon on Lent. With each one I leave you with a question to ponder.
Firstly, consider this statement. “The decrease of worldly means should not be feared in the practice of works of mercy.” Obedience to the hard teachings of Jesus on money does not leave you empty, but rather, enriched. Don’t fear the decrease of worldly means. Do you give as though God is your Provider?
Secondly, think on this idea. “Christian poverty is always rich, because what it has is more than what it has not.” Jesus only celebrates when you give out of your poverty because only then do you show the world that having Christ is having all you need. Do you exhibit Christian poverty?
Thirdly, and this comment may be the most powerful. “He that shows mercy on others will never want for mercy himself.” If you want to guarantee that God looks after you, spend yourself and the resources in your stewardship on those God cares about. Do you live trusting God to sustain and reward you?
I’ve been working for days on a research project for Asbury Theological Seminary. It’s in process. God help me finish it in the next few days.
Tonight, we are headed to the fish fry at the local Catholic church with our neighbors, Ken and Carol Sharp. It brings back memories of going to get fish on Friday nights when I grew up, back in Ohio on Lake Erie.