September 2, 2012: When Small is Big – Michael Hidalgo

There is something about religion that is almost competitive. We all seem to want to appear good, right, attractive, and “holy” in our own way. This is often the result of submitting ourselves to “group think” or accepted collective thinking. This is what Jesus points out about the “religious” in his day. As soon as the words leave his lips, an illustration happens right in front of them. Two offerings: one big but small and one small but big.

Many immediately want to contrast this woman’s faithfulness in giving all she had. And we should, for Jesus points to her faith. But some suggest a dark side to this story given Jesus’ declaration about the religious “devouring widows’ houses.” There is a sense that there is something wrong with the system of religion that leads her to act this way.