God's faithfulness

Mark 12: 38 - 44

"For all of them gave from their plenty, but she gave from her poverty and put in everything she had, her very living"

Last night I attended the 50th Anniversary dinner celebrated by First Baptist Church, Petaling Jaya, the church where I was a member for 10 years. It was a grand celebration attended by 1000 people, mostly present church members but also many former pastors and members. There was much catching up to do and people moved between tables to catch up with old friends. I too managed to catch up with several people I have not seen for a number of years. But apart from the warm fellowship and good dinner, I asked myself in my examen prayer this morning what I received from it all. I can say that the most important thing I brought back with me (besides a balloon and a bookmark gift) was the reminder of God's faithfulness. As a former senior pastor shared, the church has journeyed through ups and downs, through joys and sorrow, but through it all, God's faithfulness has sustained her. Indeed life (our individual and corporate life) is not about us. It is all about God. He's the One who conducts the whole orchestra. We are players who have to keep an eye on him and follow his directions so that the melody created will be harmonious and pleasing to the ear.

Even today's gospel story speaks to me about God's faithfulness. The focus is on a poor widow who gave her all to God. Jesus points out her action to his disciples. This is how disciples should act. Her action clearly contrasts with that of the teachers of the law (v. 38 - 40). Their focus is not on God. Even their seemingly pious actions are centered on themselves, from lengthy prayers to putting significant amounts of money into the temple treasury.

We know the teaching in this story and would readily applaud the widow's devotion, and yet we would find it very difficult to put into practice. I believe that the widow was able to give her all because she trusted in God's faithfulness. She knew Yahweh as the God of her ancestors, of Abraham, of Isaac and of Jacob. She knew well the stories of his deliverance of her nation from Egypt. She trusted that in her precarious situation of widowhood, Yahweh would be her Rock, Provider and Deliverer, the defender of widows and orphans. Her faith had reached into the depths of her heart where it had become an experiential one.

In order to give our all, we have to be sure of God's faithfulness. Otherwise we will always need to cling to our own securities (money, power, honor etc.) as a 'back-up insurance policy'. I know that in my life God still has more pruning to do. I cannot say that the widow's action comes easily for me. I ask for the grace to be open to all that God is asking of me, to be able to respond freely and completely to my faithful, loving Creator.