“What Sacrifice Shall I Offer?” ~ Psalm 127 & Mark 12:38-44
November 10, 2024 ~ Northwood United ~ Rev. G. Scott Turnbrook
What does it mean to wear a poppy and honour this day we call Remembrance Sunday? In the church, Remembrance Sunday falls on November the 11th or the Sunday prior. Daniel’s pipes touched us so deeply as no other instrument can. And we are thankful for that touching gift in worship because we find ourselves touched by the wars of the past; we find ourselves reflecting upon the sacrifices made, and (I think) concerned about the world’s ability to ever move in the direction of peace. Our hearts are heavy with lament and our minds are full of concern as we ponder the call to us this day amidst God’s cry for peace. And so, as we ponder ‘What kind of sacrifice we shall offer?’, we consider the Gospel reading in Mark that Pat read.
The passage we quickly see is a contrasting of two extremes. Jesus, being an astute observer notes two figures: the scribes teaching in the temple and the widow making an offering. Jesus commences by warning his disciples to beware of the teachers of the law seeking honor and recognition, showing how they love, to be seen in fine robes, to sit in places of honor, and be recognized in public. They are outwardly pious, but Jesus cautions against their inner motives. Then, Jesus observes the widow making her offering of two copper coins. A variety of people were putting money into the temple treasury. Some wealthy individuals gave large sums. But Jesus is the one who notices a poor widow who comes forward and drops in two small coins saying: “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
More than most other Sundays, there is a bittersweet reality to this day, isn’t there? At core this day touches the depths of sacrifice and freedom. There’s something deeply moving, perhaps even uncomfortable, in the realization that our freedoms, our peace, and our lives were made possible by the sacrifices of many before us. When we think of young soldiers who left home, the loved ones who saw them go, and families who received heartbreaking telegrams, we feel the bitterness of war’s cost. Yet, we also feel grateful for what these sacrifices achieved.
The widow in this passage demonstrates a similar kind of sacrifice. She had little, yet she chose to give everything. She didn’t do it for applause or recognition. Jesus doesn’t even suggest that anyone noticed her…except Him. Her giving was quiet, it was personal, it was total sacrifice. Today, we are reminded of all those whose sacrifices that may have gone unseen by the world, are not unnoticed by God. Just as Jesus notices the widow’s offering, we can be confident that God sees every act of courage, every moment of dedication, and every prayer offered by those who serve and sacrifice.
This leads us to a challenging question: What does their sacrifice mean for us today? What kind of sacrifice am I called to make? Remembrance Sunday isn’t only a time to look back; it’s also a time to look forward. In remembering others’ sacrifices, we are invited to think about our own lives. It is informative for us to recall that the Latin roots for sacrifice are two-fold: “sacred” and “to make”. What we consider this morning is how the living of our lives intersects with the sacred. This morning’s text tells us that the widow gave all she had to live on. For us, I think, it doesn’t necessarily mean we should give everything away materially, but it does challenge us to consider what it means to live the sacrificial life. Are we willing to give our lives, our time, our resources, and our energy to causes bigger than ourselves? And so, in that light, I will put forward three considerations for sacrifice we might be making (or consider making) in our living.
Last Sunday, you will recall that we focused on Jesus’ teaching to love our neighbour. I wonder if the first element of sacrifice to consider is a sacrificial love towards others: Jesus teaches us to love our neighbors as ourselves. Sacrificial love isn’t easy. It requires us to look beyond our own interests and consider how we can contribute to the wellbeing of others. Others who are not within our immediate circles, families, and interests. This, of course, doesn’t mean one thing. Love towards others is expressed in many ways! Sacrifice might mean stepping out of our comfort zone to serve or honour or understand or stand up for someone in need. Can you think of a moment when you lived sacrificially for another? How do you live sacrificially loving others?
An extension of love of neighbour is the sacrifice made in living out God’s justice: The sacrifice of those we remember today invites us to continue working for a world where justice and peace prevail. Whether in our own community or globally, we are called to seek justice, speak out against injustice, and work for the kind of peace that Jesus taught—a peace built on fairness, love, and compassion. Sacrifice for the sake of justice requires us to consider those who are neglected and need of our advocacy. As a privileged people, we must ensure the needs of those being marginalized and silenced are being heard. This is witnessed at the church in the work of our racial justice group; it is the work of reconciliation with our Indigenous siblings; it is the work of including the LGBTQ+ community. But there is much to be done! Where do you see the sacrifices being made for God’s justice to be found!
Lastly, another form of sacrifice is that of faithfulness. Like the widow, we’re called to faithfulness in our relationship with God. Sacrifice can mean making space in our busy lives for prayer, reflection, and seeking God’s direction. How do you prepare spiritually for the sacrifices that you are being called to make? Those who served and sacrificed knew the importance of dedication, of holding on to purpose. Likewise, we are called to be faithful to the purposes God has for us. We cannot overstate the importance of being prepared spiritually. Faithfulness grants us the wisdom of discernment and the strength to live out the sacrifices we are called to make.
Are we finished. Do you hear an ‘amen’. It would be, I think, a grievous error for us to stop here. Many a sermon has stopped here by hoisting the widow and her offering upon a pedestal, condemning the scribes for their lack of giving and calling us now to ‘give it all till it hurts…just like the widow’. And frankly, many churches, over the years, have been guilty of demanding too much from their people; calling them to give more than they can (or should). I can even recall visiting a church. It was the moment in worship when the pastor received the offering plate at the front and instead of praying over the offerings and committing them to God’s service, he said “church…this is not enough. Please search your heart about how much God calls you to give! We will be taking a second offering before the closing blessing”. I was shocked as well!
So, we pause here. We consider how sacrifice Is NOT just about quantity but, rather, sacrifice is even more about quality. Notice what is not there in the text. Jesus doesn’t praise the widow for the amount she gives; He praises her for the heart behind her gift. She gave not out of abundance but out of trust, out of courage, out of love. Remembrance Sunday calls us to recognize that true sacrifice is not measured by the size of the gift, but by the heart and commitment with which it’s given. As we consider ‘what sacrifice we are each called to make?’, we’re called to live out the deep meaning of this text. The widow gave from her heart, without expecting recognition or reward. So, our giving should be equally from the heart. Our ‘heart offerings’ can be simple acts of kindness, daily choices that prioritize others, and commitments to serving our communities faithfully. Sacrifice doesn’t always mean the giving up of our lives (thank goodness). Sacrifice does mean living our lives with purpose. It means using what we have to love others, to seek justice, and to live faithfully.
We, of course, follow One who himself is the model of sacrifice. Jesus gave not just His teaching or His time, but Jesus gave His very life so that we could have this eternal connection with God. His sacrifice was total and complete, not for recognition, but out of love for humanity. This is the sacrificial love we remember each time we behold the cross, and it gives us a profound example to follow. As we come to a close, perhaps the faith question for today is: What would Jesus say about my sacrifice? If He were watching us, as He watched the widow, what would He see in the way we live, give, and serve? As we remember those who gave so much, Jesus calls us (also) to examine our own hearts and to consider how we might live sacrificially. For whether in big ways or small, may they be ways that serve His Kingdom and honor the legacy of those who came before us.
Amen.