Sermon: November 10, 2024

Reading: Mark 12:33-44

The poor widow in the gospel story placed her entire life in God’s hands. What amazing faith she must have to turn everything she has over to God! Imagine the trust, love, and dedication she has for God to place every aspect of her life in God’s care.

This poor widow could not have possibly imagined what her future would look like. She couldn’t possibly know how God would act in her life; she couldn’t have known where her next meal would come from or where she would lay her head at night, but she knew that if she trusted in God and gave all she had, the Spirit of God would lead her into a future full of beauty and grace.

I wonder what would happen if we were more like this poor widow. I’m not suggesting that we go out and empty our bank accounts because that wasn’t the point Jesus was making. But what if we gave all we had— all of ourselves— over to God? What would it look like to trust in God as much as the widow did by fully placing our lives in God’s loving care just as she did, and then sharing that love with all people? What would happen to the lives of others? What would happen to our lives?

Bishop Michael Curry is known for saying, “It’s about the love of God and the neighbor. If it’s not about love, then it’s not about God. This way of love is the way of Jesus. This is the heart of the Jesus movement.” AND WE ARE THE JESUS MOVEMENT

Just like the widow who didn’t know what her future held, there’s no way to know what our future will be. What we can rely on is Jesus’ promise that if we give all we have to God, if we trust in God, and we support one another with love, compassion, mercy, and understanding, we will have a future that is full of beauty and grace.

May we all be blessed with faith like the widow and give all we have to God. May we be filled with God’s love and share with the world that love, that hope and the promise that is our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.