Bishop’s blog #3

The Widow’s Mite and the Millennium Development Goals 

Beloved, this is in reference to the Gospel for last Sunday—the one which included our Lord’s use of the widow’s offering as an illustration of what he had just taught the disciples about scribes who “devour widows’ houses”.  In the “Synthesis” commentary I found, “Here Jesus reproaches (the scribes) for their excessive behavior at the expense of compassion and justice” because they used their position in the temple to exploit those less educated than they.  The commentary also informed that “(t)he noise made as coins were thrown into the large metal receptacles would call attention to the amount being donated, as in the attention-seeking behavior of the scribes.  ‘Many rich people put in large sums’ (v.41).”  The two copper coins dropped by the widow would have made little noise in comparison. 

That began eating away at me even as I preached the sermon.  We know that through accomplishment of the millennium goals poverty can be eliminated, adequate health care can be provided, educational levels can be raised substantially—and this around God’s globe”!  I take pride in tithing and more—but my conscience pressed me to ask myself, “Is my giving, like the scribes, ‘at the expense of compassion and justice’?”  Am I giving because it’s required—and am I forming my personal budget—and are we forming the Church’s Statement of mission ‘at the expense of compassion and justice’?” 

The Diocese of Upper South Carolina, acting in convention, has requested that we as a diocese—we as separate congregations—and we as individuals commit 0.7% beyond our present giving to projects “of compassion and justice”—the Millennium Development Goals.  The Diocesan Commission on Anglican and International Concerns, which I chair, is compiling a list of such projects, and it will be made available throughout the diocese as soon as it is completed.  The list will include our ministry in Cange and others familiar to you, as well as some new suggestions which will challenge your imagination and your heart. 

“When he came to
Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was his custom.  He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him.  He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:  ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’  …Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’”  (Luke 4:16-21) 

0.7%?  Sounds like no more than a widow’s mite to me….