Göttinger Predigten im Internet, hg. von Ulrich Nembach und Johannes Neukirch


Oculi
Datum: 07.03.1999
Predigttext: Markus 12, 41-44
Verfasser: Jobst von Stuckrad-Barre

St Mark chapter 12, verses 41-44

And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

It is nobody else’s business whether I give a lot of money or hardly any at all. But there was a rule that the amount given by every person was openly called out: every priestly act in the temples of Jerusalem had ist exact value. It seems somewhat improper to us today to associate money and religion together, notwithstanding the consequences of this story. Whoever is rich, can give more, so as to be regarded more favourably by God.What a distortion! Boasting brings no salvation, on the contrary, more important is that today, despite our money orientated attitude, our faith is too personal and intimate to be influenced by wealth. Money and religion are only connected through our church tax.

However, what the poor widow did, shows us that the freedom of belief is linked directly to the freedom of giving. The giving of possessions and money to further a good cause, to help others who are in need. Upbringing and advice and support of the churches mission are all done in the trust of God, in the freedom that He gives us.

Jesus sits down with us, and watches us how we deal with our money, especially with taxes, a little bit careful here, a small discrete transfer there, or the case of the working spouse who leaves the Church, because they are the one who earns the money. I am perfectly aware of the contrary examples where any extra cost causes devastation. Others donate therefore more freely, although they are not rich, it does not apparently hurt them, they even seem to always have enough to keep them going.

Jesus sits there and sees those who give, those who outwardly hardly have anything. People, groups, populations, they all give what they can and although everything is gone, they live a life that many long for: they live happily from hand to mouth, ready to start the next day with nothing again, they have more than enough. Could this be imagineable under our economic conditions?

When young technicians and civil servants, doctors and midwives interrupt their careers to go and work in the third world, leaving behind them everything that is normally taken for granted and work under difficult circumstances helping the poor, they give everything they have. That these people are "spoilt" for the accepted way of life: this happens in fact quite often, but is it not more the fault of our inability to cope without the usual abundance, the constant assurances, with this more-and-still-more way of life.

It is never easy when Church communities and districts, together with state authorities, create jobs for the long-term unemployed with the goal of integrating as many as possible back into the job world. Disappointments have to be endured, but this is still better than generally complaining about faulty politics and Economy: trust in oneself and a little giving of the basics and the possibility of giving others a chance.

I own up, the pointing finger is so uncomfortable, so please, go forth, don`t sit on your wealth that only causes you worry. I prefer the way Jesus did it, the way he observed what happened at the treasury and the told the disciples about the widow who gave her last coins, her only possession, everything she had in life.

Besides, I am not an expert on economy, concentration of capital, financial flows, money markets or any of those things that are very difficult for laymen like me to fathom. (however little you "get a grip" on the situation is shown in current discussions).

That the economic society of today cannot compete with the agricultural and commercial reforms of another age is perfectly understandable. The experts and those responsible for the gear changing in our globalized economic world, should not lose sight of the fact that behind all these facts and figures, stand people, who with one stroke, could be financially ruined, or are trying to do something to influence their own existence.

I simply cannot see that an economic constitution should be left to govern by its own laws. More to the point, how the concentration on the power of money forced under one yoke, is something we experience today stronger than ever. To say this one needs not be a moralist, or to pull the bedevilled rich onto our side. The fact that people are not indifferent and their freedom, in every form, is not to be sacrificed on the altar of abstract concentration of power and money, belongs to the exact surroundings of this simple encounter at the treasury. He who sits and observes what we do, and don`t do, lets us take part in the discovery of independance, the getting away from always wanting more, lets us share in the gift of receiving.

Is it always a question of money? Although people have no direct worries about their existence, in this day and age, all too often, the smallest contribution is given. No, not any devilry here, but something of planning and well organised time division. But there are situations as well as people who need nothing more from us than time and care. When one gives more than intended, he is then visibly relieved and the person with whom he has to do, doesn`t only take, but gives at the same time. A wonderful system of give and take, where both are gratified. It is a question of freedom. The freedom of people, who want to let go of everything unnecessary and receive everything that they really need from God.

Is Jesus still sitting at his place, does he still sit there and watch the Church, does he see us as we are, the people who have time and waste it and the people who have money and spend it on rubbish and the people who are in need but.. Oh let them be taken care of by others. Jesus calls his disciples to him. This poor widow lays more in the treasury than all the others . He leaves the temple and goes on into the town - ultimately, to the cross. Jesus is well on the way to leaving everything behind him and beginning something new, something that is actually impossible for us. Life that is no longer threatened by death, life in all the freedom of God.

Jobst v.Stuckrad-Barre, Hainholzweg 10, 37085 Göttingen, Tel.-Nr. 0551-59948


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