Priority Adjustment Ahead

In England there is a construction sign that captures, for me, in one phrase the Kingdom of God. When a lane is going to end, they put up a sign that reads, “Priority Adjustment Ahead.” In the Kingdom of God, what has been important is uncelebrated; what has been first is last; what has been praiseworthy is paltry – and what has been uncelebrated is important; what has been last is first; what has been paltry is praiseworthy. Jesus notices a woman, a poor widow, uncelebrated with a paltry gift. Surely she was last. Yet, Jesus says she is the one that is first – God is rejoicing over her.

She had two lepta, the word means “the thin one;” it denoted the smallest denomination of coin…and it was the thinnest coin. She rubbed them together in her hand as she walked to the Temple, to the place of God’s presence, where God ‘dwelt.’ Here she passed through the court of the Gentiles, where non-Jews were allowed to gather to the Court of the Women. Ritually pure women were allowed to gather here in this space and make their offerings. This was as close as she could get to the Holy of Holies.

In the Court of the Women, there were 13 collection boxes for offerings to support the Temple worship – one for incense, one for the wood for sacrifice, one for the upkeep of the golden vessels, (Barclay). The collection boxes were called The Trumpets because they were the shape of trumpets with a small mouth at the opening, with a bell-like base.

These were not sacrificial offerings to atone for wrong, like purchasing a bird or a lamb or a calf. The offerings dropped into The Trumpets were not recorded. No one knew how much you gave except God. These were offerings of faith. These were offerings given to continue the worship of God in this place.

People tried to make their gifts known, though. They tossed their coins in and let the trumpet ring as metal banged against metal. They wanted to be noticed as their change jangled down the mouth of the trumpet and settled itself with a chink.

They wanted to impress. They wanted the rattling of coins to be noticed by the people sitting in the courtyard. She did not. Quietly, reverently, she came and placed her coins into the Trumpet. This is as close to God as she could get, and she offered all she had in this place.

Rev. Dr. Scott Weimer says, ““Jesus sees the poor widow and says, “That’s what I’m after!” Her motives are pure. She clearly gives out of a genuine heart for God.”

One of my favorite stories that Presbyterian pastor John Ortberg tells is about a CEO of a Fortune 500 company pulling into a service station to get gas. Of course he goes to a full-service station, and while his gas is being pumped he goes inside. When he comes back out, his wife is engaged in a deep discussion with the service station attendant. Turns out, she knew him. In fact, back in high school she used to date this man.

The CEO gets into the car, and they drive away. For a while, they are each lost in their own thoughts. Then, he finally speaks, “I bet I know what you were thinking. I bet you were thinking you’re glad you married me, a Fortune 500 CEO, and not him, a service station attendant.”

“No,” she replies, “I was thinking if I’d married him, he’d be a Fortune 500 CEO and you’d be a service station attendant.”

Jesus is delivering the same message to his disciples and the crowd overhearing him teach there in the Court of the Women. Pride is an obstacle to living in grace and gratitude. These people who throw their coins loudly clanking into The Trumpets stand proud and tall as people glance over, following the sound, believe that they are self-made men and women. Rich because of something they have done. Rich because they are smart. Rich because they have earned it. But the widow comes with her two thin coins and drops them quietly, faithfully in.

Why does Jesus lift her up as an example? Because she is humble. God rejoices over her because she is living the priorities of the Kingdom. She knows that all she has comes from God. So, she trusts God with all that she has.

The widow is an example of greatness, not because of what she does or how much she does, but because of her heart. May we learn from her example, for there is a priority adjustment ahead. Thanks be to God! Amen.