Contents
Introduction
After his wonderful teaching and clarification to the question of the scribe concerning the greatest commandment, the passage concludes with Mark’s observation that no one dared ask Jesus any more questions (cf. Mark 12:34b). Before the Gospel of this Sunday, Mark reports a passage where Jesus corrected the wrong notion that he is the son of David (cf. Mark 12:35–37). As Jesus noted, if David himself speaking by the Holy Spirit, addressed him as Lord, how then can he be David’s son? It is not possible. It was after this clarification and correction that Jesus warned the crowd to beware of the hypocrisy of the teachers of the law (the scribes). Before presenting the wonderful example of the poor widow who gave from her heart, Jesus condemned the impression and hypocrisy of the teachers of the law and other Jewish authorities. The warning is also for the contemporary Christians who are like them.
The example of the widow
“Jesus sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny” (Mark 12:41–42). After condemning the attitude of the scribes, Jesus sat down and observed the happenings in the Synagogue. He watched both the poor and the rich make their offerings and express their appreciations to God for His blessings. Among others, Jesus noticed a poor widow who made an exceptional offering. This pleased him. After the offering, Jesus called his disciples and said to them “truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on” (Mark 12:43–44).
Social justice
What is social justice? It is justice in terms of the distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges within a society. Social justice is a political and philosophical concept. Such concept sustains that every member of the society should have equal access to wealth, health, well-being, justice and opportunity. In other words, the negation or obstruction of this would be social injustice. According to Farooq, Social injustice occurs in a situation where the equals are treated unequally and the unequal is treated equally. Three common examples.……
Conclusion
This is a serious point of reflection on what is happening today in almost all the Christian churches, including Catholic Church, especially here in Nigeria. There is a trend, which has been going on in many churches. There are now series of awards and recognitions, which most often, are given freely and without faith-motivating criterion. The most striking things are not these awards and recognitions, but the calibre of people that receive them and the reasons for which they receive them. If you do not have money and do not know “those who matter”, then, you can forget it. Parishioners and Church members are now categorised into two: the rich and the poor. What a shame! When you complain that dubious people and people with questionable characters are being given awards in the Church, you will be scolded and accused of judging others. This is painful! That which Jesus condemned is now practised in the open and presented as models to be imitated. In Jesus’ day, religious people tried to impress each other with showy outward behaviour. They wore gaunt and hungry looks during fast, prayed grandiosely if people were watching. They even went as far as wearing Bible verses.….
FOR DETAILS, GET YOUR OWN COPIES OF THE BOOK “THE WORD OF LIFE: SUNDAY REFLECTIONS” (vols. I and II)!! The reflection for the 32nd Sunday of the year (B) is found in vol. II pages 502–516. Happy reading!
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