February 17, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 56, 111, 118
Isaiah 66:1-6
1 Timothy 6:1-21
Mark 12:35-44

II. Selections
Psalm 56:4
In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I am not afraid;
what can flesh do to me?

Isaiah 66:2b
But this is the one to whom I will look,
to the humble and contrite in spirit,
who trembles at my word.

1 Timothy 6:6-8
O course, there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it; but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.

Mark 12:44
For all of [ the rich people] have contributed out of their abundance; but [ the poor widow] out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on. [ Jesus to his disciples]

III. Meditation: A reason for trembling

The poor widow should have been afraid
out of her poverty to give her last coins,
everything she had, all she had to live on-
yet she made them her offering to you.

Apparently her trust in you overcame her fear.
She who brought nothing into the world
was content to take nothing out of it-
but what of food and clothing?

If she who was humble and contrite in spirit
trembled before you, perhaps the trembling
was not in fear, but in joy over your word-
your word that it was safe to trust in you.