Ruminate This

Today's passage is very short. It is often referred to as the "Widow's Offering," and this, too, may be a familiar passage. As always, the danger of familiar passages is missing the meaning assuming we already know what it is about. Listen with open ears and an open mind. Listen as though this is the first time you have heard this reading.

Lectio divina is a wonderful spiritual practice, and the hope of spiritual practices is both to connect you with God, but also to stretch you spiritually. A suggestion, since this is such a short passage, is to memorize this scripture. Scripture memorization is another spiritual practice that can be helpful and also challenge us. As you memorize it, allow the words to soak in, ruminate, and continue to transform you.

Rather than linking to the scripture, you can find it below: He 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. Then he 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.'

Today's passage is long and it covers a whole lot. I hope you'll take the time to finish the practice, but make sure you give yourself ample time to do so.

There is a theme that emerges in today's text. The religious elites continue to question Jesus, they try to trap him, out smart him, get him to mess up. But time and again Jesus not only outwits the religious elites, he engages wisdom and invites them to move beyond their dualistic understanding of right and wrong. He invites them to encounter God in a new way, to reimagine the God they think they know.

May you too be invited to reimagine God as you hear the scripture for today.

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Today's reading has another parable. There is incredible power in storytelling. A story can convery layers, or levels, of truth in a way that direct answers cannot. I encourage you to sit with the parable from today. Pay attention to what it teaches at the surface level. Then pay attention to the next layer down, and the next, and the next.

Parables can be confusing and difficult to understand. They can also open you to a whole new understanding of yourself, of others, and of God. May that be true for you today.

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"By what authority are you doing these things?" This is the question posed to Jesus by the religious leaders of his day. The question of authority is one we still wrestle with today. One that causes a lot of division both within the church and beyond.

Jesus responds to their question with a question of his own. This is a pretty standard response for Jesus. Rather than directly answering a question, he asks his own question(s). What might this tell us about how Jesus communicates, teaches, and/or his understanding of authority?

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Today's text, like so much of the Gospel according to Mark, is layered. It appears the teaching of Jesus has a surface level understanding, and also countless layers of understanding below the surface.

As Jenny invites you to do, hear the text not just for information, but for formation. May you be informed, as well as transformed, by today's reading.

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The passage for today is probably a familiar one for those who have grown up in the church. This Palm Sunday reading is a story we hear every year the Sunday before Easter, often accompanied by kids waving palm branches singing songs of "Hosanna!"

With passages we are familiar with it is often difficult to hear the words afresh and anew. As you hear these words, try to remove any preconceived notions you have about the story and hear it as if it were the first time.

May God speak something new and unique from what may be old and familiar.

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"What do you want me to do for you?" What an interesting question Jesus poses in today's reading. It may seem obvious in the given context, but the question may take a little more work for you to be able to honestly answer it.

May this time of deep, intentional reading open you to a new self awareness of what your wants and your needs truly are. And may you honestly respond to Jesus' question.

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Today, once again, we get an example of the disciples missing the point, or at least some of them.

You can imagine the disciples confusion when they hear their teacher, their leader, say, "The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve." The radical nature of Jesus' servant leadership changed their understanding of messiahship.

How easy it is to find ourselves in the same situations as the disciples. May the hearing of today's text challenge you, and inspire you, in your service to God's will being done, here and now.

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Today's passage is long and talks about money. In fact it takes a pretty hard stance in regard to wealth and how difficult it will be for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God. Notice, it is not impossible, rather it is more difficult, a lot more difficult.

I hope the text from today will both challenge you, but also open your eyes to see the world as a child sees it. I have no doubt the Gospel writer was very intentional with the invitation to be more childlike right before he addressed the topic of wealth.

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Warning: Today's reading brings up divorce.

Divorce is a difficult subject. Many have long lasting trauma associated with divorce. As you engage in a spiritual practice, such as lectio divina, the silence and intentional opening of yourself to God may open you to some deep rooted trauma. Be prepared to experience emotions that you thought you had already dealt with. Don't be afraid to reach out to a friend, a therapist, somebody you can share your experience with.

We often read scripture, or practice lectio divina alone (though it doesn't have to be alone), but we never have to stay alone. There are those out there who want to support you. Don't be afraid to reach out to the church if you need support.

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