This Sunday, the lectionary texts lead us to look at the power of weakness. The story of Ruth (3:1-5; 4:13-17) shows us two women who lost everything, including their identity. They took small steps, opening themselves up to healing and restoration. The passage in the book of Hebrews (9:24-28), reminds us that the Christian life is not primarily dependent on our work, but on Christ's work. And our gospel text (Mark 12:38-44)

tells the beautiful story of a widow who gave out of her poverty, out of her weakness, and yet Jesus said that she gave more than anyone.

The Christian faith is about responding in weakness rather than strength, a culturally counter-intuitive movement. When we follow Christ, we offer not only our strengths, but our weaknesses, our shame and our hurt--all that we have and all that we are.