|
 Background
This reflection
offers the
Scriptural backdrop
for the "Giving
Daily Care"
stewardship
reflections. This
session challenges
you to take a new
look at how you view
wealth and poverty
within the context
of abundance and
scarcity, both as an
individual and as a
Christian community.
Level of income is
not the only
indicator of wealth
and poverty; your
discussion or
reflection should be
directed to a
broader
understanding of
God's presence in
your life.
Reading
Jesus' Anointing at
Bethany
Matthew 26:6–13
Reflection
The disciples
thought it was a
waste, and said so.
Jesus thought it was
beautiful, and said
so.
The
only person in this
story who is silent
is the woman. We are
not told who she is.
We do not know if
she was wealthy, or
if she was one of
those poor people
whom the disciples
thought could have
used the money. We
do not know if she
had been following
Jesus, listening to
him, learning from
him for the past
three years, or if
she had just met
him. We do not know
if she had another
half-dozen jars of
expensive perfume at
home, or if she
spent her life's
savings to purchase
just this one.
She
is the only one who
remains silent. Yet
her actions speak
louder than words.
The
disciples' words
reveal their
thinking: there is
only so much to go
around — only so
much perfume, only
so much money, only
so many resources
— and all they
could see was waste.
Jesus' response, by
contrast, is not a
"put down"
of the poor, but a
recognition that
what may seem to
some to be an
obviously wasteful
use of resources
may, in fact, be a
response-able use of
God's gifts.
Fear
of scarcity brings
judgments of waste;
trust in the God of
abundance brings
actions of love. The
disciples still
needed to learn a
thing or two from
Jesus, not to
mention from this
woman.
Discussion
| 1. |
Where
do you see
wealth in
your
personal
life?
Where do you
see poverty in
your personal
life? |
| 2. |
How
do you view
your
resources?
How do they
relate to
your
spiritual
journey and
your
relationship
with God? Do
you feel
that God has
given you
enough? |
| 3. |
What
do you have
that you can
share with
others? What
is scarce in
your life?
What do you
fear losing
or giving
away? |
| 4. |
Look
at your
congregational
unit's
budget for
this year.
Where does
it reflect a
scarcity
mentality?
An abundance
mentality? |
Prayer
Help us, O God, to
face our fear of
scarcity and to
embrace you and your
abundance. Help us
faithfully to sort
through what is
wasteful and what is
response-able use of
all that you have
given to us. Amen
Written
by Susan K. Wendorf
for Women of the
ELCA. Copyright ©
1995 Women of the
Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America.
All rights reserved.
May be reproduced
for use by Women of
the ELCA in
congregations
provided each copy
carries the
copyright notice
above. For
all other purposes, contact
us.
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