What makes Jesus mad? The story of the widow’s mite in Luke 21:1-4 suggests one area that would make Jesus furious – economic disparities and conditions that fail to meet basic human needs. Jesus would be furious that the richest nation in the world is not designing policies to promote just, sustainable livelihood for all – both within our borders and through trade agreements that impact global labor practices.
What does a furious Jesus do? In the story of the widow’s mite, Jesus notices and names things that are amiss. When someone is misjudged or treated unfairly, like the woman who washed Jesus’ feet with her tears (Luke 7:36-50), Jesus names the injustice and offers forgiveness, kindness, and peace.
Jesus also handled his anger by contravening stereotypes, speaking to a Samaritan woman at a well (John 4:1-52). He took direct action to dismantle unjust systems, overturning the tables of the money changers at the temple (Mark 11:15-17). Today, Jesus might channel his anger by following Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s non-violent resistance protocol, learning from Mahatma Ghandi: “We negotiate, we demonstrate, we resist.”
This message was excerpted from “What makes Jesus mad?” by Bev Stratton in the July/August 2015 Gather magazine. Today we commemorate Catherine Winkworth, 1878, and John Mason Neale, 1866, hymn translators.
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