Christian Reflection and Prayer

Scripture:

Mark 12:38-44

Jesus Denounces the Scribes

38 As he taught, he said, “Beware of the scribes, who
like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with
respect in the marketplaces, 39 and to have the best
seats in the synagogues and places of honor at
banquets! 40 They devour widows’ houses and for the
sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive
the greater condemnation.”
The Widow’s Offering
41 He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the
crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people
put in large sums. 42 A poor widow came and put in two
small copper coins, which are worth a penny. 43 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. 44 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.” New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Giving can be risky.  Today's passage is about a poor
widow who gave two small copper coins to the temple
treasury.  It was all she had.  She not only risked her
livelihood, she also risked ridicule from on lookers who
could give much more.

And even though her donation was small and may not
have made much difference, it was her devotion to
God that has been and inspiration for generations.  
Jesus said of her, "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 our of her poverty has put
everything she had, all she had to live on"
(vv; 43-43, NRSV).

Loving can also be risky. But it is always worth it
because love changes things.  Sometimes I am affraid
to love.  What's the risk, I ask myself?  Rejection?

It's never about the offering.  It's about the heart and
the love behind the giving.  The poor widow trusted the
love of her Lord to cover her needs and desires.

Prayer:

Lord please help us to give from a heart of love and
devotion.  Amen

(Covenant Home Alter, author Alice Benavides)

Scripture:

"The Lord has heard my supplication: the Lord accepts
my prayer. (Psalm 6:9)

Reflection:

Do you pray?  I mean do you talk with God?  It's an honest
question isn't it?  First there has to be a premise here that
you believe in God.  For this reflections sake I am assuming
that you do.  

Then again I'm asking you this question, Do you pray?  It's
not difficult to answer, either you do or you don't. If you do
talk with God, Do you think that God accepts what you have
to say. Do you really think He cares?

Now I know that your not going to be surprised at what I'm
about to say, but I really and truly believe that God really
cares about our prayers. Out of all His creation and all the
billions of people on this earth, GOD LISTENS TO ME AND
HE LISTENS TO YOU! Now my more cynical friends would
ask me to prove it.  Well to be really honest I can't.  But
there's something I know, something I feel, something
that is within me, it's called "Faith". I can't explain it and I
can't see it, but I know my faith is there.  And through my
faith I know God hears and accepts what I have to say to
Him. And yes God answers me, no He does not whisper in
my ear, or appear before me in the darkness of night. But
I know He answers my prayers. You know how I know,
because whatever my conversation with God is, it comes
out in my life. Whether it is request, a word of praise and
thanksgiving, or a concern for someone else, it always
becomes apparant in my life. It always makes my life
better and so much happier even when it's not what I
thought I wanted for my life. It's what God wants, and
that's what makes my life better.  And when I don't pray,
when I try to do things on my own without talking with
God, my life is miserable.

So I guess I'm one of those "cornball" Christians that
believe that God hears and He anwsers prayer. But I'm a
happy "cornball" Christian.  How about you?

Prayer:

Thanks God for the conversation, I love You! Amen

“What I feared has come upon me;
     what I dreaded has happened to me.” — Job 3:25

I once read about an interesting phenomenon. A certain
kind of bird dwells on high trees, and there is a particular
kind of snake that feeds on these birds. How does the
lowly snake catch the bird? It makes a sound, and when
the bird looks, it bares its fangs in a show of rage. The
bird gets so frightened that instead of flying away, it
freezes and falls over like a stone directly into the
snake’s mouth.

This is the danger of fear. I want to encourage us all to
rise above fear and choose faith instead. Faith is the set
of wings that can get us out of any dangerous situation.
Let us not waste our days in empty worry but instead trust
God for safety and prosperity.

With prayers for shalom, peace,
Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein