This Week

This week at praxis...Mites

As Jesus taught, he said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, 
and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, 
and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! 
They devour widows' houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. 
They will receive the greater condemnation. 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." 
----Mark 12:38-44


This is a double story in one. On one hand we have a Danish religious community...
very strict and pious. At the heart of the community is a man (the founder) 
and his two young daughters. As time goes on, the man ages and eventually dies. 
The daughters (who have given up their lives to serve their father and the others in the community) 
become the religious examples. At the same time there is a war in Europe and a woman 
flees France with the help of a man who was the beau of one of the sisters. 
He sends her to Denmark with a letter asking that they take her in. 
The Sisters are poor, but they cannot, in good conscience, turn the woman (Babette) away. 
She becomes a servant to them and the community. She cleans, cooks their simple fare, 
provides a warm smile and a calm demeanor. In general she does her duties uncomplaining. 

Finally, she wins a lottery and decides that to pay back the kindnesses she has 
received at the hands of the community, she will create a real French meal for them. 
The community is scandalized. They have never tasted wine and have eaten only dried 
salt fish and bread and beer soup for every meal all these years! But, 
they feel it is their duty as Christians to eat the meal and not say anything, 
even if it poisons them. They invite guests and decide to have the meal in 
honor of the founder's birthday. Everyone gathers. All of the petty jealousies, 
all of the nastiness that comes of people living so closely together for so many years, 
are brought to a head and then forgotten over the wonder of the meal. 			
----new.inthe80s.com/movies/babettesfeasy.shtml


A while
Without food
I can live;
But it breaks my heart
To know
I cannot give.
Penniless...
I can share my rags,
But I -
I cannot bear to hear
Starved children cry.
----Toyohiko Kagawa

Main Entry: 1mite
Pronunciation: 'mIt
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English mIte; 
akin to Middle Dutch mite mite, small copper coin and perhaps to Old High German meizan to cut
Date: before 12th century
: any of numerous small acarid arachnids that often infest animals, 
plants, and stored foods and include important disease vectors 
----www.m-w.com


Questions:

• What does it mean to give your all?
• What is it okay to give your all to? What is not okay to give your all to?
• Is it easier or harder to give when you do not have much?
• Did Babette's hosts deserve her gift?
• Does it matter?
• How have you experienced giving or receiving a gift like the widow's mite?