The Model of Discipleship

Gospel: Mark 12: 38-44

The Roman collar worn by most priests in the west has its origin in the ancient Roman Empire.  It was the neck band worn by slaves.  The Roman clergy adopted it to identify with and be in solidarity with the slave class of their day.  Similarly, the robes of the monk and friar were originally the simple garb of a beggar, adopted by the monk and friar as they were literal beggars, living the life of poverty to be in solidarity with the poor of their day.

Needless to say, not a single cleric of our day wears these items for these intended purposes.  Nowadays, these religious garbs are worn to exhibit the status and power of the clerics, who gather among themselves to shop around at the finest houses of religious garb for these wares.  Yet, if one were to ask a cleric of our days, somehow the words of Jesus regarding religious attire seems to apply only to the religious leaders of his day and not to Christian clergy of this or any other time.  

Jesus points us to the widow as the person to imitate in our life: to have little, to possess no status in society, and to give generously what little we have to care for others.  We are not be like the rich and powerful, nor are we to be like the professional religious class and their fineries.  Our model in discipleship is a poor, powerless woman, not rich and haughty men.  For it is the poor who will possess the kingdom of God, and the meek will inherit the earth.