The woman comes off poorly. She always has. Some said she was “irrational,” maybe even hysterical.
Let’s break down some negative stereotypes and forever rid ourselves of them.
Where is the SYMPATHY that she is a “starving widow,” “begging” or “crying out” for her very existence?
Where is there outrage at injustice?
Doubly veiled, wearing the widows robe of black…she sits at or near the city gates – hoping against hope – that some kind hearted soul will throw a couple of meager coins her way…that she may “eat for today.”
If not, she will surely go to bed hungry and “return again” tomorrow…and the day after that…and the day after that.
She has learned to fend for herself.
She is “a survivor.”
Women were NOT to be seen.
They were NOT to speak in public.
They were forbidden from certain public venues.
But she – WAS “allowed” to beg.
Jesus had a “soft place in his heart” for widows. Jesus’ own mother was a widow, but at least she could rely on various men to care and provide for her.
Mary was WELL taken care of…
That was NOT the case of the vast majority of widows in Israel.
To be a widow caring for yourself – meant that – you had to become “relentless,” “incessant and persistent.” That is, IF you wanted to eat!
One had to become “unabated,” “undeterred,” a “little bit obstinate and unswerving.”
You needed to be “single-minded and purposeful,” “resolute and tireless,” if NOT you may NOT get anything to eat today…or tomorrow either!
Stubborn maybe, strong willed perhaps, adamant-alright, but what is wrong with those attributes?
If a man were head strong or strong willed it would be understandable, but a woman, NEVER. Why? Why the double-standard?
Let me just throw this one out there…the word –“hystera” coming from the Greek, actually means “from the womb.” And therefore, the term hysterectomy…makes sense! But do you realize that the word “Hysterical” or “Hysteria” comes from the same root.
The thought was that “a woman” could be irrational or even hysterical, because that was PECULIAR to women. The cause was – a “disturbance in the womb.”
Men could NEVER BE hysterical or irrational…only women could. Again, why the double standard?
So along comes THIS judge. A man of honor. A man of propriety. Dignified. Respectable. A man of discretion. Wise. A man of great formality. Looked up to…
And these two are about to have a confrontation “somewhere” in the Twilight Zone…
Jesus was “such a good story teller.” The people were drawn right in – from the “get-go.”
What do you MEAN she “yelled out” after the judge? Women DID NOT “cry out” or “yell out” in public? They were “COERCED into silence.” “Coerced” by the men of course!
So how dare she? And after a man of such HONOR and RESPECT?
But then we are told, just to “muddy the waters” a bit that this judge neither feared GOD nor had respect for anyone!”
So, the waters just got “muddier” and “murkier.”
And SHE wins out!
This woman of NO honor and NO authority.
Her tenacity pays off.
She defeats her adversary…
The widow comes off – on top, the winner!
So Jesus “uses this story” to teach PERSISTENCE…
The widow would NOT be deterred. She was in it for the long haul. She was committed. She had a “stick-tuitiveness,” about herself.
When all odds were against her… When the deck was stacked against her… When she came up against a BIG and POWERFUL man within her SOCIETY, who cared for FEW, other than himself…
She said, “I’ve got this!”
I can handle this.
With faith in herself, she plunged ahead…and would continue to plunge ahead until she got the justice, she felt she deserved.
And she was a survivor.