“Exploitation” is taking an “unfair advantage” of a given situation.
“Exploitation” is basically “a selfish act.” It is all about me…my wants, my desires, my needs. It is about one’s own advantage…over someone else. It is unfair. It is not right. It is often times about a “misuse or abuse” of power. It also has to do with the “ill treatment” of another human being.
It may involve “manipulation or swindling or cheating.” It could involve “preying on.” It definitely has to do with “using” another person in a “negative sense.” I benefit, you do not. It may also involve financial profit and reward.
I think of words like “oppression” and “victimization.” All of it is icky. Very icky. The proverbial saying ‘power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely’ is more than applicable. There is a pecking order.
“Exploitation” is not something that happened only in the past. I think of slavery.
There is a present reality to it…with “all the human forms of trafficking” today.”
“Elder abuse” is and probably always has been rampant. “Children” have always been a vulnerable population. The “mentally challenged, the disabled, the handicapped” are also at a high risk of abuse or neglect…
Somewhere … exploitation is going on even now…someone – somewhere is being taken advantage of…in this very moment of time.
“Using people” is never a good thing.
In ancient Israel there was concern for the alien or the resident sojourner, the orphan and the widow.
Widows were of “special concern” of the prophets of old. They gave them voice.
One mark of a “righteous society” it was said, was based on “how” it treated its widows. And of course, Israel considered itself to be a “righteous and holy nation.”
After all, they were a royal priesthood, a people set apart, chosen by God himself!
In an all “patriarchal-male-dominated-society” widows were completely and utterly “power-less”…and treated as such.
If a widow had no male children, her fate, was often to become “destitute.” Begging daily – would become a necessity for survival.
Because of their “precarious position,” widows were “prime targets” for exploitation.
But who would have guessed that it would have been” the religious powers that be” that would take advantage of the “powerless?”
The “religious elite” were supposed to be the “good guys.” They were supposed to be holy, special, set apart. They were supposed to be above reproach or so, everyone seemed to think.
They were supposed to be the guys wearing “white hats!”
It was an example of the “powerful” against the “powerless.” “Exploitation” is the appropriate word, I believe.
It doesn’t matter if we are talking about first century Judaism and the Synagogue or the Temple or present day Christianity and the church…exploitation is wrong. It is sinful. It is not godly or godlike.
The Temple, the Synagogue, the church was created to help individuals, to be supportive, encouraging, to be here for people…and to not take advantage of them.
“Vulnerable populations” will always be with us…and someone will always prey on them…but that does not make it right or just or good.
And Jesus stood opposed to any and all exploitation of all peoples. And here, he specifically speaks on behalf of widows.
It is interesting because as Mark shares this incident there is a foreshadowing of the contribution of Jesus, himself.
Jesus will proclaim God’s good news of non-violent justice in the face of Rome’s violent injustices.
And very much like the widow, herself, Jesus will hold nothing back.
Like her, he will give all that he has to give. His devotion will be total – there will be no half measures for him, no easy way out.
She and Jesus will set a standard that will challenge each and every one of us to re-examine – just how much we are willing to give…and how much we are willing to trust in God.
Exploit no one. Love everyone. And trust in God above all things.
Amen.