The Currency of Your Being
Mark 12:41-44
The narrative of our oppression as black women or women of color has always been the same. We give! We give too damn too many times. We offer unto others without reciprocity despite socioeconomic statuses or educational achievements. We have given and continue to provide even if it implies sacrificing ourselves, or substituting ourselves for the well-being of others. Unjustly we are bears of all things. We give our lives, our dreams; we give the ability and mobility of our intuition as well as our bodies and intelligence for the sake of humanity, but more so for patriarchy. Mainly, whether we realize it or not, the oppressive structure of America and the world has placed us on the cross and yet, unconsciously, many us continue to put ourselves on the cross. With this truth, I understand that it’s not that we desire crucifixion. It is, unfortunately, that many of us have anywhere to go. So, it is my intentions, beloved, to take you, to take us off the cross.
One cross we bear is the ability or intention to sacrifice for ourselves. Sometimes, we fail to reverse our actions from others to self. Naturally, we’ve been taught to come second, fifth or not at all. Many women stay in abusive relationships due to the oppression their partners face as people of color. Some of these women believe that their sacrificial commitment is the antidote their partner needs to survive. As a black woman, we commit adultery to ourselves when we fail to make sacrifices for our well-being by conforming to the notion of the strong black woman. Again, this isn’t entirely our fault. We had influences such as the false traditional theology of submission, patriarchy, and models of our foremothers doing what they knew while suffering simultaneously. This ideology of the Strong Black Woman seems to be deemed necessary for our survival because it has gotten us this far, but at what emotional, spiritual, physical and financial cost?
This begs me to ask the question when have women withheld? When have women stated ‘No’ for their well-being or for our right to say, “No!” Can women confess – without shame or guilty – that they don’t desire to be mothers? It appears, from the memory of my grandmother, Dorothy Thompson, that she always gave for the sake of others – including g myself – but rarely for herself. My grandmother and I held many discussions centered on her willingness to say, “no,” but I’ve never seen her follow through. The conformity of sacrifice embodied by women yet birthed by the demands, pride and “needs” of patriarchy is inflicted upon and within women for a lifetime.
Within our selected text we encounter a prophetic and well-needed observation. Towards the end of Mark 12, after much debate and frustration with religious leaders, the position Yeshua places himself produces immense curiosity. Before Yeshua sits down, in chapter 11, he curses a fig tree for its barrenness and denounces the commerce occurring within the temple. In chapter 12, we see Yeshua deal with the rejection of his divine identity. He establishes proper financial stewardship over what belongs to the emperor and what belongs to God. He explains the need for real love that is pure substance over a depleted act of burnt offerings, and he reveals the hypocritical hearts of Sadducees. In essence, Yeshua engages in the act of dismantling traditional orders that failed to illustrate the spirit and presence of God and therefore, abandoning the corrupt structures that govern the people. After such work, Yeshua sat down in the temple and watched as a widow – whom I name as Bern, meaning brave because although she gave sacrificially, which in this content is unjust, it isn’t docile to give your last – into a treasury or institution. After, correcting the Sadducees and Pharisees, after denouncing improper stewardship and vain worship, Yeshua sat and watched a poor woman give her last, which is a sacrifice. Why?
It would seem appropriate for Yeshua to stop this woman from giving her last, but I assume that would go against free will. It would seem appropriate for the Messiah to inform Bern that her willingness to give her last was a sacrifice and therefore, she could keep her money. It would seem appropriate for Yeshua to provide Bern with a portion of the vast sums that rich folk, perhaps unconsciously, placed in the collection plate. The Messiah doesn’t engage in any action. According to Biblical text, Yeshua sits there and watches. It is without a doubt that Bern was unaware of her actions. It is impossible for a poor woman to be blind to what she has and what she is giving. Moreover, the only thing the texts reveals is how Yeshua utilizes her sacrifice as a teachable moment, and our self-sacrifices shouldn’t be minimized only as teachable moments.
Our sacrifices should raise questions to the masses. For instance, why is a woman remaining in an abusive relationship? Why did Bern give her last two cents to the institution that was supposed to provide for her? Why do women trapped in sex trafficking transition into Madams? Why have Latinx women left their homes, their native lands and are now begging at the borders of this country to be included in such a great nation? Why do women settle for partners they don’t desire? Why are women taught to suppressive their sexuality? Why are women given the crumbs or the leftovers from a circumstance when they have given their all? Moreover, as Christians why are we not wrestling with this injustice when women are the nurtures of our children, the caregivers for our elders, the birthers of generations and the key to what orchestrates every society that exists? Why? Bern’s story is prophetic – meaning it illuminates hidden wisdom and provokes action to resolve injustice by asking ourselves, “what if that was me?” or seeing ourselves in biblical narratives and correlating our answers and revelation to current similar dilemmas. Prophetic narratives aren’t just good stories; they’re conversational pieces that should provide the opportunity to cultivate resolutions.
Secondly, I take joy in the fact that God saw Bern although I’m disappointed that Yeshua didn’t suggest to Bern that her money was better in her pocket. I want to confirm that you are in God’s sight. The injustice or discrimination your encounter or bearing isn’t outside the gaze of God. Also, if that’s the case when is God going to do something about it? Like you sis, I seek the answer to this question as well. Oppressive circumstances have a tremendous influence on the emotions and mental state of any individual. With that, it is easy for the desire of liberation to die or shrink. Because this is so, I’m here to inform you – and it is my hope something within you is re-birthed – that it’s time to invest in the currency of your being rather than an institution. Dr. Touré’s stated
“…you have to see your worth as your future. Not as benevolence or charity...I’m a religious education teacher, I know what culture is teaching you. ‘You’ve been called to set the captive free, to feed the homeless, etc. So you enter in, in the sacrificial mode because we’ve socialized you that way. The currency of your being is as valuable as the work you do. Do not dismiss the currency of your being for the task you believe God has called you to... God is not saying, ‘the work I have you to do in the world is of more value to me than you.’ So, we have to apologize for the miseducation of clergy where we told you to sacrifice, sacrifice, sacrifice..”
Unlearning tradition is essential in discovering how much women indeed have sacrificed for others and intuitions as well as how much more women can make sacrifices for themselves. Just as clergy was taught to enter into their ministry in sacrificial mindsets, women were and are trained to enter into everything sacrificially.
For women, especially women of color, sacrificing for their well-being is investing in the currency of their being. It allows a woman to see the value she possesses and should influence her to invest in herself – into her love, body, and divinity. When women arrive at the intention to invest in their currency – the essence of who they are opposed to what their oppressor states they are or what cultural norms define them as – they’ve begun the process and practice of cultivating self-love which is ritualistic because it guides our spirits to do more for ourselves.
I believe that as women continue to give to themselves, they’re worshiping and loving the Divine. So as often as women do so, the Spirit will bring the ancestral, indigenous and spiritual wisdom needed to assist other women to dismantle or forsake the cross they bear.
Many women are bearing crosses of continuous objectification due to the parallelism between the existence of women of color and chattel. Women also carry this cross in maternity wards, in prison systems, on the grounds of social justice, in the personal injustices they face like domestic and sexual assault, and in the beloved black church due to women bodies being disrespected dead or alive.
So, if you’re going to give beloved if you’re willing to make any sacrifices, can you give what you have to yourself? My suggestion is to build the currency of your body, intelligence and intuition by sowing the last of what you have into yourself, which is holy ground, which is good soil. The currency of your body, spirituality, intelligence and intuition isn’t a material currency. The currency of your being is of greater worth. More significant than what the world has to offer because eyes have not seen nor ears have heard what your currency will produce and recover for the Spirit, for yourself, and for the culture of your people as well as generations to come. However, know how you decide to contribute your currency is your decision. I understand there's a possibility you're in an oppressive place, and your only option is to sacrifice yourself. I know that many women are in areas that encourages the theology of self-sacrifice. Know that I’m not just praying for you, but I’m working to set you free. Before I can do so, I have to get myself off the cross. Moreover, when I do so, I’ll be more equipped to assist you in forsaking your cross.
Beloved, if you believe the currency of your being or your soul has experienced depletion or is worthiness allow this message to sink in some way, somehow. Your currency is worth more than people, or your oppressor illustrates. Due to your currency having more value than one can understand acts as an influencer of your oppression. I know you may not have the energy to try to believe something new. I know that you’re merely trying to survive. I hope that you can consider once again or for the first time in yourself. This is how we get off the cross as women of color. We recognize, we believe in and sow into the currency of our being without with bravery and audacity, which is fighting back against fear, and without the need to explain our actions. We don’t sacrifice the currency of our being for the world or men, but rather for ourselves. Therefore, we allow the currency of our being to fund, to do the work our souls must have. With that, for those of are that are privileged to sow into our currency freely, go and stand at your sister’s cross and sow into her currency. Know that we don’t do the work to die in the process, but to live in the future. We do the work so millions can live free of the oppression we’ve endured.
Hopefully one day, someone will ask the question: have you ever seen or known women to continuously and without apology, sacrifice for themselves? Millions will answer, with sass, with joy, with confidence, with sincerity and in normative mindset, “hell yea!”
Erica Cody is an Atlanta Native. She is the daughter of Tara and Kirby Carswell and the oldest of two siblings: Kirby and Elaynah Carswell. Currently, Erica is earning a Master’s in Divinity at McAfee School of Theology with a concentration in Pastoral Care that focuses on Womanist Theology and Social Justice. She is also training to practice chaplaincy in the Navy. Erica identifies herself as a poet and preacher. Erica employs these avenues of art as a form resistance and self-expression. As far as hobbies, she enjoys reading and writing as well as exploring various cuisines. Erica’s spiritual inspiration stemmed from her grandmother, Dorothy Thompson; It was Dorothy’s presence that confirmed Erica’s call to ministry and to change the world.