The Widow and the Robber

The Parable of the Widow and the Robber

A widow owned a field and in that field were the most delicious fruit trees. Her late husband had lovingly worked and tended for many decades and always shared what he was blessed with. Whenever people were hungry and wanted to pick some of the fruit, she would tell them, “You only need to ask and maybe spend a little time with me as we enjoy the fruit, and I can share with you stories of my husband and his loves and the labor of his years and you can tell me about your loves and losses, your hopes and dreams.

And so it was that the townspeople would come asking and they would visit and talk about life and love while they enjoyed the savory fruit. As they talked the widow would smile as she remembered her husband and his gentle and generous ways. When the visit was over the widow would always bless them with more fruit than they could eat and an invitation to visit again.

Friendships grew and stories of the fruit and the husband spread wide. And soon “may I pick some delicious fruit” became a part of their culture where sharing stories of loved ones over a bowl of fruit became a way of life. All who asked received abundantly more than they needed or asked and the orchard was never without ripe fruit.

One day the widow discovered that in the dark of night a man named Rob was sneaking into the field and taking the fruit. He would take the stolen fruit to the market and sell it. He cared nothing about the widow or for asking and sharing. Rob, puffed up with pride, congratulated himself about the creativity of his theft; Neither asking nor visiting nor desiring fellowship or friendship with the widow and dishonoring the labors of the husband and his teacher.

The widow went to the market to speak with Rob and she said, “Why steal the fruit? I have always given freely of the produce of my garden like my husband had been taught by his teacher. All that was required was the simple courtesy of asking first and then you could have enjoyed not only the fruit but the friendship. I am a widow and all that I have is what my husband has left me; the produce of his garden and his desire to be generous and loving.

The man said to the widow, “Your husband is dead, and your field is open to all, you have no fences or guards, and I see that you give freely to anyone who asks. I took it because I can and who are you to demand the payment of asking and friendship when you have more fruit than you could ever eat? Is not my labor of taking and my ingenuity of selling in the market enough, must I also ask and talk to you? Besides, I am doing what Jesus told me to do. He told me to take and not ask and to have nothing to do with widows or orphans. Take me to court if you are so offended.”

The widow went away sad, but all the while the Judge of the village saw the generosity of the widow and the evil of the man and he took all that Rob possessed and gave it to the widow and threw the man in prison until he died.