Sunday Connection

Gospel Reading
Mark 12:38-44 (shorter form, Mark 12:41-44)
Jesus notices a poor widow’s offering and commends her great sacrifice.

Making the Connection (Grades 1, 2, and 3)

We can encourage younger children to be generous and caring people by explaining that when we trust God to provide for us, we can share what we have with others, as Jesus calls us to do.

Materials Needed

• None

Preparation for Sunday Scripture Readings

1. Ask children to tell you what it means to be generous. Accept responses until children have a good idea of what it means to be generous (giving or sharing money and other goods, time, or talent, often more than is expected). Invite children to give examples of ways we can be generous.

2. Say: Sometimes being generous involves making a sacrifice. Ask: Do you think it is more generous to give away an old toy we don’t play with any more or a new toy that we like? (a new toy) Why? (We probably don’t care or think much about the old toy, but giving up the new toy would be hard because we like and use it.)

3. Say: In today’s Gospel, we hear about a woman who was generous. Listen carefully to what Jesus says about her.

4. Read aloud the shorter form of today’s Gospel, Mark 12:41–44.

5. Say: People who were rich gave a lot of money. However, Jesus called attention to someone else’s generosity. Whose generosity did Jesus acknowledge? (the widow’s) Say: The widow gave only two small coins, but her contribution was greater because she gave everything that she had. She trusted God to provide for her.

6. Say: We are called to be generous like the widow. Many of us can feel that we have little to give to a world that has so many problems. As he did with the widow, Jesus is telling us that what is most important to God is to give what we have with a generous heart.

7. Thank God for all he has given you and ask him to help you be generous like the widow who gave the two coins. Then close by praying the Glory Be to the Father.

Gospel Reading
Mark 12:38-44 (shorter form, Mark 12:41-44)
Jesus notices a poor widow’s offering and commends her great sacrifice.

Making the Connection (Grades 4, 5, and 6)

Generosity is a trait we wish to encourage and develop in our children. We teach generosity by encouraging trust in God, who will care for us when we share with others.

Materials Needed

• None

Preparation for Sunday Scripture Readings

1. Ask: Which would be more difficult: giving away a shirt you have outgrown or giving away your favorite shirt while it still fits you? (Giving away something that no longer fits us, while difficult, is usually easier.) Which is a more generous gift: giving away something that no longer fits or giving away your favorite shirt even when you can still wear it? (giving away your favorite shirt)

2. Say: One way we judge generosity is by the sacrifice required to make the gift. It is much more difficult to give away a piece of clothing we like very much and still fits. It requires us to make a sacrifice, to give up something we like in order to share with another person.

3. Say: In today’s Gospel, Jesus notices people putting money in the collection box at the Temple. Let’s listen to what Jesus observes.

4. Invite one or more volunteers to read today’s Gospel, Mark 12:41-44.

5. Ask: What does Jesus notice about the people putting money into the collection box? (The rich people put in large amounts of money; a poor widow put in two small coins.) What does Jesus say about the poor widow? (that she gave more than all the others because she shared all that she had)

6. Say: Jesus acknowledges the generosity of the poor widow, even though she gave a lesser amount to the treasury. Her small coins required a greater sacrifice than the large amounts contributed by those who were rich. In order to be generous like the poor widow, we must have trust that God will take care of us, even if we share all that we have with others.

7. Conclude in prayer together asking God to teach us to trust him so that we can be generous like the poor widow in today’s Gospel. Pray together the Peace Prayer of St. Francis.

Gospel Reading
Mark 12:38-44 (shorter form, Mark 12:41-44)
Jesus notices a poor widow’s offering and commends her great sacrifice.

Making the Connection (Grades 7 and 8)

Generosity is about more than giving great amounts of money or valuable possessions. Jesus teaches us that real generosity is measured by the sacrifice made to give the gift.

Materials Needed

• None

Preparation for Sunday Scripture Readings

1. Say: I want each of you to think quietly for a few minutes about how you would complete this sentence: A gift I was given that I will always remember is . . .

2. Ask: Was the gift you thought about the most expensive present you’ve received? If not, then what made this gift so memorable? (It was unique; it was just what I most wanted; the thoughtfulness of the person who gave the gift was particularly appreciated; the one who gave the gift was special; and so on.)

3. Say: Sometimes we value gifts for more than their monetary cost. In today’s Gospel, Jesus comments on the generosity of people he sees putting money in the collection box at the Temple. Let’s listen to what Jesus observes.

4. Invite one or more volunteers to read today’s Gospel, Mark 12:41-44.

5. Ask: What does Jesus notice about the people putting money into the collection box? (The rich people put in large amounts of money; a poor widow put in just two small coins.) What does Jesus say about the poor widow? (that she gave more than all the others because she shared all that she had)

6. Say: Jesus made the poor widow’s gift of a few coins a memorable example of generosity. Even though she gave a lesser amount to the treasury than others, her small donation required a greater sacrifice than the large donations contributed by those who were rich. God wants us to share generously with others, giving not just from our surplus but from our whole self.

7. Conclude in prayer together asking God to help us be generous like the poor widow in today’s Gospel. Pray together the Peace Prayer of St. Francis.

Gospel Reading
Mark 12:38-44 (shorter form, Mark 12:41-44)
Jesus notices a poor widow’s offering and commends her great sacrifice.

Family Connection

Today’s Gospel leads us to think about our family’s financial contributions to our parish community, the diocese, other Church-sponsored organizations, and other charitable organizations. Good stewardship invites us to share our treasure as well as our time and talent. Sometimes, however, decisions about a family’s charitable giving are made without our children’s knowledge. Yet we teach more when we invite all family members to be aware of how we contribute to our Church and to other charitable organizations.

As you gather as a family, talk about your family’s financial contributions to your parish and to other Church activities. If your family supports other charitable organizations, you might talk about these as well. Talk together about why it is important for us to share our resources with these organizations. Read today’s Gospel, Mark 12:41-44. Talk about what Jesus observes about the generosity of the poor widow. Talk also about ways in which your family might also make a sacrificial gift to support your parish or other charitable organization. (Perhaps your family might choose not to go out to dinner but to contribute the money to your parish). Invite all family members to participate in the decision about what action you will take and which organization you will support with your contribution. Conclude in prayer together asking God to help your family be generous like the poor widow in today’s Gospel. Pray together the Peace Prayer of St. Francis.