God looks at the heart!

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Yr B

The world has not really changed! In Jesus’ time, there were a number of people who gave great importance to their appearance. It is still the same today. We care about how we look, what others think. Our status is important. At times, our appearance seems to be more important than whom we really are. The Scribes and the Pharisees, cared about their appearance, they wanted people to think that they were good, holy persons. However, Jesus says that, they “like to go around in long robes and accept greetings in the marketplaces, seats of honour in synagogues, and places of honour at banquets. They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext recite lengthy prayers.”

In reality, they were respected by those around them, because they were wise in interpreting the Law. Their problem was that they were proud of their position, prouder of their appearance and status, than the wisdom they had. Jesus condemns the fact, that they also exploited the weak and the poor, when they were duty bound to live as God asked. The hunger for power and authority and the greed for material wealth, looks like an age old weakness!

When we care more about material possessions, and our appearance, we will be more concerned with ourselves, rather than others. The poor widow had none of these pretences. 

The widow, was humble. Her appearance was not comparable to that of the wealthy ones, who afforded to give from the extra that they had. No one took notice of her, neither did they make way for her to pass. However, she did not escape Jesus’ attention! He uses her to teach those around him. The widow gives all that she has and trusts in the providence of God. This Gospel leads us to the passion of Jesus, where he gives all that he has, he give his life to God, for us. 

Today’s Gospel, also helps us reflect, not only on our material possessions, which we are asked to share with others, but also on our talents. These are also our fortune. Our talents are gifts from God. God gives them to us for our own good and for the benefit of others. Are we proud of our talents? Do we expect praise? Or do we acknowledge that what we have is a generous gift from God? If Jesus is our role model, then pride should not be one of our character traits. 

A reading from the Gospel of Mark (Mk 12, 38-44) 

In the course of his teaching Jesus said to the crowds, “Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes and accept greetings in the marketplaces, seats of honour in synagogues, and places of honour at banquets. They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext recite lengthy prayers.  They will receive a very severe condemnation.”

He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury.  Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents.  Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, “Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury.  For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.”

The Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ

  1. Read the Gospel story so that you are familiar with it.
  2. Reflect on what the Gospel story is saying to you. Which points would you highlight and why?
  3. How important is it to you, what others think about you? Do you give too much importance to how you look? What keeps you back from looking the way that you truly are? During this week, make the time to be alone with the Lord, and with sincerity, face whom you truly are. God loves you, and he knows you more than you know yourself.
  4. We will not be asked to give all that we have, like the widow in the Gospel. However, it is right to regularly financially help those in need. It is important that even the children learn how to be generous. If as a family, you usually go out to eat, during the weekend or order a take away, this weekend try to do something different. Cook something simple and give the money you would have spent, to charity. Many parishes, have a charity collection box.
  5. Together with your family find the right time to read this Gospel. The environment helps, so before you start, prepare;
    i. The Bible reading from St Mark (MK 12: 38-44)
    ii. A candle
    iii. Cover the table with a green clot
    iv. A computer/laptop with the reading and clips
  6. Go through the steps with your children (2 age groups are being suggested)
  7. Feel free to adapt to your situation
  8. Be creative 😊
  9. Go to the Prayer Corner section to continue praying as a family

Today, Jesus is near the Temple, watching people giving their offering for the Temple and the poor. There were all types of people, there were those who were rich and also a poor widow. Let us see what Jesus has to say about these people. 

  • Jesus cares more about our intentions when we help others, rather than the amount of help that we give 
  • A packet of small sweets (or chocolate money) which may be shared out; there needs to be enough so that all are given two sweets, one has only one sweet, and someone has none

We will start with an example, so that we understand today’s Gospel better. You have some sweets, which will be shared out. (parents, give two sweets to all, though give one sweet to one of the children, and one of the parents has none) 

Look at your sweets. Do you all have the same? 

Is there someone who has no sweets? Who? 

Do you love mummy/daddy? 

Will we let her/him have no sweets? 

So to be able to have some sweets, we will give her/him one of ours. 

What do you think? (allow the children to speak, especially the one who has only one sweet) 

When we share what we have but still retain some things for us, it is not too difficult. It is harder when one is left with nothing. A sacrifice is giving up something which you wanted to keep yet you decide to give everything because you love the other person or people. This is what the widow did. Jesus praises her and not the others who donated money from the extra that they had. The amount of money the widow gave, was very little, but she gave from her heart. The others gave money to show off. Most probably, if no one was watching they would have waited for someone to be present, before making their offering! 

No matter our age, we can still be like the widow. This widow reminds us of Jesus. Because Jesus loves us, he became man like us, and he also died on the cross for us.  

Listen to, The Sharing Song, (note to parents, discuss the lyrics with your children) 

Jesus wants us to do things for others out of love. What can you do, to be like the widow in the Gospel? (examples may include: give money to charity from their money box, help at home without being asked, pray or read from the Bible instead of playing) 

During the coming days, try to do what you have spoken about. Remember that you should not do things to be praised, but because you love Jesus and you love others. And do you know what? Although no one may praise you, Jesus is watching you and he is very happy. Just as Jesus noticed the money given by the widow, he is also seeing all that we do. 

Sign of the cross.

Dear Jesus, you know that we find it difficult to share what we have and to help others. Please help us and give us courage to be generous like you are. Thank you Jesus.  

Today, Jesus is watching people giving their offerings to the Temple. Many were rich and they gave a lot of money, however this was not much of a sacrifice, because they had a lot of money. A poor widow passes by and offers a few cents. She attracts Jesus’s attention, as well. Let us see what Jesus has to say about this woman and about the others who came before her.

  • God has given us many talents to use for our own good and for the good of others
  • A small cardboard box
  • Cardboard circles, the size of a coin, however, big enough to be able to write on
  • Colours
  • Pencil
  • Decorations for the box

Can you define generous? (give money, or other things, like your time, even sharing your talents, without expecting anything in return)

Generally, when someone is generous, he would also be making a sacrifice. For example, if the school is collecting toys for children in an orphanage, and you give them one of your toys, which you are no longer playing with, this would be a good thing to do. However if you give them a toy or a game, which you have just received, and which you wanted, this would be a generous act. It was a big sacrifice to give these children something you wanted to keep, whilst it was not so difficult to give something which you no longer needed.

The widow, in today’s Gospel, was generous. She gave all that she had. Although it was very little money, compared to the big amount the others gave, Jesus praises her and not the rest. This woman also had faith in God, that he would provide for her needs. When you listen to today’s first reading, you will hear about another widow, and God provided for her, after she was generous with Elijah. 

Whom do you think God wants us to imitate? Those rich people who gave a lot of money, or the widow who gave very little money?

Jesus wants us to be generous like the widow. You may wonder, how you are able to give anything. This widow had very little to offer, but what she offered meant a great deal. God does not look at the amount that we give but he sees our hearts and thoughts, when we share what we have. God sees our sacrifice.

How can you be generous? (examples may include giving money from their pocket money, during break time, they stay with someone who is unable to play because of his/her condition, willingly help in the house, especially if it means reducing playtime, using their talents, for example if they can sing, they join the parish choir, if they know how to read, they read stories to younger siblings)

The treasury box is mentioned in today’s Gospel. You are going to make one too. You have a box, which you may decorate. You also have cardboard circles, these represent money. On the circles write what you can do to please Jesus. Remember that those rich people gave a lot of money, but this was from their extra money, so they made no sacrifice. In fact they gave money to be praised by others! So you should resemble the poor widow who made a sacrifice and gave from the little that she had. After writing on the circles, put them in the box. (note to parents, make a box for you too, and write the good actions that you can make. Remember that the children learn from your good example) Put the box in your room, or near your prayer table. Every day, or regularly, take a circle from the box and try to do what is written. You can then return this ‘coin’ to the box. Obviously, if you wrote something, like ‘join the parish choir’ or ‘become an altar server’, do not return the circle to the box, since this is a commitment you will maintain. 

When you are ready, listen to, Give a little kindness.

Sign of the cross.

Take, O Lord, and receive my entire liberty, my memory, my understanding and my whole will. All that I am and all that I possess you have given me: I surrender it all to you to be disposed of, according to your will. Give me only your love and your grace; with these I will be rich enough, and will desire nothing more.

Now we pray the prayer of St Ignatius of Loyola.

Coming soon.

How to use this space

God speaks to us in many ways, including through the Sunday Scripture readings. Here you will find useful background and activities to better understand the upcoming Sunday's Scripture readings, helping you to connect the Scripture to daily life in a meaningful way.