The Offertory Basket

Hi there, friends! It’s Ana, and I’m here to tell you about a story from the Bible that can help us understand what happens during Mass. The story comes from Mark 12:38-44, where Jesus talks about a poor widow who gives a small but very special gift.

One day, Jesus was at the temple watching people give their offerings. Some rich people gave a lot of money, and everyone thought they were really generous. Then, a poor widow came along and put in only two small coins, which wasn’t a lot of money at all.

You might think that Jesus would say the rich people gave more because their gifts were bigger. But Jesus said something amazing! He told his friends that the poor widow actually gave more than anyone else because she gave all she had. Those two coins were everything she owned, and she chose to give them to God.

Now, let’s think about what happens at Mass. Do you remember the part when the basket goes around, and we put money in it? That’s called the Offertory. During this time, we’re giving our own gifts to God, just like the people at the temple in the story.

After we give our gifts, the priest takes them and prepares them on a special table near the altar. This is called the Preparation of the Gifts. It reminds us that our gifts, like the poor widow’s coins, are important and special to God.

So, why do we give these gifts? Well, it’s not just about the money. When we give our gifts at Mass, we’re really giving ourselves to God too. We’re saying, “God, I want to give you everything I have, just like the poor widow.”

Even if we only have a little to give, like the widow’s two coins, God loves our gift because it comes from our hearts. And when we give to God, it helps us grow closer to Him and become more like Jesus, who gave everything for us.

So, the next time you’re at Mass, remember the story of the poor widow and her special gift. And when it’s time for the Offertory and Preparation of the Gifts, think about what you can give to God – not just from your piggy bank, but also from your heart!

That’s all for now, my friends. Remember, God loves our gifts, no matter how big or small they are!

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STORY TIME (7:59)

Word of the Week

TRUST

Following the Drinking Gourd

Follow the Drinking Gourd is a wonderful illustration of the virtue of trust. Throughout the story, trust is essential to those who work to free others from slavery. The story begins when a peg-legged sailor aids slaves with their escape plans. While working for various plantation owners, Peg-Leg Joe teaches the slaves a song about the “drinking gourd:” the star constellation the Big Dipper. The slaves learn to make their escape by following the song’s direction.

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SOURCE: Markkula Center for Applied Ethics

KAREN FRANKEL (1:58)

True generosity is measured by the spirit of giving rather than the monetary value of the gift.

• A widow selflessly gives her last two coins to the temple, demonstrating that true generosity comes from the heart, not the amount.

SUPERBOOK BOY (1:54)

DEVOTIONS FOR KIDS (4:18) – eEveryone is called to give away everything, like the widow in Jesus time. But we are all called to give more because when we do we store us treasures in heaven instead of treasures on earth!

The Most Important
Commandment

SOURCE: Holy Family FdL

What does God want us to do? Fr. Edward shares that all comes down to love in this week’s Children’s Liturgy of the Word.

SOURCE: Mary Jo Cole

In today’s Gospel, we hear the story of the poor widow who shared everything she had in her temple offering, even though it was only a couple of coins worth next to nothing. Jesus wants us to be generous, especially to those in need, and to give from our hearts. This week, how can you share your blessings with others?

SOURCE: Uganda Catholic Television

SOURCE: Redemptorist Publications / Dominican Sisters of St. Joseph

True generosity and devotion to God are measured by the heart’s sacrifice, as exemplified by the poor widow who gave all she had, contrasting with the prideful and showy contributions of the wealthy.

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S.D.C. is a Catholic Society that works in the field of Catechesis and the spreading of the Word of God in different ways.  READ MORE

SOURCE: SDC Sunday Liturgy Resources

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The Kids’ Bulletins are a resource for Catholic kids who would like to have some fun while learning about the readings from the Sunday Mass every week. (Ordinary Form)  They are made by a mom in Canada who is happy to share them with anyone who can use them to help learn or teach about the truth and beauty of the Faith.

SOURCE: Catholic Kids Bulletin

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Enjoy Catholic coloring pages, lesson plans, Mass worksheets, puzzles, and more to help you prepare for Sunday Mass. These activities, prepared by the Catholic Mom Sunday Gospel Team, are free for you to print and share with your family, classroom, or parish.

SOURCE: Catholic Mom

SOURCE: Ministry to Children

CRAFT IDEAS

Motivation and Service

Q: What should be the primary motivation for Christians to serve God?
A: Christians should serve God out of love and gratitude, not for recognition or personal gain, as Jesus criticized the Pharisees for seeking attention through their religious acts.

Q: How did Jesus illustrate sincere giving in the story of the widow’s mite?
A: Jesus celebrated the widow’s sincere giving heart, as she offered her last two coins (worth a penny) to God’s kingdom, demonstrating true devotion despite her poverty.

Practical Ways to Serve

Q: What are some tangible ways Christians can serve God?
A: Christians can serve God by giving their time (prayer, Bible study, church attendance), talents (offering skills), treasures (money), and love (for others), all of which honor and please God.

Q: Why is it important to serve God even when it doesn’t feel natural?
A: Serving God, even when it’s not our natural inclination, is right and blesses both God and others, reminding us to focus on doing what pleases Him rather than following our own desires.

God’s Blessings and Ownership

Q: What does Jesus promise to those who offer their gifts to Him?
A: Jesus promises to bless, care for, and love those who offer Him what they have, while reminding us that all we possess ultimately belongs to God and should be used wisely to honor Him.

Q: What should be the ultimate focus when serving and honoring God with our gifts?
A: The focus should be on pleasing God and doing what He wants, rather than seeking to impress others or gain recognition, as this aligns with true Christian motivation and gratitude.

THE WIDOW’S MITE

OBJECTS: An offering plate and bills and coins in various denominations

Every week we take an offering during the worship service. As you know, the ushers walk up and down the aisles and pass the offering plate down each and every row. People place their offerings to God in the plate. When they have finished passing the offering plate, it may look like this one that I have with me this morning. Here is a twenty dollar bill, and a ten. Here is a five and there are a lot of one dollar bills. Down in the bottom of the plate there are even some coins, Look, someone even put in some pennies.

Who do you think gave the most? Was it the person who put in the twenty dollar bill? The ten? The five? We can be sure it wasn’t the one who put in the pennies, can’t we?

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SOURCE: Sermon 4 Kids

LEARNING TO TRUST

OBJECTS: None

Today let’s talk about one of the Bible’s most famous characters: Elijah. Elijah had long, thick hair. He wore some type of garment tied around his waist that was probably made of leather. He sometimes wore a sheepskin cape around his shoulders. That description gives us a picture of a man quite different from someone we would see today.

He was a man of endurance and traveled in the hills where he came to know God.

God asked him to go to a place called Zarephath. At that time there was a drought. There had been no rain, the plants had died, and people were having trouble getting enough food to eat.

Elijah probably wondered how he would survive in such a place. God told Elijah there would be a woman there who will feed you.

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SOURCE: Sermon Writer