Religious Education 

GOSPEL                      Mk 12:38-44 

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark 

This poor widow has put more in than all who contributed. 

In his teaching Jesus said, ‘Beware of the scribes who like to walk about in long robes, to be greeted obsequiously in the market squares, to take the front seats in the synagogues and the places of honour at banquets; these are the men who swallow the property of widows, while making a show of lengthy prayers. The more severe will be the sentence they receive.’ 

He sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the treasury, and many of the rich put in a great deal. A poor widow came and put in two small coins, the equivalent of a penny. Then he called to his disciples and said to them, ‘I tell you solemnly, this poor widow has put more in than all who have contributed to the treasury; for they have all put in money they had over, but she from the little she had has put in everything she possessed, all she had to live on.’ 

DISCUSSION STARTERS

• How much did the wealthy give and how much did the widow give in the Gospel story today? 
• Why did Jesus say that the widow gave more? 

Jesus asks us not to make a show of doing good for others. 

• How can we do good things without making a fuss? 
• What things are more difficult to do for others. 
• How can we be like the widow who gave her last two coins?