Getting rid of the candy

Jesus, help me be generous even when I don't have a lot to give! Amen.

Jesus was at the temple (like a church) when He saw people putting money in the collection. Many rich people put in lots of money, but then a poor woman came along and just put in two pennies. Jesus told His disciples, "She put in more than all the others, because they gave their extra money, but she gave all she had."

It's easy to be generous when you have a lot to give. If your trick-or-treat bag is still bursting with leftover Halloween candy, you probably don't mind sharing. In fact, you might be getting tired of candy and feel glad to get rid of some!

A month ago, you may not have been so generous. Whether a Snickers was a treat in your lunch box or you bought a Twix from a vending machine, you didn't feel like you had enough to share! If someone asked, you wouldn't have been as quick to give that candy away.

Learning to be generous even when we worry about not having enough is hard. In this week's Gospel (Mark 12:38-44), Jesus admires a woman who manages to do it.

If you had one candy bar and someone else wanted it, what thoughts would pop into your head? Would you figure out whether you had enough change for another one? Would you think, "But I NEED this"?

The woman in the Gospel probably thought that. Maybe she wondered if she'd have enough money for food if she gave away her last two pennies; maybe she worried about getting sick and having no money for medicine.

But if someone that poor gave away all the money she had, she must have depended on God not to let her starve -- just like you wouldn't starve, even if you gave away your last piece of Halloween candy.

Besides, sharing what you have means you won't feel sick from having too much!