Sorting Out The Candy

At the temple (like a church), Jesus saw people putting money into the collection baskets. Some were rich and put in a lot, but one poor woman only put in two coins. "She gave more than all the others," Jesus said, "because they were rich and gave their extra money, but she gave everything she had."

Now that Halloween's over, you've probably sorted out the candy you collected according to which kinds you like best. If someone in your family asks you to share, you'll give them some - but only from the pile of candy you don't like as much!

This week's Gospel (Mark 12:38-44) could be about Halloween. Jesus watches people giving money at church and notices that not everyone is equally generous. In fact, the poorest person there gives money she really can't afford to lose.

That's like giving away your favorite kinds of candy on purpose! You might wonder why you went trick-or-treating, if you're supposed to give away the best candy you got.

To Jesus, though, giving your best is the goal. He wasn't nearly as impressed by the rich people who gave lots of money, because they still had lots left for themselves. They weren't really sharing if they were only giving away a little of their huge wealth.

You're not really sharing, either, if you flip out whenever your brother wants you to give him one of your favorite Milky Way bars instead of the Almond Joys you don't like anyway.

Halloween loses a little of its fun if kids end up being greedy and fighting over leftover candy. Jesus said it's the same for other kinds of giving: It's nice to give extra, but it's extra-special when you share what's not "extra" to you - like one of those Milky Way bars.

(11/05/09)