Proper 27 Yr B
Fullness of the gift

For families: Study guide and activities (another guide); group activities; snack, kid video.

For children: See family guide/activities (another activity); bulletin; craft;

For middlers: See family guide/activities (another activity); bulletin; craft.

For youth: The primary focus this week is the story of the widow's mite—a poor widow gave all she had to the church's treasury. There are a number of things we could talk about here but I want to focus on both "poor" and "widow". In the time of this story, it was MOST difficult for a woman who was a widow, particularly if she had no family to support her. Society simply did not. Now the "poor" part. I think it's included so you won't think that being poor is an excuse for not behaving as Jesus would want us to behave. You know, oh, I can't give money because I'm so poor. OR I can't do what is expected of me because I'm so poor. Maybe the real lesson here is "Don't use excuses. Do what you know you should." What do you think? Comments.

Coloring page (all ages): Ruth; Mark

As we approach the end of the church year, our readings from the Gospel of Mark deal with the final days of Jesus’ ministry. In that period, Jesus was in direct conflict with the religious leaders in Jerusalem. In today’s passage Jesus contrasts the simple faith of a poor widow, expressed by her generous giving, with the show of religiosity put on by the scribes and the rich.

Using Ruth: The first reading completes the story of Ruth. By taking advantage of the rule in Leviticus that a male relative of a childless widow must marry her and produce children, Ruth, with Naomi’s wily planning, is married to Boaz and their descendants included the royal family of Israel, and were ancestors of Jesus.

Using I Kings: The first reading today is one of the stories of the prophet Elijah. In a time of famine, the generosity of a poor widow who shared with Elijah the tiny bit of food she had left is rewarded by God.

The passage from Hebrews, which we are reading through at this time, deals with the eternal nature of Jesus’ priesthood. Unlike the symbolic sacrifices of the old priesthood, Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and his resurrection and ascension has made him uniquely able to take away the sin of the world for all time.

The people of God in every age have gathered in the Eucharist to respond to salvation in generous and loving ministry to each other and the world. Made part of Jesus’ own sacrifice in baptism, we are joined with his sacrifice in the Eucharist. Thus, our own sacrifices, like those of the two poor widows, are given the eternal significance of Jesus’ own dying and rising. What is lacking in us through our own imperfection is made perfect in Christ.