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Feb 15, 2015 Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

Gospel Mk 1:40-45

A leper came to Jesus and kneeling down begged him and said,
“If you wish, you can make me clean (1).”
Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand,
touched him, and said to him,
“I do will it. Be made clean.”
The leprosy (*) left him immediately, and he was made clean.
Then, warning the him sternly (2), he dismissed him at once.

He said to him, “See that you tell no one anything,
but go, show yourself to the priest (3)
and offer for your cleansing (4) what Moses prescribed;
that will be proof for them.”

The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter.
He spread the report abroad (5)
so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly.
He remained outside in deserted places,
and people kept coming to him from everywhere.

The difficult words

(1) To make clean here means to heal someone of leprosy.

(2) Sternly means strictly and harshly.

(3) The priest was the Jewish leader who offered sacrifices. Only the priest could say that someone was clean.

(4) To offer something for your cleansing was the practice of making a gift or sacrifice of thanksgiving required by the law of Moses. This was a sign of gratitude to God for the miracle of being healed.

(5) Abroad means wide and far away.

(*) Leprosy: During the time when Jesus lived upon the earth, leprosy was very wide-spread and was a dreaded disease. When someone had leprosy, they were covered with sores all over their bodies. Unlike chicken pox, these sores didn't just go away. When someone had leprosy, it was hopeless, because there was no cure. To make matters worse, other people considered them to be unclean and were not allowed to touch them. Many people believed that people who had leprosy got the disease because of some terrible sin they had committed.

This week spotlight

Healing

There are many Gospel stories in which Jesus cures people, such as the healing of the leper that we read about today. These cures are very amazing, showing us God's power. They are also reminders that God wants to heal our souls as well as our bodies. Jesus invites the people he cures to turn toward God and discover his great love for them. Sick people don't always recover from their illnesses, but God always wants them to repent of their sins, so that they will be happy for ever in heaven.

“Only say the word and my soul shall be healed”

At every Mass, we pray these words right before Communion. They come from the centurion in the Gospel (see Matthew 8: 5-13), who came to Jesus to ask for the healing of his servant. Since he didn’t feel worthy to have Jesus visit his house, he simply asked Jesus to command it. He believed in the power of Jesus to heal, and at Jesus' command, his servant got better. By praying these words at Mass, you are admitting that you are not worthy to have Jesus "enter under your roof," that is, come to you in Holy Communion. At the same time, you are professing your faith in Jesus' power to heal your soul and make it worthy of his presence.

Reflection

Leprosy is a sickness caused by very contagious bacteria. People used to be so afraid of lepers that they made them live far away from others. The leper in today’s Gospel is suffering not only from this terrible disease that makes him smell and look bad, but also from being cut off from his family and friends. Some people say that he has leprosy because he is a sinner. It is against the law for him even to go near other people. He feels unloved and shut out. Still, he believes that Jesus can help him.

He dares to find Jesus and begs to be cured. Jesus reaches out to touch him, without fear of catching leprosy, and heals him. Today, even though they don’t have leprosy, many people are unloved and shut out. Other people have bad attitudes, and no one wants to hang around them. Jesus wants to heal us too. Will you pray for his help? Will you love those who feel unloved?

>Pray for those who are isolated

There are always people who are isolated or left out, at school and in the street. They feel excluded. Keep your eyes wide open, and if you see someone who seems excluded, young or old, go toward him or her and give them a smile, say something nice, and then entrust him or her to the Lord in your evening prayers.

>Single out your bad habits

We all have a few bad habits. This week, figure out what keeps you from living in harmony with others, with yourself, and with God. Here are some questions to help you: Do I cut in front of others? Do I lie? Do I interrupt others? Do I take what I want before thinking of others? Ask Jesus to purify you. He wants to help you heal yourself!

Discussion questions

1. Who was the patient that Jesus healed today?

2. What did he say to Jesus?

3. How long did it take for him to be clean?

4. Who did the leper need to see after he was clean?

5. What did Jesus ask him to do next?

6. Did the man say anything about his matter?

7. Was it good for Jesus?

8. What can we learn from the Gospel of this Sunday?

Praying after communion

After receiving communion, you can say this prayer silently to yourself. If you have not yet received your First Communion, you can still say this prayer because of your desire to receive Jesus.

Father, through Jesus, in union with the whole Church, I thank you for coming into my heart. Your Son healed the sick who came to him,to show his love for the human family. May our Communion with Jesus help us to show kindness to the sick and to those who are left out and unloved.

Crossword Puzzle

Source: http://www.usccb.org - http://www.sermons4kids.com - Magnifikid

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time , Year B

Feb 8, 2015

Gospel Mk 1:29-39

On leaving the synagogue (1)
Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John.
Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever.
They immediately told him about her.
He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up.
Then the fever left her and she waited on them.

When it was evening, after sunset,
they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons (2).
The whole town was gathered at the door.
He cured many who were sick with various diseases,
and he drove out many demons,
not permitting them to speak because they knew him.

Rising very early before dawn, he left
and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed.
Simon and those who were with him pursued him
and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.”
He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages
that I may preach there also.
For this purpose have I come.”
So he went into their synagogues,
preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.

The difficult words

(1) The synagogue is the place in a village where the Jewish people met to pray.

(2) demons are evil spirits.

Reflection

Mark describes for us how Jesus' day begins and ends with taking care of others. He heals Simon's mother-in-law, he cures others who are sick, he drives out demons from those who are possessed. He comforts the downhearted and discouraged. The crowds follow him wherever he goes. Even when he goes off to a lonely place to pray and be renewed, Jesus is tracked down by his disciples who say, "Everybody is looking for you!" Without complaint, Jesus responds at once by heading for the nearby villages to heal and preach and comfort.

If we could go back in time and follow Jesus around for a few days, we would be exhausted in a hurry. Though Jesus always took time for prayer, he was busy all day teaching, healing, and loving others. People came to him constantly, leaving him with barely enough time to eat. Can you imagine the love with which he looked at people? Or the hope he brought to those who were suffering? This Sunday’s Gospel describes Jesus healing Peter’s mother-in-law. Jesus' love made her so grateful and joyful that she immediately got up and began to wait on them. God’s love for us in Jesus is the Good News! Even though life can be very sad and painful sometimes, even though we get sick and suffer, we believe that God is with us through it all. The Good News is needed just as much today in our world.

As believers in Jesus, we are called today to be good news for everyone, reaching out and helping them as Jesus did. Practice this throughout the week by noticing the needs of others and offering to help them.

Discussion

1. Where did Jesus go after he left the synagogue?

2. Who was sick?

3. What did Jesus do for her?

4. What happened after sunset?

5. What was Jesus doing when Simon found him the next early morning?

6. Where did Jesus pray?

7. How often do you pray?

8. Where and when do you often pray?

Praying after communion

After receiving communion, you can say this prayer silently to yourself. If you have not yet received your First Communion, you can still say this prayer because of your desire to receive Jesus.

Father, through Jesus Christ, in communion with the whole Church, I thank you for coming into my heart. Thank you for sending your Son Jesus to remind us how much you love us. Through this communion, help us all to live as your children and together bring the Good News to the world.

Crossword Puzzle

Source: http://www.sadlierreligion.com - http://www.sermons4kids.com/ - http://www.usccb.org - Magnifikid

For further reference:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ap7QYWwS-bU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaBYU53e0_k

4th Sunday B , Sample

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time , Year B

Feb 1, 2015

Gospel, Mark 1:21-28

Then they came to (1) Capernaum, and on the sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and taught. The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes.

In their (2) synagogue was a man with an (3) unclean spirit; he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”

Jesus (4) rebuked him and said, “Quiet! Come out of him!” The unclean spirit (5) convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. All were amazed and asked one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.” His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.

The difficult words

(1) Capernaum is a city on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee.

(2) Synagogue is a place of worship for a Jewish congregation.

(3) An unclean spirit here is a devil.

(4) To rebuke someone means to correct sharply, to make someone stop doing evil.

(5) To convulse means to jerk or shake violently and uncontrollably.

The word "Gospel" comes from a Greek The word meaning "good news." It is the name given to the four New Testament books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The Evangelists who wrote the Gospels have testified to the Good News by writing about the life and message of Jesus. This week, the priest reads a passage from the Gospel according to Saint Mark. Mark begins his book with this proclamation: "The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God."

Reflection

How do we recognize true authority? Jesus' authority was obvious to those who listened to him at the synagogue in Capernaum. They could tell that Jesus' teaching was different from what they had heard before. He confronted evil, rejected it, and proclaimed a different kind of reign than they were used to hearing about from other religious figures. His words and witness spoke of the power of God in a convincing way that they had never encountered before. He taught not just through words, but through his actions.

Jesus taught with authority by offering his listeners the experience of a God who freely offered salvation to all, but especially sinners. Those who were considered to be sinners by many religious authorities included the least, the forgotten, the poor, women, those on the fringe, and those without hope. To these people, Jesus offered the message of God's steadfast love. Jesus gives the people hope by offering them the choice to live the reality of this new reign in how they love one another. By responding to the command of God in his own life, like the prophets before him, Jesus taught with a new authority, so that even evil recognized him.

People could tell that there was something different about Jesus. He spoke with authority. He did not teach like a scribe who knows things about God, but like the Son who actually knows God, his Father. This is because he really is "the Holy One of God." When Jesus speaks, actions follow: the sick are cured, the blind begin to see, and bad spirits flee in fear. Jesus' words have real power to free the world from evil. He puts that power in us by grace. We may not have miraculous powers, but we really can know God, our Father. We really can live in the world without being controlled by evil. We really can change the world by the power of forgiveness and love. This is why St. Paul wants us to "be free of all anxieties." If we know Jesus, his powerful words will set us free.

Did you ever hear the saying "Actions speak louder than words"? It's not enough to say that we'll do something — we have to actually do it in your morning prayers, ask the Lord to help you do everything you say you will do so you can be a trustworthy person. Keeping your word is always easier when God helps you!

Discussion

1. Where did Jesus teach the people of God?

2. What happened when Jesus was teaching?

3. Whom did Jesus rebuke?

4. What did the unclean spirit talk about Jesus?

5. When did Jesus teach in the synagogue?

6. Why were people amazed at Jesus’ teaching?

7. Jesus teaches the people through words in the temple. But he also teaches them and us through his actions. He lives out what he is teaching. Can you think of an example when Jesus teaches us through his actions? What does he want us to learn?

Praying after Communion

After receiving Holy Communion, you can say this prayer silently to yourself. If you have not yet received your First Communion, you can still say this prayer because of your desire to receive Jesus.

Father, through Jesus Christ, in union with the whole Church, I thank you for coming into my heart. Help us to listen to your Son's teaching and put it into practice. Send us your Holy Spirit to guide us to eternal life. Amen.

Crossword Puzzle