The healed

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time Yr B

Three main points are highlighted in today’s Gospel: our attitude towards the sick, our attitude towards prayer, and our calling as disciples. Our first instinct when we meet with sickness is to pull back. Jesus, on the other hand, did not pull back; he moved close to Simon’s mother-in-law and even grasped her hand. Sin is a spiritual sickness, a disease of the soul. In the same way that Jesus did not mind moving close to this woman, he does not mind coming close to us and remaining by our sides, when we sin. Touch is an intimate gesture. This is the relationship Jesus seeks with us. He wishes that we get to know him so well that we open our hearts to him, holding nothing back, he wants us to allow him to come close to us and touch us.

That day, Jesus performed many miracles. However, he also felt the need to be close to God the Father. He woke up early, before the others, so that he could go to pray. Jesus accomplished in perfect communion with God the Father, the mission he was given: to teach about God, so that people would come to know God’s love and mercy. Jesus wants us to receive his teachings too. We all have jam-packed days. We want to pray, but at the end of the day, at times, we finish with not praying at all. Jesus did not leave prayer time to chance. He planned this time. Everyone knows who Mother Teresa was and her commitment to the poor. Yet together with her nuns, they spent an hour every day in adoration and prayer (short video). This hour could have been otherwise spent helping the poor, but Mother Teresa understood that her mission could not be carried out without prayer. Neither can we be disciples of Christ if we do not pray. 

After Simon’s mother-in-law was healed, she got up and served them. After meeting Jesus, she did not remain in bed, but immediately got up. We are also called to serve and to bring others to Jesus. This is the call of each disciple. Your first calling, as parents, is with your family. The other members of the family, your children and spouse, will see how you are allowing Jesus to work through you, how you are allowing him to guide your choices and decisions. Jesus has chosen you, so that through you, he can show his love and mercy to your family. 

A reading from the Gospel of Mark (Mk 1, 29-39) 

On leaving the synagogue 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. 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 Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ

  1. Read the Gospel story so that you are familiar with it.
  2. Reflect on what the Gospel story is saying to you. Which points would you highlight and why?
  3. The devil is again mentioned in today’s Gospel. What is that sin which you are finding difficult to overcome? During this week try to face this sin. Pray to the Holy Spirit to give you the strength and courage to overcome it. Do not allow the devil to continue burdening you, release yourself from his clutches, so that you may once again find peace within you. Allow Jesus to come close to you, so that he may heal you and you may continue the work he has planned for you.
  4. Jesus knew that prayer was important; he could not do without it. Jesus’ daily agenda was full to the brim, but still he made time for prayer. Prayer gave him the strength needed, so that his work bore fruit. Do you make time for prayer, every day? Do you pray with the children?
  5. Together with your family find the right time to read this gospel. The environment helps, so before you start, prepare:
    i. The Bible reading from St Mark  (1, 29-39);
    ii. A candle
    iii. Cover the table with green cloth
    iv. A computer/laptop with the reading and clips
  6. Go through the steps with your children (2 age groups are being suggested)
  7. Feel free to adapt to your situation
  8. Be creative 😊
  9. Go to the Prayer Corner section to continue praying as a family

Today we will be hearing about how Jesus spent his days: praying, teaching, and helping people.

  • Since Jesus prayed every day, we have to imitate him and find time for daily prayer.
  • A children’s bible (one for adults, too)
  • Crucifix or a picture of Jesus
  • Candle
  • A small container
  • Pencils and colours
  • Blank papers
  • Check the activity for other things you may add

Last week we sang Superhero. Even the people who lived at the time of Jesus, thought that he was a Superhero! In truth, Jesus was perceived as someone truly special since he is the Son of God made man. In the Gospel, we just heard how he went to Simon’s house. Simon’s mother-in-law was sick. Jesus grasped her hand, and she was healed! The people, who had never seen anything like this before, brought their sick relatives and friends, so that Jesus may heal them. In the morning, Jesus, woke up very early and went to pray. Jesus prayed every day because the incessant dialogue of love with God the Father was and is central for Him. After some time, the apostles found Jesus praying and asked him to go back, so that he could heal other people. 

Do you remember what Jesus replied?

Jesus did not wish to return to Simon’s house. Do you think that Jesus did not want to heal any more people?

Jesus wanted to heal others but there was something else which was important, and he had to do it. He wanted to teach people about God. Jesus knew that if people loved God, they would be saved and they would go to heaven. For Jesus, this was very important indeed.

Today, we have seen that Jesus used to pray constantly and that this was reflected in the fact that he taught, loved and helped others. We too must pray like Jesus. Jesus used to teach the people about God’s love. We learn about God from the Bible, from our catechetical meetings and when we go to church.

Jesus always looked for a quiet place to pray so that he was not distracted. During this week, you will be setting up a special place for prayer. With your parents’ help, choose somewhere in the house, where you can arrange as a place to pray. This will be a praying corner for you and your family. You will need a Bible (it would be best to have both a children’s bible and one for adults too), a crucifix or a picture of Jesus, and a candle (note to parents: if the children will use this prayer corner on their own, it would be best to have a battery-operated candle). You may wish to cover the table or cupboard where you are placing the bible and crucifix with cloth. The colour is to match the liturgical colour. The colour today is green. You may also want to add a statue or picture of Our Lady or of a saint. Flowers may be added (note to parents: allow the children to be creative in setting up this prayer corner, however there should not be too many things at one time, or they will create a distraction. If need be, holy pictures or statues may be replaced from time to time). Every day, spend time praying here, alone or with your parents. You may either read from the bible or pray. Do what Jesus did. Jesus prayed every day, even when he had a lot of things to do.

Note to parents: the papers, pencils and colours, are to be kept somewhere nearby. The container may be placed near the crucifix. Explain to the children, that when they wish, they may draw or write a prayer to Jesus and put it in the container. Even you parents, may add your own prayers. 

Sign of the cross.

Say the prayer which Jesus taught us, the Lord’s Prayer (you may find this prayer and activities related to this prayer here)

Afterwards, watch this clip together: Prayer.

A day in the life of Jesus. This is what we will be listening to, today.

  • Jesus started his day in prayer
  • Jesus loves and helps everyone
  • Blank papers
  • Pencils

Jesus had quite a full day! In one day, Jesus taught about God, healed the sick and drove out many demons. He did not stay long in the same village. He went from one village to another, so that more people would come to know God.

How do you spend your days?

Is a school day different from weekends or holidays?

How are these days different?

In today’s Gospel, Jesus does several different things. However, there is one thing, which he did not leave to chance. He saw to it, that other commitments did not replace it. What did Jesus do that was so important? (he prayed)

Prayer was essential for Jesus. He knew that the apostles and the people would not leave him alone, so he woke up early and went to pray on his own. He could have chosen to continue sleeping, or to have a relaxed breakfast, or he could have spent the time talking with his friends. Yet for Jesus, prayer time was not to be replaced. Jesus’ prayer was an expression of his intimate bond of love with God the Father. The strength of prayer sustained Jesus in his teaching, healing and liberating mission through which he restored health to the sick and through which he cast away the demons. 

If prayer was so important for Jesus, can we allow a day to pass, without praying?

We spend our days doing various things, we have several commitments and activities that we cannot miss out; however, this does not excuse us from not finding time to pray. Jesus never said, “I will pray, if I find the time.” Jesus planned his prayer time. Just like you have pre-organised time for lessons and other activities, and you stop whatever you are doing, to go for your lesson, for football, to ballet, or any other commitment you may have, you also need to stop to pray. It is not easy. You will also find that when you stop to pray, you will be tempted to do something else instead. Do you know why? Because the devil simply hates it when you talk with Jesus! Do not give up, we saw last week, how Jesus is much more powerful than the devil.

Prayer was important for Jesus. Other things were important as well. He taught people about God. He also healed the sick. In the Gospel, we heard how he healed Simon’s mother-in-law. As soon as she was healed, she got out of bed to serve them. This is what Jesus would like us to do: pray, learn about God, so that we get to know him, and help others.

We know that Jesus loved everyone. By helping them, healing them, and driving out demons, he showed that he loved them. We are not Jesus. We cannot heal the sick, neither can we drive out demons. However, we can help others and show them that we love them. We cannot heal the sick, but we can see how we could help them, it could be, that what they needed was time spent with them. The devil makes us sad. We cannot drive out demons, but we can stay with a friend who is feeling sad and help him/her to feel better.

How do you help at home?

Is there something which you know how to do but which you don’t do, just the same? Or else, you finally do it, after being reminded repeatedly by your parents? 

Whilst listening to, I wanna do right,think about one thing which you know how to do at home, but you do not do it, or else you do it reluctantly. Afterwards, write this on a paper. This is your promise for the week. Give the paper to your parents if what you will be doing concerns them. However, it could also be that you will be doing something for your brothers or sisters, in this case, give the paper to them. See that you keep your promise, without being reminded.    

Sign of the cross.

Dear Jesus, you show us how we are to love others. We pray, that like you we show others our love, by helping them. We pray that we willingly give our help, and we do not do it with a grudge or with arrogance. Jesus, you help everyone. Give us the courage, so that we too help those in need, and not only those who can give us something in return. Thank you, Jesus. We love you.

1. Today's Gospel narrates that Jesus visited the home of two among his disciples. Who were these?

Correct! Wrong!

2. When he visited this home, Jesus met the mother of Simon's wife and cured her. She was sick with...

Correct! Wrong!

3. Besides having cured a multitude of sick people who came to him, Jesus also freed other people from the dominion of...

Correct! Wrong!

4. What did Jesus do early in the morning, despite the fact that many people wanted to meet Him?

Correct! Wrong!

How to use this space

God speaks to us in many ways, including through the Sunday Scripture readings. Here you will find useful background and activities to better understand the upcoming Sunday's Scripture readings, helping you to connect the Scripture to daily life in a meaningful way.