Unclean spirit

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time Yr B

Today’s Gospel brings us face to face with a choice we encounter daily. Whose voice will I hear, whose voice will I follow? St Mark tells us that Jesus spoke with authority. Those who heard him were astonished and they wanted to learn more about Jesus. The voice of the unclean spirit, on the other hand, introduces uncertainty and doubt.

In Jesus’ time, everyone was waiting for the Messiah. Nobody knew who he was. Many believed that Jesus was the Messiah, and they followed his teachings; they even led others to follow Jesus. There were those, who did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah, and continued waiting. We believe that Jesus is the Messiah. But belief on its own is not enough. We must listen to him and change our lives according to his wishes. Belief in Jesus is not sufficient. We also believe that the devil exists, but no one would like to follow him. We find that it is not always possible to follow Jesus. Although we know that Jesus wants all that is good for us, we are not always ready to change according to his will. The devil instils doubt. He whispers to us what we want to hear, he presents attractively his suggestions and promises satisfaction. How many times have we fallen to his tricks? It could be, that giving way to the demands of the evil one, gives initial satisfaction. However, in time, we realise that the decision we took, left us empty and that we are not at peace with ourselves. On the other hand, God is love. All that God expects from us, is founded on love. We know that what God expects from us is not always attractive, in fact it could be that his wishes are exactly in opposition to ours. Yet when we do what he wants, we will find peace.

In today’s second reading, St Paul refers to marriage. The thing which is most hateful to the devil is love and unity. That is why marriage and family vex him a great deal. Let us think, how many thoughts about our partner’s weaknesses and faults come to mind, how easily we get angry, how many times we have acted selfishly. This is all the doing of the devil. Thoughts which originate from God, are founded on love for our partner, on self-giving, the way Jesus gave himself for us. The more we try to live the way that God wishes, the more we will be at peace. The harder we try, the easier it becomes, it becomes a way of life. And this may be said for other relationships too, not just marriage.

Jesus wants to deliver us from all that which is weighing us down. If we allow him, he can free us, in the same way, he freed that man in the synagogue, from the unclean spirit.

A reading from the Gospel of Mark (Mk 1, 21-28)

Then they came to 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 synagogue was a man with an 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 rebuked him and said, “Quiet!  Come out of him!” The unclean spirit 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 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 people in the synagogue listened attentively to Jesus. How attentive are you during the readings at mass?
  4. Jesus had authority. How did he use this authority? You too have authority in your family, maybe even at work. How do you use your authority?
  5. Say and reflect upon the words of this prayer:

    Dear Jesus, help me to spread your fragrance everywhere I go.
    Flood my soul with your spirit and life.
    Penetrate and possess my whole being so utterly,
    that my life may only be a radiance of yours.

    Shine through me, and be so in me
    that every soul I come in contact with
    may feel your presence in my soul.
    Let them look up and see no longer me, but only Jesus!

    Stay with me and then I shall begin to shine as you shine,
    so to shine as to be a light to others;
    The light, O Jesus will be all from you; none of it will be mine;
    it will be you, shining on others through me

    Let me thus praise you the way you love best, by shining on those around me.
    Let me preach you without preaching, not by words but by my example,
    by the catching force of the sympathetic influence of what I do,
    the evident fullness of the love my heart bears to you.
    Amen (John Henry Newman)
  6. 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, 21-28);
    ii. A candle
    iii. Cover the table with green cloth
    iv. A computer/laptop with the reading and clips
  7. Go through the steps with your children (2 age groups are being suggested)
  8. Feel free to adapt to your situation
  9. Be creative 😊
  10. Go to the Prayer Spaces section to continue praying as a family

Today’s Gospel story tells us that Jesus was different from all other teachers. Jesus was very wise, but he also had the power to heal people and do amazing things.

  • Jesus tells us how to live, because he wants us to be happy
  • Children’s bible
  • Clips of the bible stories, mentioned in the activity

Do you have games?

Do you enjoy playing with these games?

Is it true, that for you to enjoy playing these games, you must follow rules?

Who makes these rules? (the one who invents the game)

Why do we need these rules? (so that we may enjoy the game)

What will happen if there were no rules? (whoever plays, invents his own rules, someone else may decide to change them, there will be a lot of confusion, and no one will enjoy playing the game)

Who created the world? (God)

God too, gave us rules, on how to live. He gave us these rules so that we may have a good, beautiful life. If there were no rules, there would be confusion, and we will not be happy. This is what Jesus teaches us. This is what he was teaching in the synagogue. In the synagogue there was someone who wanted to change the rules. His name is the devil. The devil tries to change the rules, so that we do not live in the way Jesus would wish. For example, Jesus wants us to be friends with everyone, the devil tells us to be only friends with those we want to, we do not need to be friends with people who are poor or who come from a different country. Jesus wants us to help our parents. The devil tells us that we will enjoy ourselves more, if we continue playing with the computer, and not go to help our parents.

How can we know, what Jesus wants to tell us? (from the Bible)

In the Bible we find many stories about the life of Jesus. Jesus gives us examples of how we are to behave. During this week, together with your family, read or watch videos about the life of Jesus. In this way you will learn what Jesus would like to tell you.

Note to parents. During this week, read episodes about Jesus, from the children’s Bible, or else watch a clip together. These are some of the stories you may read or watch:

Jesus loves everyone and he was friends with everyone. He would like us to love others too. 

The story of Zacchaeus – although Zacchaeus made mistakes and acted wrongly, Jesus wanted to be his friend, so that he could talk to him and show him how to live a better life.
(the story of Zacchaeus is towards the end of the clip)

Jesus helped others and he would like us to help others too.

The miracle of the five loaves and two fishes. Jesus did not want to leave the people hungry. If that boy had not shared his five loaves and two fishes, Jesus would not have had food to give to the people. We are to share with others.

Jesus told stories to teach. The parable of the prodigal son. (Video 1, video 2)

Jesus loves us. When we act wrongly, like the youngest son did, we would be moving away from Jesus. We would be giving our back to God the Father’s love for us. As a Father, God will wait for us, until we realise that we had done something wrong, and say that we were sorry. Jesus is very happy, when we say that we are sorry.

Jesus prayed. Jesus would like us to pray every day.

The story recounting when the apostles asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. The apostles realised that prayer was important for Jesus. They wanted to pray like him. So, they asked him to teach them. Like Jesus, we too, need to pray every day, to be good children and show Jesus that we love him.

In the Gospel, Jesus shows us that he is very strong and powerful, much more powerful than the devil. Jesus is really and truly a Superhero.

Sign of the cross.

Thank you, Jesus for showing us how to live, so that we will be happy. Help us to make good choices; choices that please you.

Today, we will see Jesus teaching with great authority. Jesus will also make a miracle and overpower the devil. The devil knows that Jesus is the Son of God.

  • We are to trust Jesus, because he loves us
  • We need to listen to what Jesus wants us to do and follow his commands 
  • Blank papers
  • Pencils 

In today’s Gospel, Jesus is teaching in the synagogue. The people were amazed with what Jesus was teaching. He was so different from the usual teachers.

In the synagogue there was a man who was controlled by the devil. The man could not do what he wished, but he had to do what the devil wanted. There are times when we allow the devil to tell us what to do. The devil is very cunning! He puts confusing thoughts in our minds and at times he suggests ideas which look good and harmless. Did you ever have thoughts about fighting with someone because this person said something bad about you? And this voice in your mind would tell you something like “Come on, go and fight him. He told a lie about you. If you do not fight him, everyone will think that you are a coward. Jesus tells you not to fight, but if you obey him, you will lose your friends.” The devil does not want us to love Jesus. He does not want us to do the things Jesus wishes. So, he tries to put these thoughts in our minds, to make us think that Jesus is a spoil sport and does not want us to be happy. Yet if we stop and think and if we do not allow the devil to influence us, we will remember how much Jesus loves us, and that Jesus wants us to be happy. He loves us so much, so that he gave us the sacrament of confession. Jesus knows that there will be times when we will listen to the devil and we will not be happy. He provided us with the opportunity to go to confession and we will be happy once again.

This Gospel shows us that we should not give up. Jesus is very powerful. The devil obeys Jesus and stops controlling that man. Do you know why Jesus defeats the devil? Because Jesus loves us, and the devil does not know how to love.

Jesus is stronger than the devil and he beats him. Jesus is also able to change the life of those who go to him, as he changed the life of that man in the synagogue. Let us now stop and think. Let us think about one thing, which we do, and which is wrong and which we would like to stop doing. Write it down on a piece of paper. Fold this paper and put it near Jesus. (note to parents: in which rooms do you have a crucifix or a picture of Jesus? Choose one, which is in a room where the family is usually together. Put the papers near this crucifix or picture of Jesus) If anyone wishes, he/she may share with the others about what he/she wrote on the paper. No one is to be made to say what was written.

During the week, when you pass from near these papers, pray to Jesus to help you overcome this wrong thing that you wrote down. Do not only pray for yourself, but also for the rest of the family.

Sign of the cross.

Thank you, Jesus. You are so powerful. Thank you, Jesus, because only you, do what is right. I want to be more like you. Listen to and sing: My God is so big and so strong and so mighty.

1. Today's Gospel narrates that Jesus visited a particular place. Where did Jesus go?

Correct! Wrong!

2. In the synagogue, Jesus met...

Correct! Wrong!

3. Jesus commanded this evil spirit to leave the man in peace. What did Jesus say to the evil spirit?

Correct! Wrong!

4. How did the people who saw what had happened, react?

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.