Sharing God's Story: Mark 7:31-37
In today’s Gospel, the people brought to Jesus a deaf man who also had a speech impediment. They begged Jesus to heal the man. Jesus touched the man’s ears and tongue, and prayed that his ears be opened. Immediately, the man was healed. Jesus ordered the people not to tell anyone, but they could not contain the good news of the man’s healing.
Reflection for Parents
In the Rite of Baptism we pray: The Lord Jesus made the deaf hear and the dumb speak. May he soon touch your ears to receive his word, and your mouth to proclaim his faith, to the praise and glory of God the Father. Amen. (Rite of Baptism 101)
Read again today’s Gospel. Listen—truly listen—for its meaning in your life and in the life of your family. What do you hear the Spirit of God speaking to your heart? Who needs to hear the Good News of this reading? How will you share this Good News with those who need to hear?
Bringing the Good News Into Your Family
Begin by inviting family members to respond to the following open-ended statements.
Discussion Starters
In place of questions, create two lists for the family fridge or two posters to place on or near the family prayer table. Label the lists or the posters With My Ears I Heard and With My Voice I Said. Invite family members to write things they hear and say in the coming week that express faith in God and love for God and neighbor. For example: “With my ears I heard the birds singing” or “With my voice I said thanks to Dad.”
[RCL Benziger Lectionary Resources]
In today’s Gospel, the people brought to Jesus a deaf man who also had a speech impediment. They begged Jesus to heal the man. Jesus touched the man’s ears and tongue, and prayed that his ears be opened. Immediately, the man was healed. Jesus ordered the people not to tell anyone, but they could not contain the good news of the man’s healing.
Reflection for Parents
In the Rite of Baptism we pray: The Lord Jesus made the deaf hear and the dumb speak. May he soon touch your ears to receive his word, and your mouth to proclaim his faith, to the praise and glory of God the Father. Amen. (Rite of Baptism 101)
Read again today’s Gospel. Listen—truly listen—for its meaning in your life and in the life of your family. What do you hear the Spirit of God speaking to your heart? Who needs to hear the Good News of this reading? How will you share this Good News with those who need to hear?
Bringing the Good News Into Your Family
Begin by inviting family members to respond to the following open-ended statements.
- With my ears I can . . .
- With my voice I can . . .
Discussion Starters
In place of questions, create two lists for the family fridge or two posters to place on or near the family prayer table. Label the lists or the posters With My Ears I Heard and With My Voice I Said. Invite family members to write things they hear and say in the coming week that express faith in God and love for God and neighbor. For example: “With my ears I heard the birds singing” or “With my voice I said thanks to Dad.”
[RCL Benziger Lectionary Resources]
Faith-Filled People: Saint Mary Euphrasia Pelletier
Explore Being Catholic: How to Sign the Act of Contrition
Time With God: A Student Prayer
Family Challenge
This weekend’s Gospel invites us to consider how we witness the healing presence of Christ in our care for and ministry to those who are sick. We notice that the deaf man is brought to Jesus for healing by his friends. These people beg Jesus to lay his hands on this deaf man so that he might be healed. Jesus’ healing power is shown in his opening of the man’s ears and the restoring of his speech. When family members care for one another when they are sick, they bring Christ’s healing presence. When we pray for those who are ill, we ask God to show his healing power. When health is restored, we share that good news with others.
As you gather as a family, recall a time when a family member was ill. What steps were taken to help restore this family member to health? Talk about what it feels like to care for a person who is ill, and about how it feels to be the sick person being cared for. In today’s Gospel, we hear about a time when Jesus healed a man who was deaf. Read today’s Gospel, Mark 7:31-37. Notice how the man who was cured and his friends could not honor Jesus’ request to keep quiet about Jesus’ power to heal. We continue to celebrate Jesus’ healing presence in our lives by giving thanks to God for the gift of healing and health. Conclude in prayer, thanking Jesus for the gifts of health and healing. Pray together for those who are sick. After each person is named, pray, “Jesus, heal us.”
[from Loyola Press Sunday Connection]
This weekend’s Gospel invites us to consider how we witness the healing presence of Christ in our care for and ministry to those who are sick. We notice that the deaf man is brought to Jesus for healing by his friends. These people beg Jesus to lay his hands on this deaf man so that he might be healed. Jesus’ healing power is shown in his opening of the man’s ears and the restoring of his speech. When family members care for one another when they are sick, they bring Christ’s healing presence. When we pray for those who are ill, we ask God to show his healing power. When health is restored, we share that good news with others.
As you gather as a family, recall a time when a family member was ill. What steps were taken to help restore this family member to health? Talk about what it feels like to care for a person who is ill, and about how it feels to be the sick person being cared for. In today’s Gospel, we hear about a time when Jesus healed a man who was deaf. Read today’s Gospel, Mark 7:31-37. Notice how the man who was cured and his friends could not honor Jesus’ request to keep quiet about Jesus’ power to heal. We continue to celebrate Jesus’ healing presence in our lives by giving thanks to God for the gift of healing and health. Conclude in prayer, thanking Jesus for the gifts of health and healing. Pray together for those who are sick. After each person is named, pray, “Jesus, heal us.”
[from Loyola Press Sunday Connection]
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