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Children's Liturgy Series: The Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle B)

Author: Joyce Bott

Introduction

In today's gospel we learn about two miracles Jesus performed for people because of their faith: the healing of the hemorrhaging woman, and the raising from the dead of a little girl. 

Opening Prayer

Holy Spirit, fill my heart and illuminate my mind. Help me to hear and understand God's message today. Help me to recognise when God is trying to speak to me in my daily life. Amen 

Gospel (Mark 5:21-43)

When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea. One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward. Seeing him he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, saying,“My daughter is at the point of death. Please, come lay your hands on her that she may get well and live.”He went off with him, and a large crowd followed him and pressed upon him.

There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years. She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet she was not helped but only grew worse. She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak. She said, “If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.” Immediately her flow of blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who has touched my clothes?” But his disciples said to Jesus,“You see how the crowd is pressing upon you, and yet you ask, ‘Who touched me?’” And he looked around to see who had done it. The woman, realizing what had happened to her, approached in fear and trembling. She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.”

While he was still speaking, people from the synagogue official’s house arrived and said,“Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?” Disregarding the message that was reported, Jesus said to the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid; just have faith.” He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official, he caught sight of a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. So he went in and said to them,“Why this commotion and weeping?The child is not dead but asleep.” And they ridiculed him. Then he put them all out. He took along the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and entered the room where the child was. He took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum,”which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise!” The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around. At that they were utterly astounded. He gave strict orders that no one should know this and said that she should be given something to eat.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6oTYmwpZXQ (Credit to Catholic Kids Media)

Reflection

Ask: When you were sick, did you have any special needs? If so, what were they? What did other people do to help you feel better? (Accept all reasonable answers.)

Ask: Have you ever helped take care of someone who was sick? What does it feel like to be with someone who is sick? (Accept all reasonable answers.)

Say: We are fortunate to have people who care for us when we are sick. Caring for people who are sick can be very rewarding, especially when we help them feel more comfortable. But it can also be discouraging because sometimes there seems to be little we can do to help them feel better.

Say: Today’s Gospel tells the story of a father who felt helpless because his daughter was sick. But he sought help for his daughter from Jesus. 

Ask: What does Jairus ask Jesus to do to make his daughter well? (to lay his hands on her) What happens while Jesus is walking to Jairus’s house? (Messengers report that Jairus’s daughter has died.) What does Jesus do? (He tells Jairus not to be afraid; he continues to Jairus’s house; he says that the girl is only sleeping and he raises her, making her well again.)

Say: Jairus did something that each one of us can do; he asked Jesus to be present with a person who was sick. We can also pray for those who care for the sick, such as parents, nurses, doctors, and all people who work in the medical profession.

Conclude by inviting the young people to name people they know who are sick. Pray prayers of petition, asking Jesus to heal each person named by praying, “Jesus, heal us.” Conclude your prayer time by praying together the Glory Be to the Father.

Kids Bulletin

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Closing Prayer

Father in heaven, for the conversion of sinners, we give you today, all that we think and do and say, and we join it with all that was done by Jesus Christ, your Son. Amen