“Lord, you continue to bring healing and hope to all people; help me to
bring this Good News to those I meet today.”
Source: Magnifikid! February 4, 2018, Vol. 15 * Part 3 *Section 2 * Page 12
“He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.
He tells the number of the stars;
he calls each by name.”
USCCB Psalm 147, 3-4
For Parents To Teach To Their Children
Learning Through Scripture
Alleluia MT 8:17
“R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Christ took away our infirmities
and bore our diseases.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.”
Source: USCCB.org
Gospel Mark 1:29-39 Source: USCCB.org
“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.”
Talk to Your Children About the Highlighted Words:
synagogue, fever, possessed by demons, dawn, preach, Galilee
Jesus was Jewish. When he attended the temple for prayer, feasts, or religious services, it was in a building–big or small–and it was called a synagogue. Even today, this is the name for a Jewish house of worship or the place for Jewish teaching and instruction.
Jesus was living in Capernaum a fishing town near a large lake called the Sea of Galilee. When we think of a sea, it is usually a body of salt water. The Sea of Galilee is a freshwater sea–no salt. He was preaching–talking and teaching others about the Kingdom of God and how to be a part of it–while he lived in the region of Galilee. Scripture tells us that Jesus was preaching from dawn, which is also called sunrise, or day break. One day, he was called to help one of the disciples, Simon, whose mother-in-law was sick with a fever. In Jesus’ time, fevers often killed people of all ages. Today, we have medicines that reduce fever quickly, so there usually is no lasting damage to a person. But in Jesus’ time, there was nothing like that. So when Jesus entered the house of Simon, saw the sick woman, and took her hand, the people in the house witnessed a miraculous healing–Simon’s mother-in-law got up, the fever was over, and she made dinner and served the men.
The word of the miracle spread, and many families brought sick relatives and people suffering from different disorders to Christ for healing. One of the types of disorders that Jesus cured was called “possession by demons.” Holy Scripture tells us that these sick people had an “unclean spirit” or a type of devil in possession of them. Jesus drove out these unclean spirits by his power, and the sick people were healed.
Let’s Talk About Penance and Other Important Actions
For Your Child:
Imagine that you took your brother’s favorite book without asking, even though he previously told you not to, and you lose it. Would this be a mistake, like spelling a word incorrectly on a test? Or, would this be on purpose, because you wanted to have the book and then were careless about where you put it? When we make a mistake or something happens, by accident, like dropping and breaking a friend’s toy, it is different than doing something wrong on purpose, which would be a sin. A sin is a failure to live God’s law. Either way, you still have to replace the toy you broke.
Perhaps your action of taking the book could go like this:
- You take the book, are careless, and lose it. (Sin) Which Commandment would this be breaking? “Do not steal.” (“Do not take things that aren’t yours.”)
- You feel scared and guilty, because you know it was wrong to take it. (Conscience)
- You tell your mom and she helps you decide what to do next. (Acting on Conscience)
- You tell your brother about taking his book and you apologize and tell him you won’t do it again. (Repentance and Contrition)
- Mom says you have to pay for the lost book from your allowance. (Restitution)
- You promise not to take other’s people’s things without asking first. (Amendment)
- Your brother accepts your apology and the repayment of the book and forgives you. (Mercy and Forgiveness)
- If you have already made a First Reconciliation, you go to church to receive the Sacrament of Confession and forgiveness from God, through a priest, for your actions. (The Sacrament of Confession and Absolution)
- The sin is “taken away” by God through Absolution. The priest will give you a Penance to do. This can be a small but important task, or a prayer.
- Do it. Done!
We Learn “An Act of Contrition”
Our Church’s Seasons and Colors
Sunday, February 4, 2024 is the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Church divides the Liturgical Year into six seasons: Advent, Christmas, Lent, Sacred Paschal Triduum, Easter, and Ordinary Time.
Each season has a Liturgical Color, which means that there is a color that corresponds to the season and the readings–the Liturgy— for the season. The Liturgical Colors are: Purple, symbolizing Penance and Preparation during Advent and Lent; Red for Sacrifice, Death of Martyrs, Good Friday, etc.; Rose/Pink, symbolizing Anticipation on third Sunday in Advent, and fourth Sunday in Lent; Green, to symbolize “Hope, Life and Growth” in Ordinary Time; and White/Gold, to symbolize “Joy and Purity.”
Penance, Sacrifice, Anticipation, Ordinary Time, Joy & Purity, and White
Source: Catholic.org
“White symbolizes, ‘Light, innocence, purity, joy, triumph, glory.’
White is used for:
“Season of Christmas
Season of Easter
Feasts of the Lord, other than of His passion
Feasts of Mary, the angels, and saints who were not martyrs
All Saints (1 November)
Feasts of the Apostles
Nuptial Masses
Masses for the dead (Requiem Masses) when the deceased is a baptized child who died before the age of reason. Each season has its own color.”
We are about to enter the season of Lent, which prepares us for understanding Reconciliation. “We ask for God’s forgiveness in Penance and Reconciliation.”
Source: Believe Celebrate Live Reconciliation Page 28
The USCCB Liturgical Calendar for 2024 lists the readings for all the weekdays and Sundays, and has the Liturgical color to the right of the readings.
Liturgical Colors Cross Art
As the children prepare to become members of the church, let’s celebrate our religion with a beautiful Liturgical Colors cross project.
Here are the materials to make this cross painting:
Cut a full sheet of watercolor paper into fourths. Use the small sheet for this project. Draw four squares in a vertical line one on top of the next. Add one square on either side of the second square from the top. Now fill in the squares with watercolor pastels. Dip finger in water and touch pastels with the wet finger to spread the liquified crayon. Or, use a brush and a cake watercolor to fill in the Sharpie outlines. Color around the cross with watercolor pastels or paint. Let dry. If the paper curls up a bit, it will flatten out when it is dry.
“We are all children of God.”
BLESSED FIRST COMMUNION
Dynamic Catholic
PAGE 10
“Great is our Lord and mighty in power;
to his wisdom there is no limit.
The LORD sustains the lowly;
the wicked he casts to the ground.”
PSALM 147
USCCB
