.

Things to talk about:

• Why do you think the people in this Gospel story were astonished at Jesus’ teaching?
• The Gospel tells us that Jesus has authority over unclean spirits. Have you ever thought about how powerful Jesus is? Is there anything that Jesus can’t do?
• What would it be like to see Jesus performing the mighty acts we hear in the Gospels?

Things to do:

• People in Jesus’ time began to recognize that he spoke and acted with such love and compassion that he must be doing so in God’s name. Who do you know who acts with such love that their authority and purpose must be to do God’s work? Write a card or draw a picture to present to these great models.
• In this Gospel, Jesus taught in the synagogue. In what way do we hear Jesus’ teaching at Mass?
• Have a family BINGO night using names, places, words from this Gospel passage or other Bible figures.
• For younger kids… instead of “time out,” try “prayer out” when your child is feeling sad, angry, anxious or frustrated. Pray with your child if he/she is having trouble calming down. Call on Jesus to help bring about peace.

Closing Prayer

In your Name Lord Jesus Christ, we pray that you would cover us, our families, and all our possessions,with your love and surround us with your heavenly angels, saints and the mantle of Our Blessed Mother.For you live and reign for ever and ever. Amen.

Pray the Nicene Creed.  Name those who need our prayers. Close with the Sign of the Cross.

Catholic Insights

Miracle stories communicate the important truth that whenever Jesus is present, there is peace. This is a critical truth to teach our kids: Jesus is here to free us from everything bad, including negative feelings that take hold of us.

Mark uses the demon as a means to reveal and acknowledge Jesus’ divinity. The demon is forced to confess that Jesus is “the Holy One of God.” or God himself. Mark also contrasts that the demon knows exactly who Jesus is while the onlookers in the synagogue are dumbfounded.

Jesus brings us comfort and peace. Any evil, illness or troubles that occur are vanquished by God because he reaches out to us with love and compassion.

Did you know? Synagogue is a Greek word that literally means a gathering of people. In the time of Jesus, a synagogue was a place where Jews gathered, worshiped, prayed, and learned. In the Jewish religion, the sabbath was observed on Saturday. However, Christians worship on Sunday because Jesus rose from the dead on a Sunday.