Sunday Connection

Gospel Reading
Mark 2:1-12
Jesus tells the paralyzed man that his sins are forgiven and also heals his body.

Making the Connection (Grades 1, 2, and 3)

Younger children may sometimes resist accepting responsibility and apologizing when they have made a poor choice. We can encourage them by teaching about the healing power of God’s forgiveness.

Materials Needed

• a large colorful bandage or a box of bandages

Preparation for Sunday Scripture Readings

1. Show children the band aid or box of band aids. Ask: What do we use a bandage for? (to cover a wound while it heals) What are some things that might need to be healed? (Accept all reasonable responses, such as a scrape on our knee or a stubbed toe) Say: Sometimes our bodies need to be healed. We might also need to heal our hearts if our feelings are hurt or our spirits if we have made a bad choice and need forgiveness.

2. Say: In today’s Gospel, we hear a story about Jesus. He teaches us about God’s healing. Some men come to Jesus with their friend, a man who is paralyzed, which means he cannot walk.

3. Read aloud today’s Gospel, Mark 2:1–12.

4. Ask: Did Jesus heal the paralyzed man? How do you know? (Yes. The man was able to walk). Say: Jesus also offered the man God’s healing forgiveness. Jesus healed the man in body and soul.

5. Say: Jesus forgives our sins and heals us too. When we have made a bad choice, we can always tell Jesus we are sorry and receive his healing forgiveness. We can feel peaceful and happy.

6. Invite children to think of something for which they would like to ask Jesus’ forgiveness and tell them to pray silently. Then pray: Jesus, we thank you for your healing love and forgiveness. Help us make good, loving choices. Invite the children to exchange a sign of peace with one another.

Gospel Reading
Mark 2:1-12
Jesus tells the paralyzed man that his sins are forgiven and also heals his body.

Making the Connection (Grades 4, 5, and 6)

It is a natural part of development for children to question the authority of others; ultimately, we hope for our young people to have a healthy sense of authority. We can help by teaching them that the authority of the Church is derived from the authority given to it by Jesus.

Materials Needed

• None

Preparation for Sunday Scripture Readings

1. Say: I often hear children your age ask the question, “Says who?” Have you ever heard someone ask this question? What are some circumstances in which this question is asked? (siblings who are bringing a message from parents, classmates who deliver a message about school rules, and so on)

2. Ask: When people ask that question, what do they really mean? (What is the authority behind the message; do I really need to follow the instructions given?) The question seeks to identify the authority behind the message so that someone knows whether or not to believe the message or to follow the instructions given.

3. Say: This is the question that the scribes are asking themselves in today's Gospel when Jesus forgives the paralyzed man's sins. Let's listen carefully to today's Gospel.

4. Invite one or more volunteers to read aloud today's Gospel, Mark 2:1-12.

5. Ask: Why might the scribes question Jesus' authority to forgive sins? (The scribes knew that only God forgives sins; they wanted to know on what basis Jesus would claim this authority; they did not believe that Jesus was the Son of God.) What does Jesus do as a sign of his authority to forgive sins? (He heals the man's paralysis.)

6. Say: Jesus shared the authority to forgive sins with the Church. When we celebrate God's forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we can rest assured that our sins have been forgiven.

7. Conclude in prayer together that we will celebrate God's gift of forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Allow some quiet time for prayer in which we thank God for the peace of his forgiveness. Pray together the Act of Contrition.

Gospel Reading
Mark 2:1-12
Jesus tells the paralyzed man that his sins are forgiven and also heals his body.

Making the Connection (Grades 7 and 8)

Young people are learning and practicing skills needed to face life’s challenges. We can help them to see that the gift of faith helps them meet those challenges.

Materials Needed

• None

Preparation for Sunday Scripture Readings

1. Ask the young people if they have ever run an obstacle course or participated in a challenge (or ropes) course. Invite any who have to describe their experience.

2. Ask the group to identify the skills needed to complete an obstacle course or a challenge course. Help them to identify both the physical and non-physical skills needed.

3. Say: In this Sunday’s Gospel, we hear how a man and his friends overcome the obstacles that prevented them from seeing Jesus. Let’s listen carefully to this Gospel.

4. Invite one or more volunteers to read aloud today’s Gospel, Mark 2:1–12.

5. Ask: What obstacles prevented the paralyzed man from approaching Jesus? (his inability to walk on his own, the great crowd surrounding Jesus) What did the man’s friends do to overcome these obstacles? (They carried the man; they broke through the roof and lowered the man on a mat so that he could enter the house.) What qualities helped the man and his friends to overcome the obstacles that prevented them from approaching Jesus? (Accept all reasonable answers, such as courage, creativity, and determination.) What does the Gospel say that Jesus observed in them? (faith) What did Jesus do for the man? (Jesus forgave the man’s sins and healed him.)

6. Say: Faith is a gift from God that helps us to believe in him. How can faith help us to face the challenges in our lives? (Accept all reasonable answers, such as helping us to trust that God loves us and cares for us always.) The Holy Spirit helps us to respond to the gift of faith and to share it with others. Work together to identify ways we nurture the gift of faith and share it with others.

7. Conclude in prayer, asking God to make our faith strong. Pray together the Act of Faith or the psalm for this Sunday, Psalm 41.

Gospel Reading
Mark 2:1-12
Jesus tells the paralyzed man that his sins are forgiven and also heals his body.

Family Connection

Like the paralyzed man's friends in today's Gospel, we would make extraordinary efforts to find care for a family member who was ill. Caring for one another in times of illness is an important part of family life. When we care for one another, we are attentive not only to physical needs, but to emotional and spiritual needs as well. Our Catholic tradition teaches that prayer for those who are sick is an important way to help them. As Jesus was moved by the faith of the paralytic man's friends, so too our prayer for the sick helps to bring them Jesus' healing presence.

As you gather as family, recall times when family members have been ill. Talk about the concrete ways in which we care for a family member who is sick. Notice that when someone is sick, we care for their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. Read today's Gospel, Mark 2:1-12. In what ways did the paralytic man's friends care for his needs? In what ways did Jesus care for the man's needs? One of the most important ways that we care for those who are sick is through prayer. Conclude by praying together for family members and friends who are sick. After each person is named, pray “Jesus, heal us.” Pray also for the people who take care of the sick. Conclude by praying the Glory Be to the Father.