Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Transcription

1 Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B HOW TO USE THIS RESOURCE Dismissal Session The Dismissal Session is for catechumens only who are dismissed from worship before the Creed (RCIA #75.3). The Dismissal Session group may gather for the Catechetical Session at another time during the week. Catechetical Session When the Dismissal Session is immediately followed by the Catechetical Session, parents or other sponsors join the group after Eucharist. Baptized children preparing for confirmation and Eucharist may also join in the Catechetical Session (RCIA #254; Appendix III, #19). Select the session options that fit your time frame. Children s RCIA Resource CATECHIST S NOTES NOTES FOR THIS SUNDAY Sunday s readings Leviticus 13:1-2, Psalm 32:1-2, 5, 11 1 Corinthians 10:31 11:1 Mark 1:40-45 Doctrine correlations Human misery elicited the compassion of Jesus the Savior (CCC #2448). The power that came forth from Jesus Christ and healed the sick continues to touch us and heal us in the sacraments (CCC #1204). RCIA team notes The rite of acceptance should be celebrated two or three times a year (RCIA #19) when there is evidence of first faith, initial conversion, and intention to enter into a relationship with God in Christ (RCIA #42). Consult with the RCIA team about a Rite of Acceptance for inquirers who may be ready for the catechumenate so that they will have a full year of catechumenate formation before Easter next year (RCIA, National Statues #6). By Janet Miller. Copyright 2012, TeamRCIA.com. All rights reserved.

2 CATECHIST S NOTES GETTING READY FOR THE SESSION Items to prepare check-in sheet and nametag materials poster paper or white board, erasers, and erasable markers green cloth on table or counter space for prayer, percussion instrument Bibles, one set to Mark 1:40, prayer cards potted plant, candle in a heat-proof holder, matches pictures Sharing Faith questions, copies of Faith at Home recycled 20-ounce plastic bottles, paper egg cartons, masking tape, recycled fabric or remnants, scissors, craft knife, recycled shallow containers, thinned white glue, wiggly eyes, chenille stems, construction paper, acrylic paints, brushes, clean up supplies, recycled pans, wax paper Gathering Prayer Ritual Place a Bible, candle, and potted plant on a green cloth. Use the prayer cards from previous weeks or, if needed, make new cards. Plan to collect to reuse. Singing option Use music from your faith community resources. The suggestion is a guide available in Gather Comprehensive and Give Your Gifts, Melody Book (GIA Publications, Inc.). Bring songbooks and music in a player. Building Community From mission magazines or the Internet, obtain pictures of people in desperate need, such as, pictures designed to generate contributions. Snack option Send a reminder to the sponsor providing the snack this week. Sharing Faith groups Put the Scripture citation with the questions on cards for group leaders. Crossing the Ages Activity option: Piggy Banks Bring 20-ounce recycled plastic bottles, paper egg cartons, masking tape, recycled lightweight fabric, scissors, craft knife, recycled shallow containers with white glue thinned with 50% water, wiggly eyes, chenille stems, construction paper, acrylic paints and brushes, clean up supplies, and clean recycled pan lined with wax paper. Make a sample. (Option: Precut fabric strips.) Plan if the group will select a cause for a collection. Friends on the Way - Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B 2

3 DISMISSAL SESSION GATHERING (15 MINUTES) Catechumens, having heard the Sunday proclamation of the Word, are dismissed from the Mass. Greet the catechumens as they arrive. Have them check in and put on nametags. For anyone new provide nametag materials. Distribute prayer cards to readers to prepare. GATHERING PRAYER RITUAL Chime a percussion instrument as a call to prayer. All stand around the prayer focal point. ( ) Light the candle. Teach the response, Come for the reign of God is at hand. Have the prepared readers lead, and the others respond. Reader: All: Reader: All: Reader: All: Reader: All: Hearing the call and inspired to follow: come for the reign of God is at hand. You who are casting and you who are mending: come for the reign of God is at hand. Recognizing Jesus who has authority over evil: come for the reign of God is at hand. Healing the sick and serving the needy: come for the reign of God is at hand. Song Suggestion: You Are Mine. Invite everyone when you lift a hand to respond, I turn to you, O God, in time of trouble. Prayerfully say the following verses inspired by Psalm 32, calling for the response by lifting a hand. Blessed is the one whose fault is taken away. Blessed is the one whose spirit is pure. (response) I confess my sins to you, O God, and you took away the guilt. (response) Be glad and rejoice, you just. Exult, you upright of heart. (response) Extinguish the candle flame. Friends on the Way - Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B 3

4 CONNECTING WITH ONE ANOTHER Invite everyone to sit in a circle. Introduce anyone new. Invite sharing about their experiences with the Faith at Home pages from the previous session. BUILDING COMMUNITY People in Need: Show pictures of people in desperate need. Ask: What feelings do you have when you see these pictures? How would you feel if you had a terrible itchy, burning skin disease and had no medication? Imagine what it was like in Jesus time: There were no modern medical clinics. Those who were sick were not allowed to be near healthy people. Illness often caused people to have terrible odors. Sick people were desperate for anyone s help. Just seeing a picture of someone in need concerns us, so imagine how Jesus felt meeting someone very ill face to face. The Bible tells us Jesus had pity. Jesus felt their need in the pit of his stomach. Deep inside himself, Jesus felt their misery and was moved with compassion. RECALLING THE WORD (10 MINUTES) Have everyone sit with Bibles in a circle. Use the following as a guide. For information, refer to Insight for the Catechist and the reflections on the Faith at Home page. Always affirm the catechumens responses adding comments to aid their understanding. Help everyone find Leviticus 13:1-2. Explain: The Book of Leviticus was written for priests in ancient times. It gives them instructions for protecting the community. These verses are about what? Remember, in those days sick people did not have medical clinics. This chapter tells how priests decided if someone had a contagious skin disease. They called skin diseases leprosy. Now, skip to verses What did people have to do if a priest declared they had leprosy? People with skin diseases suffered terribly. They could not live in the protection of the community. Worse still, they were not allowed to worship, so they believed that God was against them. Jesus came to show these people God s love. Friends on the Way - Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B 4

5 Have the catechumens find 1 Corinthians 10:31 11:1, which bridges two chapters. When have you heard someone criticized for their food and drink choices? Who might be the subject of jokes or criticism because of their nationality or religion? What attitude does Saint Paul teach us to have? Have everyone find Mark 1: How did Jesus feel when he saw the very sick man? What did Jesus do? I wonder; why did Jesus tell the man not to tell? Affirm the members comments. Summarize: Since Jesus was very compassionate, he gave the leper his healing touch, but Jesus had greater work to do. Jesus touched and healed sick people to show that the good news was for everyone. PRAYING INTERCESSIONS (5 MINUTES) We offer prayers for those who feel left out. When I lift my hand please respond, All for your glory, O God, hear our prayer. For everyone who is treated like an outsider, we pray. (Lift a hand for the response.) That we never make jokes about or criticize people whose ways differ from ours, we pray. (Lift a hand for the response.) May we have the strength to reach out to those who others neglect, we pray. (Lift a hand for the response.) Invite the members to contribute intercessions. Conclude: God, who touches and heals, hear the prayers we speak and those we hold in our hearts. May your Holy Spirit guide us, united as one in Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns for ever and ever. All: Amen. Option: Break for a snack or social time. If the group disperses now and meets for catechesis later in the week, collect nametags. Friends on the Way - Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B 5

6 CATECHETICAL SESSION The Catechetical Session follows the Dismissal Session either immediately or at another time during the week. The catechetical session is designed for catechumens and parents or sponsors to grow in faith together. The status of the catechumens never is to be confused with that of baptized children preparing for confirmation or Eucharist, who may join in this catechesis as supportive companions (RCIA, Appendix III, #19). GATHERING FOR CATECHESIS (5 MINUTES) Welcome the catechumens, parents, sponsors, and any baptized children arriving from liturgy. If this Catechetical Session is not following the Dismissal Session, allow an additional ten minutes and begin with the Gathering segment in the Dismissal Session. Have those arriving check in and put on nametags. PRAYING Invite everyone to stand around the prayer focal point. Use the ( ) prayer from the Gathering Prayer Ritual in the Dismissal Session, another prayer, or sing a gathering song from liturgy. ENGAGING THE WORD (20 MINUTES) Distribute Bibles. Have everyone find Mark 1: Assign groups of six to eight and appoint group leaders. Ask the groups to assign roles and plan to mime the gospel story without using words. Allow for preparation. Assist as needed. Ask each group to mime Mark 1:40-45 for the whole group. After all the groups perform, ask: What did these enactments help you realize? Mention: In Jesus time anyone who touched a sick person was considered unclean and treated as contagious. In touching the leper, Jesus did a very daring action. SHARING FAITH (10 MINUTES) Form groups of four to six mixed-age groups with Bibles. (If there are only a few participants, lead the discussion as a whole group.) Print the questions on large paper or marker board or distribute questions on cards for an adult to lead. Circulate to offer support as needed. SIXTH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B Leviticus 13:1-2, Psalm 32:1-2, 5, 11 1 Corinthians 10:31 11:1 Mark 1:40-45 Insight for the Catechist Biblical leprosy included many skin diseases for which a person could be rendered unclean by the decision of a priest. During ancient times priests were responsible for the wellbeing of the community. Chapter 13 of Leviticus gave an exact diagnostic process to assist priests in making these grave decisions. Those who were considered to be contagious were ostracized and obliged to warn others by their appearance and by shouting precautionary announcements. Generally, their lives were filled with pain, misery, hunger, and humiliation. They were forbidden to participate in worship. Jesus came to attend to such as these. The Greek word for how Jesus was moved to compassion may be translated gut-wrenching. The horrific sight of someone deteriorating with the accompanying odor hit Jesus in the pit of his stomach. He was moved to touch and make each person whole. By Janet Miller. Copyright 2012, TeamRCIA.com. All rights reserved. 6

7 CONVERSING ABOUT MARK 1:40-45 Why did Jesus touch the leper? Which types of people are often excluded in today s society? What might we do to help people who others leave out? With the whole group, conclude: When Jesus, our Savior, saw human misery, he was overwhelmed with compassion. The power that came forth from Jesus and healed the sick continues to touch us. When you are baptized you will begin experiencing Christ s sacramental healing. CARRYING OUT THE WORD (5 MINUTES) SUMMING UP Invite everyone to stand around the prayer focal point. Encourage them to offer insights from this week s session. Summarize: As Jesus reached out and touched the leper, Jesus also touches us. We, in turn, reach out and touch others. Many people need our compassion. When no one wants certain children on the team or in the group, you have a chance to do what Jesus did by daring to include them. CLOSING PRAYER Invite everyone to be silent. If you wish, close your eyes. Think of something in your life that you would like to be better. (Pause.) Imagine Jesus coming into the room. (Pause.) See yourself going to Jesus and kneeling before him. (Pause.) Hear yourself saying to Jesus, If you wish, you can make me feel better. (Pause.) Imagine Jesus touching you and saying, I will do it. Be made to feel better. (Go around the circle, touching each person on the shoulder.) As you are ready, open your eyes. Go forth from this place and spread Jesus healing touch. And may the ever-living God bless us, (Make the Sign of the Cross on yourself as a model for everyone.) protect us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life. All: Amen. Distribute the Faith at Home page. Collect the nametags. Friends on the Way - Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B 7

8 Crossing the Ages Activity (Optional activity for children and adults together: 20 minutes) Piggy Banks (Social justice activity, RCIA #75.4) See the private web page where you downloaded this session to view a video how-to for this activity. Tell the following about Pete the Pig. In 1913 a boy named Wilbur raised a pig named Pete. While at church, Wilbur heard about children around the world who had leprosy. Wilbur sold Pete at market for $25 dollars and sent the money to help American Leprosy Missions. Children who could not raise pigs began collecting money in piggy banks to help cure leprosy. Over a century later, many children still use piggy banks to save coins and help. Invite the members to make piggy banks for saving money to help someone in need of medical care. Show the sample. Some may prefer to make other animals. Provide the following instructions: 1. Remove and paint outside the nose cap; set aside. Cut 20 strips of fabric, 1-inch wide up to 8-inches long. 2. From a paper egg carton, cut 2 pairs of cups and 2 triangular ears, 1-inch wide at the base and 2- inchs tall. 3. Using masking tape, secure one pair of cups to the very back underside of an empty, clean beverage bottle (20 ounces). 4. Far forward on the underbody, aligned with the back legs, secure another pair of cups. 5. Attach the ears with masking on top above the front of the legs. 6. An adult with a craft knife pokes a hole on the top back. Insert a piece of curled chenille stem. 7. Dip fabric strips in diluted white glue and smooth, overlapping, to cover the bottle and taped areas completely. Use short strips for small areas. Clean hands. 8. Paint the ears and legs with fast drying acrylics. Clean the brush. 9. Place on recycled pan. Smooth loose areas with a paint brush dipped in glue. 10. Glue two ¼-inch circles to the front of the nose. 11. Attach wiggly eyes. 12. At home after the bank dries, a parent cuts a slit in the top back. Group members decide if they want to donate to American Leprosy Missions or another organization that helps sick people. (Option: If they collect throughout Lent, set a date to return the filled banks, and send a group donation.) Friends on the Way - Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B 8

9 Faith at Home Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year B Remember Sunday s Word Leviticus 13:1-2, Psalm 32:1-2, 5, 11 1 Corinthians 10:31 11:1 Mark 1:40-45 At a convenient time for the family, gather around a dining table or in the living room. Silence all electronics. Place a Bible opened to Mark 1 in the center. Begin with a moment of quiet. REFLECTING ON LEVITICUS 13:1-2, During ancient times, the priests had a duty to protect the community from contagious diseases. This chapter in Leviticus provides a guide for priests to exercise that responsibility. The people deemed contagious were forced to live in isolation. They could not work around other people, had no medical care, and were not allowed to worship. How would each of us feel if we had a terrible disease and had to live in isolation? What is worse, not being allowed around others or not being allowed to worship? Find out about American Leprosy Missions by logging onto REFLECTING ON 1 CORINTHIANS 10:31 11:1 To imitate Saint Paul is to try to imitate Christ. Give glory to God in all that you do. To avoid giving offense, do not criticize people s dietary practices and do not make prejudicial remarks. Seek what is good for the salvation of all. To what extent do we avoid criticizing the life-style choices of others? To what extent do we avoid prejudicial remarks? Create a Speak No Evil jar. Each time someone says or does something that puts down anyone, they deposit a coin in the jar. This includes telling jokes and laughing at programs or videos that demean someone because of nationality, religion, sex, or social status. After a designated time, donate the money, in the jar, if any, to a justice cause. By Janet Miller. Photo by Kate Ter Haar, via Flickr, CC BY 2.0. Copyright 2012, TeamRCIA.com. All rights reserved. Permission is given to reproduce this handout for family home use.

10 REFLECTING ON MARK 1:40-45 Jesus showed his power by healing with a touch. To follow the prescription of Leviticus, he sent the man to the priest. After encountering the power of God, the man was unable to remain quiet. Jesus reputation spread, and people sought him. Jesus went against the law by touching someone who was unclean; what do we think about that? What moving encounters with God have we experienced? Experience what it is like to have a debilitating disease like leprosy. Often sufferers with untreated leprosy develop problems with their hands. Sometimes the hand stiffens into a claw position. A child with a claw hand cannot pick up a pencil or hold a fork or toothbrush correctly. Imagine you are suffering with leprosy. Try holding your hands in a stiff claw position while attempting to do your homework, eat dinner, and brush your teeth. When funds are available, children with fingers stiffened by leprosy may receive surgery to straighten their hands. Playing pick-up-sticks is part of their therapy as they develop use of their hands. Together, as a family, play a game of pick-up-sticks. Give thanks to God for modern medical treatments. Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B TeamRCIA.com