Faith To Go Podcast: Faith and Suffering
Hosted each week by the Faith Formation team at St. Paul's Cathedral in San Diego, David Tremaine, Maya Little-Sana and Jackie Pippin, the Faith To Go Podcast highlight themes from the Sunday Gospel reading for you to take into your conversations throughout the week.
Activity Time: First Aid
Supplies: First Aid Kit
Lay out the supplies of a first aid kit. Talk about all the different items and how they can be used to help someone heal after an injury.
Bring out items that help you connect to God. Talk about how those items help connect you when you need it.
Note: Another opportunity would be make first aid supplies kits that you can hand out to homeless people you encounter on your daily commute.
Story Time: Gospel Reading and Reflection
Watch this video together and then use the discussion questions below to reflect as a family.
Discussion Questions:
1) Who had been waiting for Jesus?
2) Why did Jairus knell before Jesus?
3) What did Jesus tell Jairus?
4) Who came with Jesus to Jairus’ house?
5) How did Jesus heal the girl?
Dinner Time: Healing
Below is a prayer with which to start your meal and then discussion questions to explore this week’s topic with your family while you eat.
Prayer- The days are getting longer.
Keep your Spirit in my heart and mind
during this growing season.
Be with me as I finish the school year,
participate in summer activities,
enjoy the gift of summer turning into fall.
Help me recognize your works in all that I do
at work,
at rest,
and at play,
So that I can give thanks for all you provide,
even without my even asking.
Amen.
Questions:
If you were sick, what would your parents do to help you feel better?
What else do your parents do when you’re sick?
Do you believe in Jesus?
How did the woman’s belief in Jesus in today’s reading bring her healing?
When our soul needs healing, how can we make sure to let Jesus in
Bedtime: Reflections for Children at the End of the Day
During your bedtime routine, invite your children into a time of reflection about their day, maybe by saying, "Did you know that God really wants to know what happened in your day today, and that God is always listening whenever you need to tell God something?" Then continue with these questions:
1) What are some things that happened today that you want to tell God about?
2) What is one happy thing that happened today? What is one sad thing that happened today?
3) Did you see God or feel God with you when those things were happening? Where did you see or feel God when those things happened today?
4) Read to your children this week’s scripture selection, then ask the questions that follows.
Mark 5:21-43
Jesus got off a boat, and a big group of people surrounded him by the sea. One of the leaders of the local synagogue fell at Jesus’ feet and begged him to heal his little girl, who was dying. “Come with me, Jesus. Lay your hands on her, and she will live.” So Jesus pushed everyone aside and went with the man.
A large crowd followed him, and pushed him. A woman who had suffered for twelve years was in the crowd. She had seen many doctors but no one was able to help her. She’d heard about Jesus and thought, “If only I can touch his clothes, I’ll be healed.” So she snuck up behind him and touched the hem of his coat. Right that instant, she got better. And right that instant Jesus felt some power leave his body. He turned around and said, “Who touched my clothes?” The disciples said, “Jesus, look at all these people! They’re ALL touching your clothes.” Still he wanted to know who had touched him. The woman came up to him, expecting to be punished for touching him. She told him the whole truth. And Jesus said to her, “You have such a strong faith. You are healed. Go, be at peace and live a happy life.”
While he was talking to her, people came from the synagogue leader’s house to tell him his little girl had died. “Don’t bother Jesus anymore. She’s gone.” Jesus heard that and said, “Don’t be afraid. Believe instead.” And Jesus took Peter, James, and John with him to the house, where they saw all kinds of people crying because the girl was dead. Jesus went in and said, “Why are you all crying? She’s not dead. She’s just sleeping.” They laughed at him through their tears. He threw them all out of the house and took the little girl’s parents with him into her room. People were stunned with amazement. He told them not to tell anybody about this, and then said, “Why don’t you get her something to eat? She must be really hungry.”
Did the story remind you of anything that happened in your day today?
5) What are some things that you want to tell God that you are grateful for today?
Share some of your conversations in the comments below: