Junior High Session
Deuteronomy 18:15-20
Mark 1:21-28
Opening Prayer
Thank you, God, for sending Jesus to us. He teaches us how to live. Open our hearts and minds to hear his words and live his lessons. Through Jesus, your Son, and our teacher, we pray. Amen.
Opening Life Reflection
Ask youngsters to make a list of some things they learned in the past few days. Next to what it was they learned, have them include the name of the person who taught the information to them.
• How did this person treat you while s/he was teaching you?
• When we teach someone something, how are we like Jesus?
• What are some characteristics of good teachers you know?
Allow time for discussion. Jesus had the authority from God to teach God's word and perform miracles. He taught his listeners and performed miracles so that all people might understand the reign of God.
Listening to the Word of God
There is good news in today's Old Testament reading. God speaks through the prophet, Moses, to let the people know they will soon hear God's words.
Read Deuteronomy 18:15-20.
Allow for silence.
Scripture Discussion Starters
• What does God tell Moses?
• On what authority does Moses tell the Israelites this news?
• What is the warning God issues through Moses?
In the gospel today, Jesus uses his authority to teach his listeners. He also performs a miracle by causing an evil spirit to leave a man's body.
Read Mark 1:21-28.
Allow for silence.
• How did the first reading prepare us for this gospel story?
• How did Jesus use his authority to get people's attention?
• On what authority does Jesus teach and cast out evil spirits?
Scripture Background
Provide 2-3 minutes of background information on the readings using the Catechist Background section.
In today's reading, Jesus is teaching at the synagogue in Capernaum. Jesus often taught in synagogues and on this day, he was among people from Galilee. The people were surprised by the knowledge and authority of Jesus. Especially he surprised them when he cast out an evil spirit from one of the men. The evil spirit recognized who Jesus was and called him "the Holy One of God." The people didn't understand the meaning. Only the evil spirit recognized Jesus. The people, however, were impressed by Jesus' deeds and brought others to him for healing.
Questions for Deeper Reflection
• How do you think people responded when they heard Jesus' words and saw his actions that day at Capernaum?
• If we trust in Jesus we can be free. How is this possible?
• Jesus continues to speak to us today. How does he tell us how to live?
[If you are not going to continue with the doctrinal discussion, proceed to the Gospel in Life.]
Doctrinal Discussion Starter
Jesus is prophet, teacher, and Lord.
Prophets mediate. Just as prophets before him, Jesus is a mediator between us and God. Jesus is different, however, from other prophets in that he is the Word of God made flesh. He is the ultimate Word of God. Jesus is also a teacher because he is God's Son and can fully express and reveal God to humanity. We must obey God's teachings that we hear through Jesus because Jesus teaches on God's authority. Jesus taught not only with words but with his actions and is truly a model of holiness.
Jesus is also "Lord." This title shows that we understand the divinity of Jesus and that he is given the same power, honor, and glory that is due God. Because Jesus saves us from sin and wins a place for us in the kingdom of God, his name is above all others.
• How do we recognize Jesus as prophet, teacher, and Lord?
• How are these three descriptions of Jesus important to our understanding of God?
• What other descriptions of Jesus help us know God?
Sacrament Connection
In the Eucharistic prayer, Jesus reminds us that he is always with us. The bread and the wine of Eucharist become his Body and Blood. The sacrament of Eucharist helps us remember that God is with us through Jesus and we must always listen to and obey the words Jesus gave us. We know God through Jesus and every time we receive Eucharist, we know Jesus is with us as prophet, teacher and Lord.
The Gospel in Life
Jesus had the power to drive out an evil spirit. Think of one thing you can do this week to help drive out evil in some area of your life.
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