Primary Session
Mark 3:20-35
Opening Prayer
Let us pray.
Thank you God for my family.
Help us to grow closer to you each day.
In the name of Jesus Christ we pray.
Amen.
Opening Life Reflection
The theme in the closing verses of the gospel focus on relationships, like in our families, and doing the will of God. Provide magazine clippings of families and friends working together and being helpful. Describe the actions in the pictures and tell ways that these actions show people living the way Jesus wants us to live. Provide a large sheet of paper and glue and make a collage of ways that your family lives the way Jesus wants us to live. Discuss:
- Who are the members of your family?
- Who are some of the members of your extended family?
- What are some good deeds that your family does?
Allow time for discussion. It is in our families that we first learn about living the way Jesus wants us to live. Our families help us to do and follow the will of God.
Listening to the Word of God
In today’s gospel, listen to what Jesus says to his mother and his relatives.
Read Mark 3:20-35.
Allow for silence.
Scripture Discussion Starters
- Why are the relatives of Jesus concerned about him and come to get him?
- Who does Jesus say are the members of his family?
Scripture Background
Provide 2—3 minutes of background information on the gospel using the Catechist Background section.
The theme of family is both at the beginning and the end of the gospel reading. The message that Jesus was preaching was troubling and upsetting to many people, including his family. This caused some people to question his sanity, and his family wanted to protect him.
At the end of the gospel passage, Jesus makes it very clear that doing the will of God is most important in our lives. Our good and just actions build strong bonds of relationship with others, and helps us to live as the family of God.
These verses may also bring up a question concerning the "brothers and sisters" of Jesus. Explain that the gospel uses a word that refers to any relative or family member, not only a brother or sister.
Questions for Deeper Reflection
- What does Jesus' response to his mother and family mean?
- What do you think doing the will of God means?
- Do you think that Jesus' response was mean?
[If you are not going to continue with the doctrinal discussion, proceed to the Gospel in Life.]
Doctrinal Discussion Starters
People are the most important part of God’s creation. All people are created in the image of God. They are signs of God’s love. We are all members of family. And through our Baptism, we are members of the family of God. Baptism joins us to Christ, and we become adopted sons and daughters of God. We are members of the Church and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Our families and people in our Church help us to know God, to love him, and to serve him.
- What are some ways that you can show that you are an adopted son or daughter of God?
- Give some examples of ways that your family can follow the will of God.
Sacrament Connection
The Sacrament of Baptism makes us members of the Church and adopted sons and daughters of God. We become part of God’s family, and are followers of Jesus. The family of Jesus does the will of God.
The Gospel in Life
This week look around at what you can do to show that you are following the will of God.