Family Bible Study - 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

13th Sunday in Ordinary Time, B July 1, 2012 Gospel Passage Mark 5:21 When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered around him; and he was by the sea. 22 Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet 23 and begged him repeatedly, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live.” 24 So he went with him. And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. 25 Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. 26 She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. 27 She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 for she said, “If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.” 29 Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30 Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?” 31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, ‘Who touched me?’” 32 He looked all around to see who had done it. 33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” 35 While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader’s house to say, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?” 36 But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” 37 He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. 38 When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 When he had entered, he said to them, “Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.” 40 And they laughed at him. Then he put them all outside, and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha cum,” which means, “Little girl, get up!” 42 And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. 43 He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat. Questions: Jesus did two miracles in today’s Gospel. Can He and does He still do miracles today? Do you know about any miracles? The woman with the bleeding problem got a miracle by touching Jesus’ clothes. All of us do more than just touch His clothes when we receive Holy Communion. We get Jesus inside our own body. Is there anything He can’t do for us when we receive Him in Holy Communion? The people laughed at Jesus when He told them that the little girl was just sleeping. Have you ever met someone who tried to make fun of Jesus because they don’t understand Him? Have they ever made fun of you because they don’t understand Jesus like you do? used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry

Family Bible Study - 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time

12th Sunday in Ordinary Time, B June 24, 2012 Gospel Passage Mark 4:35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. 37 A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” Questions Even the wind and the sea listened and obeyed Jesus as we read in the Gospel today. Do you listen and obey Jesus and do what He asks you to do? How do you know what He is asking you to do? We can sometimes use “symbols” to mean something else. For example, the flag is a symbol for the United States. The church uses a boat as its symbol of the Church, which is like St. Peter’s boat where Jesus was sleeping or from where he sometimes. Taught. Do you think Jesus is always in the “boat” of the Church? Do we ever need to be afraid if Jesus is there? Sometimes when you are praying and worried, do you think that Jesus is asleep and not listening to your prayers? What do you think now after reading this Gospel story? Do you think He could be listening after all? used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry

Family Bible Study - June 17th, 2012 - 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

11th Sunday in Ordinary Time, B June 17, 2012 Gospel Passage Mark 4:26 And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed upon the ground, 27 and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he knows not how. 28 The earth produces of itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 29 But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” 30 And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? 31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; 32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.” 33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; 34 he did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything. Questions 1. Jesus says that his kingdom is like a seed that he scatters and grows on its own. Does a seed have the power within to grow on its own or does one need to stay up all night to help it to grow? A seed also needs water and sun to grow. To what can you compare this water and sun in the spiritual life of faith? 2. Jesus says his kingdom, his church, is like a tiny seed that begins very small but then grows huge. Is that what happened in the early Church? Is that what can happen at St. Anthony’s 100 years ago? Is that what can happen again now? 3. What is a parable? Why do you think Jesus teaches in parables? used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry

Family Bible Study - Corpus Christi, Year B

Corpus Christi, B June 10, 2012 Gospel Passage Mark 14:12 On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, his disciples said to him, “Where do you want us to go and make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?” 13 So he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him, 14 and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks, Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15 He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.” 16 So the disciples set out and went to the city, and found everything as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal. 22 While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” 23 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it. 24 He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. 25 Truly I tell you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” 26 When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Questions Today’s feast is called “Corpus Christi” which means the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ. What then are we celebrating? (Hint: it begins with an “E”) Jesus says that His flesh (body) is true food and His blood is true drink. That means that when we eat Holy Communion we don’t eat bread or wine at all, because both have been totally changed into Jesus’ Body and Blood. So, is it wrong to call the Eucharist just “bread and wine”? Jesus says the same words at Mass that He said at the Last Supper! Do you know that every Mass you are really part of the Last Supper, Jesus’ death, and His return from death (resurrection)? If that’s true (and it is!!), could anything in this whole world be more important than Mass? used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry

Holy Trinity Sunday, Year B

Gospel Passage Matt. 28:16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Questions This weekend is the Feast of the Holy Trinity. What do we mean when we say the Trinity? Who or what is the Trinity? (Be more specific than just saying “God.”) Is the Trinity three different Gods or three persons in one God? Jesus wants us to make everyone follow Him by helping them to be baptized in the name of the Holy Trinity and teaching them to do everything He said. How have you been doing so far on this mission (the most important mission of your life!)? used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry