Children's Liturgy Guide

13th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year B · Ordinary Time

Jesus Heals with Love

Reading: Mark 5:21-43

Leader Prep

Don't worry about doing this perfectly. If the children hear one good idea about God, Jesus, prayer, kindness, forgiveness, or the Gospel, this time has been worthwhile.

Summary

In today's reading, a father named Jairus asks Jesus to help his very sick daughter. Jesus goes to help her, and along the way, a woman who has been sick for a long time touches Jesus and is healed. Jesus shows us that he cares about everyone who needs help.

Key Points

  • Jairus trusted Jesus enough to ask for help for his daughter
  • The sick woman had faith that just touching Jesus would heal her
  • Jesus told the woman her faith made her well
  • Jesus told Jairus not to be afraid, but to believe
  • Jesus has power over sickness and even death

Background

This Gospel contains two miracle stories woven together: Jairus's daughter and the hemorrhaging woman. Both stories emphasize faith as the key to receiving Jesus's healing power. The woman had suffered for twelve years and spent all she had on doctors. Jairus was a synagogue leader, meaning he held religious authority, yet he humbled himself before Jesus. When news comes that the girl has died, Jesus's words 'Do not be afraid; just believe' are central. The Aramaic 'Talitha koum' means 'Little girl, arise.' For children, emphasize that Jesus wants us to come to him when we are scared or need help, and that trusting Jesus means believing he will take care of us. Set aside the theological complexities of Jesus's power over death and the nature of miracles.

Session Flow

Opening Prayer

Invite the children to pray with you, then read the opening prayer below. If many don't know the sign of the cross, teach the whole group.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Dear Jesus, thank you for always being with us when we are scared or worried. Help us to trust you and believe that you love us and will take care of us. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Warm-up

Ask the warm-up question before the reading. There are no wrong answers; this is just to help the children connect today's reading to their own lives.

Have you ever been really worried about someone you love, like when your mom or dad or grandparent was sick?

Example: One time my grandma was in the hospital and I was really scared because I missed her and wanted her to feel better soon.

Bridge to the reading: It can be so scary when someone we love is sick. In today's reading, we will hear about a father named Jairus who was very worried about his little girl, and he went to find Jesus because he believed Jesus could help her.

Read the Scripture

Read the day's selected passage aloud. The full Scripture text is not included here. Use a Children's Lectionary if your parish has one available. A children's Bible may also be helpful for younger children. Otherwise, read from a standard lectionary, Bible, or USCCB.org. Read slowly, with short pauses.

Reading Questions

Ask the questions conversationally. You do not need to use every question if time is short. The example answers are for leader preparation, not scripts or required answers.

  1. Who came to ask Jesus for help at the beginning of the story?

    Example: A man named Jairus came to Jesus because his little daughter was very sick and he wanted Jesus to help her.

  2. While Jesus was walking to help the little girl, what happened when the sick woman touched his clothes?

    Example: The woman who had been sick for a very long time touched Jesus's clothes and right away she was healed and felt better.

  3. What did Jesus say to the woman after she was healed?

    Example: Jesus told her that her faith had made her well and that she should go in peace and be free from her sickness.

  4. When people said the little girl had died, what did Jesus tell Jairus to do?

    Example: Jesus told Jairus not to be afraid but to just believe and trust in him, and then Jesus went to help the girl.

Application Questions

Use these questions to help the children connect the reading to their own lives this week. Simple, concrete answers are best.

  1. How do you think Jairus felt when he was walking with Jesus to see his daughter?

    Example: I think he felt worried and scared but also a little bit hopeful because Jesus was coming with him to help.

  2. When you feel scared or worried, what can you do to ask Jesus for help?

    Example: I can say a prayer and tell Jesus what I am worried about, and I can ask him to help me feel better.

  3. This week, if someone in your family is feeling sick or sad, how could you show them you care?

    Example: I could give them a hug and tell them I love them, and I could pray for them before I go to bed.

Recap

Today we heard how a father named Jairus came to Jesus because his little girl was very sick. Jesus told him not to be afraid but to believe. We learned that Jesus wants us to come to him when we are scared or worried, and he will take care of us because he loves us.

Prayer of the Faithful

Before returning to the assembly, invite the children to share their own prayer intentions. Their prayers may be serious, simple, funny, or very specific. After each child's prayer, the group may respond: "Lord, hear our prayer." Lastly, include the suggested prayer below.

For all the children who are sick or in the hospital, that Jesus will comfort them and help them feel his love, we pray to the Lord.

Mass Connection

If time allows, point out this connection just before returning to Mass. This helps children see that Children's Liturgy is still part of the Mass.

When we pray the Lord's Prayer at Mass, we say 'deliver us from evil,' asking God to protect us and help us when we are afraid, just as Jairus asked Jesus to help his daughter.

Closing Prayer

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Thank you, Jesus, for teaching us that we can always come to you when we are worried or afraid. Help us to trust you this week and to remember that you are always with us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

ChildrensLiturgy.org

Jesus Heals with Love

Mark 5:21-43

Word Search

Optional activity: use the word search after the discussion if you have time, or send it home with the children. The words relate to today's Children's Liturgy Scripture passage.

I S F J Z P E H Z L U D A M D
B U I M I U V X F A Y S Q A A
E A A Z H T I A F X U K U Y L
L T R F Z A Y M T S P G A X J
I O B J E N T G E M H F I H S
E U K O B M O J J T R I X A I
V C A F S Z V U E A Z Z X F P
E H T T F D Y R I Q J B C A R
E N G R D N R D V K N S J A A
O L E E E N Q Z Q E L U A F Y
B C Q C L H Q M Y S G R I U E
Z P S A A P X U K T F I W O R
I W G E E I O X E K Z A P J S
H P B P H F O L O V E J X I E
A U T R U S T I D S O E C I Z

Words to find

  • Jesus
  • Jairus
  • daughter
  • faith
  • believe
  • healed
  • touch
  • afraid
  • trust
  • love
  • prayer
  • peace

ChildrensLiturgy.org