You can read the Gospel and use the activity sheets below:
Gospel: Mark 5:21-43 (adapted version from Cafod)
Jesus went back across to the other side of the lake. There at the lakeside a large crowd gathered round him. Jairus, an official of the local synagogue, arrived, and when he saw Jesus, he threw himself down at his feet and begged him earnestly, “My little daughter is very ill. Please come and place your hands on her, so that she will get well and live!”
Then Jesus started off with him. So many people were going along with Jesus that they were crowding him from every side.
There was a woman who had suffered terribly from severe bleeding for twelve years, even though she had been treated by many doctors. She had spent all her money, but instead of getting better she got worse all the time. She had heard about Jesus, so she came in the crowd behind him, saying to herself, “If I just touch his clothes, I will get well.”
She touched his cloak, and her bleeding stopped at once; and she had the feeling inside herself that she was healed of her trouble. At once Jesus knew that power had gone out of him, so he turned round in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”
His disciples answered, “You see how the people are crowding you; why do you ask who touched you?”
But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. The woman realized what had happened to her, so she came, trembling with fear, knelt at his feet, and told him the whole truth. Jesus said to her, “My daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your trouble.”
While Jesus was saying this, some messengers came from Jairus’ house and told him, “Your daughter has died. Why bother the Teacher any longer?”
Jesus paid no attention to what they said, but told him, “Don’t be afraid, only believe.” Then he did not let anyone else go on with him except Peter and James and his brother John. They arrived at Jairus’ house, where Jesus saw the confusion and heard all the loud crying and wailing. He went in and said to them, “Why all this confusion? Why are you crying? The child is not dead – she is only sleeping!”
They laughed at him, so he put them all out, took the child’s father and mother and his three disciples, and went into the room where the child was lying. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha, koum,” which means, “Little girl, I tell you to get up!”
She got up at once and started walking around. (She was twelve years old.) When this happened, they were completely amazed. But Jesus gave them strict orders not to tell anyone, and he said, “Give her something to eat.”
(Adapted version from Cafod)
Thoughts about the Gospel
Today we hear about how Jesus heals two people on the same day but in very different circumstances. What do you think about what you have heard?
The woman in the story had been ill for a long time. She touches Jesus’ clothes and feels better straight away. The little girl is very ill, her father comes to ask Jesus for help, so Jesus goes to their house and tells the girl to get up.
Jesus cares about them and heals them both.
If we were ill what would happen? We would expect to be able to go to see a doctor or, at least, get medicine from the chemist. Can everyone in the world do this?
There are many people around the world who cannot get to see a doctor when they need to. The nearest clinic or hospital may be a very a long way away. Or they might not have enough money to pay to see the doctor.
How do you think you would feel if you were sick, or a member of your family was sick and you couldn’t see a doctor?
Above from Cafod
Above from Cafod
Above from Sermons for Kids
