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November 2023
Theme: Jesus’ Miracles
Online Session for the week of November 19, 2023

Opening Prayer:

Begin with the Signof the Cross.
Invite a family member to read the passage from Job 5:8-9: 

"But if I were you, I would appeal to God; I would lay my cause before him.
He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted."

The Word of the Lord.

Response: Thanks be to God.

Catechesis:

We hear in the Bible many stories of Jesus performing miracles. The fact that he performed miracles shows us that he truly is God as well as being a full human being; just like us in all things except sin. The miracles that Jesus performed show us more that Jesus having control over nature, or healing people, or raising people (and himself) from the dead. The miracles take us a bit deeper and show us that we can rely on Jesus in difficult times and he wants us to trust him totally with our lives.

In the Bible there are so many stories of Jesus’ miracles. They usually fall under one of four types of miracles: faith healings, exorcisms (driving out demons or the devil out of someone), resurrections, and control over nature. 

Jesus’ miracles did more than manifest his mighty power, though. They also communicated the love and compassion of God for his people. Jesus performed healings on the Sabbath—among them, restoring a man’s withered hand and straightening the bent back of a woman—even though he knew he would be criticized by the Pharisees for doing so. He sometimes cured people of their physical ailments while at the same time healing them spiritually by forgiving their sins. The Gospels often tell of Jesus’ compassion when he performed a miracle, such as the time when he restored the life of the widow’s only son in Nain (Luke 7:11-23).

Healing the man with a withered hand - Wikipedia

These extraordinary deeds were not merely physical marvels that overturned the laws of nature. Rather, they were divine acts that went beyond the natural order of the physical world—reminders that the kingdom of God goes beyond that physical world, as well. 

Although the scribes and Pharisees didn’t deny Jesus’ ability to perform miraculous healings, they challenged the authority with which he performed them. Despite the evidence, some people rejected Jesus; others even accused him of acting by the power of Satan. Among the reasons why the chief priests and Pharisees sought to kill Jesus was that they felt threatened by his power to work miracles and by his growing popularity with the crowds who witnessed them.

Najin/Getty Images

The miracles that Jesus performed announced that the kingdom of God was breaking forth in the world. By his marvelous acts of healing and forgiveness, Jesus showed God’s mercy toward those who were without hope—the weak, the ill, the sinful. The Son of God used his divine power in the service of love, moved with pity toward those in distress. Thus, “Christ’s compassion toward the sick and his many healings of every kind of infirmity are a resplendent sign that ‘God has visited his people’ and that the Kingdom of God is close at hand” (quote from Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1503).

Watch Together

For Grades 1-4

For Grades 5-10

Activity: 

Choose one of the miracles stories below. Read it as a family.
In your own words explain what Jesus is trying to tell us through the particular miracle.

• John 9:1-11---Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind
• Matthew 15: 32-38---Jesus Feeds 5,000
• Luke 8: 22-25---Jesus Calms the Storm
• Mark 1: 32-34---Jesus Heals a Man with Leprosy

Closing Prayer:

Begin with the Sign of the Cross.
Choose a member of the family to lead the prayer:

Loving God, 

Thank you for the miracles, signs and wonders that you have manifested in the lives of us, your children in the Body of Christ. 

Lord, we thank you for salvation, the greatest miracle of all. Thank you for sending your Son, Jesus, to break the power of the devil and to bring us hope, health, and healing. 

We ask this through your Son, Jesus our Savior.

Amen!

Questionnaire: 

Please make sure you submit your answers below so your child/ren can be marked present for this session. Thank you!