\u2018Indeed, how good is the Lord; bless his holy name.\u2019 (Invitatory antiphon).<\/p>\n
Covid-19 was an unknown virus when it first swept through the world, killing many along its path. Thankfully people also recovered from it. The world doesn\u2019t have huge knowledge about the virus, though more is known now, than in previous weeks. To date, there is no vaccine available to rid the world of the virus, so citizens are cautious. Many continue to hope and pray as research continues. People are requested to be ever more cautious about maintaining physical distance, hand hygiene, wearing face masks, and cough and sneezing etiquette; now that restrictions are being lifted.<\/p>\n
Contact among the general public was limited for months for fear of contagion. Countries found themselves in a new situation due to the lack of availability of medication for the corona virus. Slowly the world re-opens.<\/p>\n
THE WORD OF GOD<\/strong><\/p>\n Today\u2019s readings from the first Book of Kings (2 Kings 25:1-12) and the Gospel (Mt 8:1-4) are proclaimed at Mass via the webcam or read from the Old and New Testament.<\/p>\n The Gospel (Mt 8:1-4) proclaims Jesus\u2019 healing of a person with leprosy. The man suffered for many years with this condition. Leprosy consisted of a variety of skin problems. Its worst fact was that it isolated the person from family, friends and neighbours, because the disease was contagious. The man encountered Jesus as he came down from the mountain with his followers. He approached Jesus humbly, unsure of whether Jesus would take time to see him. The man bowed down before Jesus, showing his reverence for him. By saying to Jesus \u2018Sir, if you want you can make me clean\u2019 the leper shows his faith. He believes Jesus can heal him if he so desires. He is dependent on God\u2019s compassion. The leper is trustful of Jesus and his mercy and in Jesus\u2019 power.<\/p>\n Jewish law forbade touching such people. People with leprosy were quarantined from society. People avoided contact with them. Therefore Jesus was breaking all rules when he touched the man.<\/p>\n But Jesus was bigger than the rules and he was compounded by love and mercy and faith in God\u2019s power. Jesus showed his compassion by saying these words in response to the man, \u2018I want to, be clean again.\u2019<\/p>\n Imagine how delighted the man felt that Jesus wanted to cure him?<\/p>\n Jesus noticeably refused to take advantage of the opportunity for publicity. Jesus is not interested in getting credit from others for what he has done. He abides by the Law of Moses by asking the leper to go and show himself to the priests and to offer sacrifice.<\/p>\n SEEK GOD\u2019S LOVE IN THE GROW IN LOVE RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAMME<\/strong><\/p>\n This Scripture provides opportunity to chat about the person of Jesus as a healer and his encounter with the man with leprosy.\u00a0 Children are introduced from the junior classes to the miracles of Jesus. God worked through Jesus to heal the sick, make the deaf hear, the blind to see and the people who were lame to walk.<\/p>\n Disciples also are open to being healed by Jesus. This Sacred scripture shows the way for the disciple to approach Jesus for healing.<\/p>\n Children might identify being healed and forgiven in the Sacrament of Reconciliation at which they are reconciled with God and one another.<\/p>\n Today the covid-19 experience might spring to the mind of children. They are aware of what it means to be isolated and being socially distant. They experience the challenges of such a situation and the way it impacts on daily life. There is a possibility that some children may feel anxious and fearful about leaving their house and family again as they listen to warnings on the media.<\/p>\n One of the verses from m the Bible that might be helpful and children will recognise is, \u2018Do not be afraid.\u2019\u00a0 Jesus often spoke these words and children might recall them as they take a moment to reflect.<\/p>\n They explore the idea of the man approaching Jesus, bowing to him and encountering him. Children recognise that each time they pray they encounter Jesus. They can also encounter him in other ways through people and events. In prayer, children might choose to sit quietly in the presence of God or say a formal prayer. They might pray for themselves and one another; for the sick and for those who care for them; for those who are doing research to discover a vaccine; to ask for help for the people of the world to live a healthier lifestyle.<\/p>\n They might reflect on the fact that Jesus broke the Law in order to heal him.<\/p>\n Children recognise the trust the man placed in Jesus. He was in need and asked for what he wanted but he left the choice of acting to Jesus. Children might explore how the man might have felt if Jesus didn\u2019t cure him. Would he have been angry? Or would he have felt more isolated? What might the man have said to Jesus?<\/p>\n The children might reflect on the requests they make on family and friends. How do they react when they don\u2019t get something they want? When they do get something they want and ask for how do they react?<\/p>\n In fact, because Jesus had so many followers with him the man knew Jesus could have avoided him. His faith led him to know Jesus could cure him. Jesus was humble also in his approach. He expressed his desire to cure the man, \u2018Of course, I want to.\u2019<\/p>\n The man showed confidence in himself and Jesus, so his dignity was upheld. Jesus showed great love for this man. In the encounter it was the man that mattered totally to Jesus, not the crowds. The man knew that he was loved and that Jesus cared for him. The children identify with this love and care in daily life as they are loved by those who care for them. They can think about these people and ask God to bless them.<\/p>\n In curing this man, Jesus also obeyed the Jewish Law. He told the man not to tell anyone. He didn\u2019t want to draw notice to himself by people giving him credit for what he had done. But he acted in accordance with the Law by telling him to go and show himself to the priests and to offer sacrifice.<\/p>\n Resources on the VERITAS website are available including the Children\u2019s Grow in Love e-book to\u00a0 support the teaching of the miracles of Jesus.<\/strong><\/p>\n Logon: www.veritas.ie<\/p>\n Email: trial@growinlove.ie<\/p>\n Password: growinlove<\/p>\n INVITATION TO:<\/strong><\/p>\n READ from Grow in Love\/I nGr\u00e1 D\u00e9<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2018Jesus Cures a Leper\u2019 (Mt 8:1-4), ‘God is love’ ( 1John 4:7-8), Psalm 18:2, Psalm 23, ‘Jesus Teaching about Prayer’ ( Mt 6:5-14), ‘jesus heals a man who was deaf’ ( Mk 7:32-5), ‘Jesus heals a man who was blind’ (Mk 8:22-25).<\/p>\n SING from Grow in Love\/I nGr\u00e1 D\u00e9:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2018The Great Commandment\u2019, \u2018All Things Bright and Beautiful\u2019, \u2018C\u00e9ad M\u00edle F\u00e1ilte Romhat\u2019, \u2018Wherever You Go\u2019, ‘Lay your hands’,<\/p>\n PRAY with Grow in Love\/I nGr\u00e1 D\u00e9<\/p>\n SIGN OF THE CROSS<\/p>\n In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.<\/p>\n COMHARTHA NA CROISE<\/p>\n In ainm an Athar, agus an Mhic agus an Spioraid Naoimh. \u00c1im\u00e9an.<\/p>\n ST PATRICK\u2019S BREASTPLATE<\/p>\n Christ be with me,<\/p>\n Christ be beside me,<\/p>\n Christ be before me,<\/p>\n Christ be behind me,<\/p>\n Christ be at my right hand,<\/p>\n Christ be at my left hand,<\/p>\n Christ be with me, wherever I go,<\/p>\n Christ be my friend forever and ever.<\/p>\n Amen.<\/p>\n L\u00daIREACH PH\u00c1DRAIG<\/p>\n Cr\u00edost liom.<\/p>\n Cr\u00edost romham.<\/p>\n Cr\u00edost I mo dhiaidh.<\/p>\n Cr\u00edost ionam.<\/p>\n Cr\u00edost ar mo l\u00e1mh dheas.<\/p>\n Cr\u00edost ar mo l\u00e1mh chl\u00e9.<\/p>\n Cr\u00edost I mo chuideachta is cuma c\u00e1 dt\u00e9im.<\/p>\n Cr\u00edost mar chara agam, anois go buan. \u00c1im\u00e9an.<\/p>\n COMMUNION RITE<\/p>\n INVITATION TO HOLY COMMUNION<\/p>\n Celebrant: Behold the Lamb of God,<\/p>\n behold him who takes away the sins of the world.<\/p>\n Blessed are those who are called to the supper<\/p>\n of the Lamb.<\/p>\n People: Lord, I am not worthy<\/p>\n that you should enter under my roof,<\/p>\n but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.<\/p>\n DEASGN\u00c1TH NA COMAOINEACH<\/p>\n CUIREADH CHUIG COMAOINEACH NAOFA<\/p>\n Sagart: Seo \u00e9 Uan D\u00e9, seo \u00e9 an t\u00e9<\/p>\n a th\u00f3gann peaca\u00ed an domhain. Is<\/p>\n m\u00e9anar d\u00f3ibh si\u00fad a fuair cuireadh<\/p>\n chun s\u00e9ire an Uain.<\/p>\n Pobal: A Thiarna, n\u00ed fi\u00fa m\u00e9 go dtiocf\u00e1<\/p>\n faoi mo dhian,<\/p>\n ach abairse an focal<\/p>\n agus leigheasfar m\u2019anam.<\/p>\n \u2018Through the loving mercy of our God, the Rising Sun has come to visit us.\u2019 (Benedictus antiphon).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Remember your mercy, O Lord; according to the promise you made to our fathers.\u2019 (Magnificat antiphon).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018 O let my tongue cleave to my mouth, if I remember you not.\u2019 (Psalm 136:6).<\/p>\n From LAUDATO SI\u2019, \u2018A PRAYER FOR OUR EARTH\u2019<\/p>\n \u2018O God of the poor,<\/p>\n help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth,<\/p>\n so precious in your eyes.<\/p>\n Bring healing to our lives,<\/p>\n that we may protect the world and not prey on it,<\/p>\n that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction. \u2018. (Laudato Si\u2019, no. 246).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ‘O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee.’<\/p>\n Sr Anne Neylon<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u2018Indeed, how good is the Lord; bless his holy name.\u2019 (Invitatory antiphon). Covid-19 was an unknown virus when it first swept through the world, killing many along its path. Thankfully people also recovered from it. The world doesn\u2019t have huge knowledge about the virus, though more is known now, than in previous weeks. To date, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5275","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.growinlove.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5275","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.growinlove.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.growinlove.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.growinlove.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.growinlove.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5275"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.growinlove.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5275\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.growinlove.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5275"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.growinlove.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5275"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.growinlove.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5275"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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