Teach, Preach, Heal

Saturday of the First Week of Advent

Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family

Matthew 9:35-10:8 Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness.  At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest."

Then he summoned his Twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. Jesus sent out these twelve after instructing them thus, “Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: 'The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.” 

(Parent)  Reread this part a few times aloud

“He summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority…”

(Parent)  Read this meditation aloud to the family

There is a lot of talk about authority in the Gospels, especially Jesus’ authority.  It was an important issue then, as it is now.  Matthew shows that Jesus has authority over disease, illness, evil spirits, and even the authority to forgive sin.  “The crowds were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes” (Matthew 7:29).  What is also astonishing is that Jesus chooses to place some of His authority into the hands of men. “He summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits…and to cure every disease and every illness.”         

Today’s Catholic bishops, like the apostles, don’t have any power or authority of their own… but they do have some of Jesus’ authority to teach us and to heal us.  This is one very specific way that Jesus works in the world today.  We should take the official teachings of our pope and bishops very seriously.  When is the last time we prayed for the holiness of our bishop and the Holy Father? 

As a family, pray a portion of the Rosary together (very short if children are young) reflecting on the Scripture passage above. (Optional: allow a brief time for discussion or questions from children concerning their thoughts and prayer.)