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January 31, 2021 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jesus Teaches and Heals

In this Sunday’s , heals a man whom others reject. Through this miracle, Jesus also teaches a powerful lesson about God’s love. What can you others about the healing power of the Holy Spirit? Complete the project, and then share how you teach others about Jesus.

In the blank space, create a sticker that teaches about something important to you. Examples: taking care of the earth and its creatures, respect for life, being a good friend, choosing joy. You may draw a symbol or share a quote or a verse from the —whatever best expresses your important teaching. Take a picture of your sticker and post it.

PFLAUM GOSPEL WEEKLIES Faith Formation Program driver told all the Black riders to stand up so the white riders could sit. While other Black passengers gave up their seats for white riders, Claudette refused. The bus driver drove straight into town and called a The policeman to board the bus and arrest her. Women The police took her, kicking and screaming, Who and kept her in jail until her pastor bailed her out. Later Claudette was found Who started the famous guilty of breaking the Montgomery, Alabama, STOPPED segregation law and placed bus boycott? Was it Rosa the on probation. Parks, who refused to give her seat to a white bus rider? Dr. Mary Fair Burks, chair Buses of the English department Was it the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., who preached at Alabama State College every night to the boycotters? Or and founder of the WPC, was was it women whose names no members repeated the news to disgusted and angry. “Could this one remembers? neighbors and friends across the be the time for the bus boycott?” In 1955, the buses in city. Ministers then told these she asked the women of the Montgomery were segregated stories from their pulpits on WPC. Leaders of other black by state law. Black passengers Sunday mornings. groups were hesitant. “Do we could not sit in the first ten rows The Women’s Political have the support of every black of seats. They were reserved for Council heard these stories, person in Montgomery?” they white passengers. When white too. This group of women asked. “Is Claudette too young people filled these rows, Black had organized in 1946 to help to be the central figure of this riders who occupied the seats improve the status and living boycott?” The women’s group behind them had to give their conditions of all Black people decided not to boycott yet. seats to white passengers. Old in Montgomery. They had In October 1955, police Black men and women had talked for years about how a arrested eighteen-year-old Mary to give up their seats so white bus boycott could force white Louise Smith, and a court found schoolchildren could sit down. people to treat Black people her guilty of failing to give up Bus drivers enforced fairly and equally on buses. her seat to a white person. these rules. They sometimes By 1955, the women of the The women of the WPC knew humiliated, abused, and beat WPC were ready to boycott. They that support was growing for a up Black people who disobeyed had a plan to print and distribute boycott. Then, on December 1, these laws or didn’t obey them 50,000 fliers announcing a Rosa Parks, the local secretary quickly enough. boycott. All they needed to add for the National Association for was the date and time. the Advancement of Colored Every time a bus driver kicked People (NAACP), was arrested a Black person off a city bus Fifteen-year-old Claudette for refusing to give her seat to a for refusing to stand so a white Colvin didn’t board a white man. person could sit down, every Montgomery bus on March 2, Black family in Montgomery 1955, intending to make news. News of Rosa Parks’ protest heard about it. A victim would The straight-A student paid her and arrest traveled fast. Word tell family members about it fare and sat in the back. As the got out to the 50,000 Black at the supper table. Family bus became more crowded, the Montgomery citizens that Parks 2 would have to appear before a African judge on Monday, December 5. Americans in That day, they secretly decided, would be the first day of the Montgomery walk bus boycott. to work during “Now is the time,” the women the 13-month of the WPC agreed. “We’ll stop boycott. this abusive treatment of blacks once and for all.” newspapers published stories Jo Ann Gibson Robinson, and cooks left their houses long in the Sunday editions about WPC president, told the before sunrise to arrive at their the threatened boycott. All of members of her organization, white employers’ houses in time Montgomery waited to see what “On Friday, December 2, 1955, to make and serve breakfast. would happen. the women of Montgomery will Sometimes white women secretly December 5 was a cold and call for a boycott to take place drove their Black maids to and cloudy Monday morning, but on Monday, December 5.” from work so they wouldn’t lose hardly any Black people rode Robinson quickly mobilized their help. the city buses. Many white other members. They added the The boycott lasted thirteen people showed support for the date December 5 to their flier months. It ended when the boycott by staying off the buses and went to the mimeograph U.S. Supreme Court ruled that too. Montgomery police officers department of Alabama State Montgomery buses must be riding motorcycles followed College in the middle of the integrated. The women of the empty bus after empty bus. night to make copies. By WPC succeeded in uniting Black The WPC knew the boycott 4:00 a.m. Friday, 50,000 notices Montgomery citizens around a was off to a successful start. The were ready for WPC members to common cause and inspiring years of planning and gathering distribute throughout the city. Black people everywhere to hold support had paid off. Their work The women mapped out a their heads high and not rest now complete, they turned over route, called drivers, and stuffed until justice was theirs. the leadership of the boycott their cars with the leaflets. to the Reverend Martin Luther Members of the WPC waited King Jr. “ k at street corners to receive the TTAALLk ” bundles of leaflets and to start King and other leaders passing out the notices. Robinson worked hard to maintain the 1 How were Black people in was back at the college in time to momentum of the boycott’s Montgomery treated on the teach her 8:00 a.m. class. early days. They held church buses? How did they respond meetings, organized an to this treatment? By Friday afternoon, nearly elaborate carpool system every Black man, woman, 2 How did the Women’s that provided rides for Black and child in Montgomery Political Council plant the seeds workers throughout the city, knew about the boycott set of a bus boycott? Why did they and met weekly with city officials for Monday. Very few people wait? How was the WPC the to negotiate an end to bus knew where the notices came spirit of the boycott? segregation. When each meeting from and who was leading the ended in failure, they turned 3 What lessons do the leaders boycott, but no one seemed to their energies to making the of the Women’s Political Council care. They quietly passed along boycott as painless as possible teach? the information to other Black for Montgomery’s Black citizens. Turn to page 51 in What the people and tried to keep it a 4 This was no small task. As the Church Believes and Teaches, secret from white people. cold and rainy winter months and read the seven themes of On Friday evening, a Black dragged on, Black citizens Catholic social teaching. Which maid showed the notice to her realized how convenient the of the themes apply to the bus white employer. The secret was city bus system was. Many maids boycott? out! Montgomery’s two daily

Bayard supports Pope Francis’s call to care for our common home. Please share your copy of VISIONS with a friend or recycle it properly. Thank you. 3 SUNDAY GOSPEL 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time :21–28 Jesus Teaches with Authority Narrator 1: Jesus and his disciples Jesus: Be quiet, spirit, and came to the town of . come out of this man! On the sabbath, Jesus went to the Narrator 2: The unclean and began to teach. spirit shook the man hard. A loud Narrator 2: The people who heard cry came out of the man. The “ ALk him were amazed at the way he people were amazed. T ” taught. He wasn’t like the scribes. Woman: What’s happening here? 1 What amazes those who Jesus taught with his own authority. Man: Is this some kind of new hear Jesus teaching? Narrator 1: In the middle of Jesus’ teaching? teaching, a man with an unclean 2 What do you imagine Synagogue Leader: This man has spirit came into the synagogue. might possess the man with authority to give orders to unclean the unclean, or unholy, spirit? Possessed Man: What do you want spirits, and they obey him! with us, Jesus of ? Are you 3 What unholy actions might Narrator 1: The news about Jesus here to destroy us? I know who you Jesus speak out against? spread quickly everywhere in the are—the Holy One of God! area of . 4 What does Jesus do for the man?

and DOCTRINE Jesus Continues His Healing Work In Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus heals a God’s healing power to all people. “ man with an . The Jesus wants to put each and every ” 1 Imagine word unclean in the Bible means human being into contact with yourself in this Sunday’s GOSPEL that a person is considered God. Gospel. How might you unholy or not worthy to come Jesus has the power to heal and react to the man? To Jesus’ into contact with God. teach in God’s own name. We can’t teaching? Jesus doesn’t reject the man. do miracles, but we can share God’s 2 Who are the outsiders in Jesus heals the man in front of love with people who need it most. today’s society? How can everyone in the Temple. At the That love changes lives. we connect with them? Connecting same time, Jesus teaches an important lesson: No one who PFLAUM GOSPEL WEEKLIES Faith Formation Program The Sacraments of Healing restore our relationship with God HANDBOOK WHAT THE CHURCH BELIEVES AND TEACHES seeks God will be cast outside of and with one another. They also provide peace and strength. his love. Jesus, however, makes Turn to page 24 in What the Church Believes and Teaches to contact with the man and frees discover how the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Anointing

him to be himself. Jesus brings 3/9/20 9:59 AM 4009_Visions_ENG_Cover.indd 2 of the Sick continue Jesus’ work of healing and salvation.

STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT, AND CIRCULATION 1. Publication Title: VISIONS 2. ISSN: 0744-9178; Pub. #: 0062-690 3. Date of Filing: October 1, 2020 4. Issue Frequency: Four times beginning with the last week in September, November, January, and March 5. Number of Issues Published Annually: 4 6. Annual Subscription Price: $14.45 / $15.95 7. Address of Known Office of Publication: Bayard, Inc., 3055 Kettering Blvd, Suite 100, Dayton, Montgomery County, OH 45439-1600. Contact: Angela Baumann; Phone: (636) 305-9777 x2146 8. Address of Headquarters or General Business Office of Publisher: Bayard, Inc., 1 Montauk Ave., Suite 200, New London, CT 06320 9. Full Names and Complete Mailing Addresses of Publisher, Editor, and Managing Editor: Publisher is David Dziena, Bayard, Inc., 26 Old English Road, Worcester, MA 01609. Editor is Nicholle Check, Bayard, Inc., 26 Old English Road, Worcester, MA 01609. Managing Editor is Nicholle Check, Bayard, Inc., 26 Old English Road, Worcester, MA 01609. 10. Owner is: Bayard, Inc., 1 Montauk Ave Suite 200, New London, CT 06320. 10. Known Bondholders, Mortgagees, and Other Security Holders: None 11. Not required. 12. Publication Title: VISIONS 13. Issue Date for Circulation Data: September 2020 14. Extent and Nature of Circulation: Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months; AND, no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date, respectively: a) Total Number of Copies Printed: 66,116 and 56,997; b) Paid and or Requested Circulation by Mail and Outside the Mail: 1) Mailed Outside-County Paid and or Requested Subscriptions: 45,579 and 25,285; 2) Mailed In-County Paid and or Requested Subscriptions: None and None.; 3) Mailed Outside the Mails Including Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, Counter Sales and Other non-USPS® Distribution: 12,123 and 15,100; 4) Other Classes of Mail through the USPS: 1,260 and 1,723; c) Total Paid and or Requested Distribution: 58,961 and 42,108; d) Free or Nominal Rate Distribution by mail and outside the mail: 1) Mailed Outside County free or nominal rate Copies: None and None; 2) Mailed In-County Copies: None and None; 3) Copies Mailed at Other Classes Through the USPS: None and None; 4) Distribution Outside the Mail: 1,599 and 1,698; e) Total Free or Nominal Rate Distribution: 1,599 and 1,698; f) Total Distribution: 60,560 and 43,806; g) Copies Not Distributed: 5,556 and 13,191; h) Total: 66,116 and 56,997; i) Percent Paid of Requested Circulation: 97.29% and 96.12% 16. This Statement of Ownership will be printed in the March 2021 issue of this publication. I certify that all information furnished on this form is true and complete. I understand that anyone who furnishes false or misleading information on this form or who omits material or information requested on the form may be subject to criminal sanctions (including fines and imprisonment) and/or civil sanctions (including civil penalties). 17. Signature and Title of Editor, Publisher, Business Manager, or Owner:(signed) Angela Baumann, Marketing Manager Date: October 1, 2020. 4 Our Catholic Galilee: Jesus’ Home Territory FAI H esus once walked the Jstone streets and piers of Cities (Decapolis) is a Gentile Capernaum, a on region. The Geresene man the north shore of the Sea of whom Jesus frees of unclean Galilee. Capernaum was Jesus’ spirits is a Gentile who lives headquarters during his public on the “other side.” ministry in Galilee. He went out to other villages from there. Groups of sick people crowded Where Is Jesus? around him when he returned. is another fishing village near In Mark 1:21? ______The is small, Capernaum at the place where the Jordan only fourteen miles long and River enters the Sea of Galilee. Archaeologists ______eight miles wide. Hills surround are just beginning to study the heap of stones the lake. Most people in that is all that remains of the village. Mark 1:38–39? ______Capernaum built their houses on top of these hills to catch Along the shore, archaeologists ______the breezes. The climate is very have found small piers made of hot and humid because the Sea stones, jutting out into the lake. :1? ______of Galilee is 686 feet below sea People in Jesus’ time docked their ______level. boats at these piers. Simon Peter and Andrew were fishing near the shore when Jesus said to them, :1? ______“Come, follow me.” James and ______IA John were fixing their fishing R nets at these piers when Jesus :45? ______invited them to become his Y Caesarea Tyre S Philippi followers. ______Jesus’ first woman follower also comes from Capernaum. Mark 6:53? ______She is Simon Peter’s mother- ______in-law, who gives her life to Jesus’ new community after Lake Huleh he raises her up from a fever. :22? ______

Mediterranean Sea GALILEEChorazin ______Mt. of the rom his headquarters in Bethsaida Capernaum Capernaum, Jesus visits F Mark 8:27? ______Mt. CARMEL Sea of Galilee other villages in Galilee. Nazareth Some of the towns in Galilee ______

Mt. TABOR S

I have Roman names that JEZREEL VALLEY Nain L remind us the Catholic Caesarea O ruled the world around the

P Mediterranean Sea in Jesus’ FAITH WORD A time.

C Sometimes the Gospel SACRAMENTS OF n

Mt. EBAL a E The Sacraments

Sebaste d tells us Jesus and his disciples HEALING Sychar r (Samaria) D o take a boat to the “other of Healing—Reconciliation and J Mt. GERIZIM r

e side.” This is the name in the Anointing of the Sick—continue

v i Gospel for Gentile territories R Jesus’ work of salvation through

Find the Roman cities identified on the east side of the Sea of the power of the Holy Spirit. with a soldier’s helmet. Galilee. The area of the Ten Jamnia 5 PEREA M Hebron Dead Sea

Roman Cities IDUMAEA Jewish Villages Beersheba Living the What’s the Spirit of G SPEL Advertising? In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus frees a man from an unclean BE AWARE spirit so the man can be healed. Slow down. Collect Whether it’s a social media post, 1 a few examples website ad, or a YouTube video, of the images that advertising tries to claim our bombard you online spirits, to tell us who we are and and in magazine ads, what we deserve. Advertising has a TV commercials, and on single purpose: to sell something. social media. Look, listen, Advertising urges us to be stop, and think. Sort the consumers, people who want and images into ones that you deserve the wonderful products and accept for yourself and services that companies sell. You probably don’t buy what ones you reject. Start with A beauty product promises this guy is selling, but you the ads on these pages. probably know the company for perfect eyebrows or clear skin. A Which messages do you which he works. His company sports drink offers the energy to accept? Which do you spent almost $2 billion in win. The right jeans identify the reject? advertising last year. trendsetters. Advertisers create images of ourselves for us, so they can sell products to us. Jesus urges us to Beauty bloggers become ourselves, to love one and YouTube another, and to share, forgive, and vloggers entertain build community together. Jesus viewers—and sell products. wants us to develop the image of The more views, God in us. subscribers, and Complete the activities on these likes they get, the pages. They will help you tune more money they in to advertising messages you make. A popular may take for granted—or those poster, or “influencer,” with more than a million followers can you may not even think of as ads, make $10,000 for each post. Companies pay them to use their including posts on social media. products. Do you consider these posts to be advertising? Do With each example, consider how they influence your spending or brand loyalty? advertising messages affect you and your spirit.

Think advertising doesn’t influence you? Companies disagree. Annual advertising budgets: Fast-food: $4.6 billion Alcohol industry: $2 billion Tobacco industry: $9 billion in the U.S. Coca-Cola: $4 billion worldwide Ask yourself: Do the ads I see reflect Amazon: $3.4 billion and support my Catholic values? 6 BE CRITICAL What current ad or product Ads fight hard to claim is claiming your attention? our attention and our What is its promise? money. That’s why they promise ______2 so much. They ______promise what you lack. Start with the ______ads in this activity. Be ? critical of what the ads Think about the last five purchases promise. Is what they you have made (or your parents promise real or unreal? bought for you). How did you learn Is the message the ad about the item (food, clothing is sending positive or item, cosmetic, game, app)? Did negative? someone recommend it to you?

1______2______3______DECIDE 3 ______FOR YOURSELF 4______Which products do you really ______need? Which companies use advertising that promotes positive 5______images? Money talks. What do your spending habits say? ______Do You Buy What Commercials Are Selling?

Use this survey as you watch What products do you see the characters on your favorite show using? one show this week to record some findings about ______the commercials you see. ______(You need to watch each commercial. Don’t fast-forward Ads that showed women or men as sex objects through them!) Be ready to ______report your findings at your next Visions lesson. ______Ads that placed men and women in stereotypical roles Name of show watched ______

re truly u a pr o es , y e s n u t s .

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! L Do not, then, regard the Eucharistic elements as ordinary bread commercial breaks and wine: they are in fact the Body and Blood of the Lord, as ______he himself has declared. Whatever your senses may tell you, be strong in faith. —Cyril, Bishop of Jerusalem, Fourth Century 7 Misericordia LEADERS Heart of Mercy More than Misericordia staff and sixty-five residents believe in the years ago, dignity that comes from in 1954, the doing meaningful work. Sisters of In the Greco Gardens Mercy began program, residents grow a residential plants to sell to the public. program for Resident artists paint pots infants and for holiday flowers in the children HeART Studios. Learn about the people and with developmental and physical activities at Misericordia disabilities. The sisters called the (ten-minute video). program Misericordia (Miz-uh-ree- www.youtube.com córe-dee-ah), which means having a “heart of mercy” toward others.

Sister Rosemary Connelly was appointed executive director for Misericordia in 1969. Under her leadership, Misericordia has grown to more than six hundred children and adults living at the Misericordia’s Heartzingers sing and sign “The organization’s 31-acre Chicago Star-Spangled Banner” at a Chicago White Sox campus and in several homes in game every season. Misericordia residents also the surrounding neighborhood. greet fans and offer There is also an outreach directions to people Watch a HeartZingers program to connect young who attend games at performance. people with disabilities who live Guaranteed Rate Field. www.youtube.com their families at home. With My Family Scan here for ➥ At Hearts & Flour and Friends parent resources Bakery, fifty or go to gospelweeklies.com/family residents and many volunteers Pray Act work with staff Jesus, help us to Make virtue cards. On one to mix, bake, and listen to you in all side of each card, write a package delicious things. Amen. negative habit or sin. On treats for sale the other side, write the online, at the Think virtue that would help you Greenhouse Inn Do we recognize overcome it. Use the cards Restaurant, and at Jesus’ authority when you do an examination farmers’ markets over us and his of conscience. in Chicago. ability to teach us?

Imprimatur: +Most Reverend Robert J. McManus, S.T.D., Bishop of Worcester, October 26, 2020. Theological Reviewer: Reverend Michael T. Martine, S.T.B, J.C.L.; Publisher: David Dziena; Editor: Nicholle Check; Designer: Jennifer Poferl. Printed in the USA. VISIONS copyright © 2021 by Pflaum Publishing Group, a division of Bayard, Inc., sponsored by the Augustinians of the Assumption. Material in this issue may not be reproduced in whole or in part in any form or format without special permission from the publisher. Page 1 art: mattasbestos/Shutterstock.com, Kano07/Shutterstock.com, oxifree/Shutterstock.com, SindiCut Studio/Shutterstock.com, Picnote/Shutterstock.com, Bibadash/Shutterstock.com, jekson_js/Shutterstock.com, TheNOON/Shutterstock.com; page 1 photo: Chekyravaa/Shutterstock.com, page 2: Public Domain; page 3: Getty images; page 4 art: Marcelino Truong/Bayard; page 5: EDA. The trademarks depicted on pages 6–7 are not those of the Pflaum Gospel Weeklies. They are owned by third parties not affiliated withPflaum , and Pflaum makes no comment on the 8 brands or their providers. Page 8: CIRIC International, Stéphane Ouzounoff/CIRIC. Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 2010 International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation (ICEL). All rights reserved.