[media presentation below] GospelThink Tuesday, January 2 JOHN 1:19-28 John’s recognition of who I am. Prayerthoughts a. John the Baptist could have made a name for himself, but he chose not to, giving any glory that was his to Jesus. Does my pride get in the way of my accomplishing anything great? b, The question of “Who are you?” can be studied in the light of what I consider myself to   be in a spiritual sense. Who am I in the sense of what are the ideals that govern my life? c. There are times when I do not “recognize” Jesus in the sense of not understanding the things that happen in the world or not accepting other people or my own importance in working out the salvation of those around me. I must pray that I recognize how God is working in me and through me. d. As John, I am not worthy to be associated with Jesus so closely. What can I do better today to show my association with Jesus? e. My prayerthoughts….   Today, I will read 1 John, chapter 2 and write an important thought from it. Some Thoughts on the Liturgy  RECOGNIZING THE PROPHET  + The questioning of John the Baptist in the Gospel brings up an interesting thought for us to consider             – John’s answer to them is a statement about Jesus, of course:                         There is one among you whom you do not recognize.                                     – the thought itself is good to think about: there was a prophet that they did not recognize                                                 – I believe that that is a thought which we can learn from, namely, there are prophets that we do not recognize  + Right now, there are prophets whom we do recognize because they have credentials, so to speak             – people who say words of prophecy: the Pope, our Bishops, holy people in our world, and so forth                         – but maybe there are prophets among us whom we do not recognize                                     – people who have the message of Jesus Christ in some form or another                                                 – and we are not listening to their messages as we should be  + In the movie “Mrs. Doubtfire” which I recommend for everyone, not because it will make you laugh, but because of its content,             – the kids of the family are devastated by the fact that their Mom and Dad will not work things out                         – in one of those moments of pain, the 5 year old daughter says to her Dad                                     – “Why can’t you just say you’re sorry”—innocent words, but words of prophecy as well:                                                 – a hurting child, but a real prophet in a sense   + There are many other prophets in our midst that we do not recognize             – prophets who are saying things that we should listen to but refuse to: our children and grandchildren, the editorials of a paper we don’t agree with, someone who is critical of us, people who are angry at us             – we don’t want to listen to them                         – because we are not open to hearing them                                     – they don’t fit the mold, they don’t have the credentials, they are not what we think they should be                                     – we have made a judgment of them before they even begin                                     – or we do not think they apply to us             – the fact is that there are many things that are being said in various places that we should listen to, and as Christians, we should be listening to them a little more  + John writes in the first reading today that the early Christians knew the truth              – that truth is given to us in various different ways                           – we must listen to the words that people say or what is written, forget about who is saying them or why they said them—simply look at the words, and see if they apply to us                           – our problem may be the problem of the Hebrew religious leaders who didn’t recognize their Savior even when they saw and listened to him. MEDIA PRESENTATION Movie “Snow White and the Huntsman” — final session I WILL BECOME YOUR WEAPON The Gospel MATTHEW 17:1-8 After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus alone.

Gospelthink: I wanted my disciples to know that I am intimately connected with God. In a sense we are connected with God as well. Do I show it?

In the classic “Snow White” 1937 movie, Snow White did not have to fight her stepmother, but in the movie “Snow White and the Huntsman,” she must rally her followers to win back the throne that was rightfully hers. She begins it with a stirring speech that accepts the responsibility of leading those who would help her: “All these years,” she tells them, “all I’ve known is darkness. But I have never seen a brighter light than when my eyes just opened. And I know that light burns in all of you! Those embers must turn to flame. I will become your weapon! Forged by the fierce fire that I know is in your hearts! For I have seen what she sees. I know what she knows. And I’d rather die today than live another day of this death! Who will ride with me? Who will be my brother?” Of course, everyone knows the ending of the fairy tale, and therefore the movie, and analyzing the movie in particular, the point must be made that if human beings have a true guide to lead them to what is right and good, they will follow.

Jesus did not need the Transfiguration. Even if he did not realize that he was God, as some scholars maintain, he knew that God the Father was very much a part of his life. It was the apostles who needed the Transfiguration. They were in need of seeing that Jesus was indeed someone special, even God, and someone that they definitely had to hear. They needed to see that this God-man was honored by those who knew the law, symbolized by Moses, and that he was greater than the prophets, symbolized by Elijah. Once they accepted Jesus completely, then they would have the light they needed, the one who could inspire them to do what they had to do in order to truly follow him. In the revised story of the fairy tale “Snow White,” “Snow White and the Huntsman,” Snow White had to become the light that guides a nation that had been ravaged by a wicked queen, Snow White’s stepmother. As she says to her followers, “I will become your weapon.” She became the one person that could lead those who would become her subjects. She was their light and weapon, and her people gladly followed her. We all need lights or guides that can take us from the ravages of darkness and the things that can hurt us. The world as we know it can be a very difficult place and can wrap us up in its web of money, jobs, living and fulfillment of selfish desires. If we do not have such a guide, like the people of the kingdom of Tabor in the movie “Snow White and the Huntsman,” we are doomed to failure, disillusionment and unhappy death. We are in need of the Transfiguration. We must see that this Jesus that we believe in is really the person who is the light and guide to our lives. We may have accepted him before, but perhaps we must place a little more trust in his guidance. Perhaps we must listen to him a little more closely, allow him to come completely into our lives, and touch every facet of our living, so that we can really be people dedicated to right and good in every circumstance in which we find ourselves.

PRAYER Good and gracious God, your Son is our light and guide. We believe it with all of our hearts. Our problem is that we may not have allowed Him to be the complete guide that he should be. Give us the grace to allow him to be the total light of our lives. Be with us, we pray.

+++++ GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT Theme: We must have a light that guides us to what is right and good.        DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: (session: approximately 60 minutes) 1. What scene during this session is most striking and why? 2. As Moses went up the mountain to receive the ten commandments, as Jesus went up the mountain to deliver his sermon on the mount in Matthew’s Gospel, here Jesus goes up the mountain again. What is the symbolism of Jesus’ “ascending the mountain” in your opinion. 3. Moses is a symbol of the law. What is the most important “law” of our land today? 4. Elijah is a symbol of all the prophets. Give some examples of modern day prophets and why they are considered prophets. 5. Dialogue analysis: “Lord, it is good that we are here.” We should say these words as we study our lives. What are the reasons why people cannot make such a statement? What can be done for them? 6. Dialogue analysis: The voice of God the Father tells us to “listen” to Jesus. How do we listen to Jesus in our modern day? 7. Dialogue analysis: “Do not be afraid.” The phrase is said several times in Scripture. What do people “fear” the most, and how can the Scriptures in particular help us? 8. From your study of the Gospels, did the apostles completely accept Jesus? Yes or no and why? 9. Dialogue analysis: “I will become your weapon.” What is the meaning of the statement? 10. Analysis: It is significant that a woman becomes the guide in the movie and fairy tale. At one time, there was a prejudice against women. Do you believe that there is prejudice against women in today’s world? Yes or no and why? 11. Analysis: “The world is a very difficult place.” Why is this a true statement? 12. How does the modern day Christian “allow Jesus to come completely into our lives.” 13. Scene analysis: the fairy sanctuary. Is there a place in our world where every one and everything is “friendly” to each other? Yes or no and why? 15. Analysis: Snow White bows to the special animal in the fairy sanctuary. What does the animal signify? 16. Dialogue analysis: The blind dwarf tells the others that they have to see that Snow White is “the one.” In your opinion, what was his meaning? 17. Dialogue analysis: The Huntsman’s speech in front of the “dead” Snow White. What is important about his speech? Why? 18. Analysis: It is significant in both the original fairy tale and this movie that “love” breaks the spell that has been cast on Snow White. In your opinion, where do you see the greatest “love” portrayed in our world? 19. What does the movie “Snow White and the Huntsman” teach young people?