[media presentation below] GospelThink Thursday, March 2 MATTHEW 7:7-12 I will answer your prayer with good, and only I know what is good for you. Prayerthoughts a. Every prayer that I say to the Lord will be answered. Do I pray with that thought in mind or do I think that the Lord answers some prayers and not others? A prayer of  thanksgiving to God for listening to my every prayer would be in order here. b. Again God answers every prayer. Jesus reiterates it twice here. It is very important then that I know this because there are times in my life when I doubted it. What were some of those times, and how have they been resolved? (This is the task of the meditation.) c. God knows more than I do. In my prayer of petition, I may be asking for things that would have been harmful to me. What are some examples of the past when I prayed for something, but God saw that it should not be given to me? d. The Lord knows what is best for me, and so my prayer of petition for whatever I desire must close with “…but You know better than I.” e. It is fitting that as the Lord talks about petitionary prayer that he reiterates the Golden Rule. It says to us that as we pray for things that we need, we remember that we must  truly love others. Is there anyone in my circle of people that I am not loving the way I should? f. My prayerthoughts…   Today, I will carry out letter b. Some Thoughts on the Liturgy THE PRAYER OF PETITION  + The readings today want us to consider the subject of the prayer of petition           – Queen Esther fervently prays for help and courage as she honors God in a foreign land           – Jesus’ words are from the Sermon on the Mount                      – giving a treatise, almost, on the prayer of petition                                – just as Esther does, Jesus says you have to pray—ask, seek, knock + A couple of things about that prayer of petition:           1 – we must remember what Jesus says earlier in the Sermon on the Mount                      – we pray because we need it, not God                                – therefore we pray knowing that God already knows what we need                                          – we simply are putting God into our consciousness knowing that God is with us as we ask           2 – when we pray, it may not seem like we receive, find or have the door opened, but it really happens                      – it must all be understood with Jesus’ statements about what is good                                – God will give us only good                                          – and only God knows what is really good                                                    – stone/loaf; snake/fish                                                    – we know good for our children; God knows good for us                      – the prayer of petition will always be answered                                – and part of the prayer of petition is that we understand that God’s answer will be good for us           3 – there is another element that is not part of the prayer of petition, but part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount                      – and I think that Matthew placing it here in the Sermon on the Mount is an important statement                                – and that is the closing phrase                      – even as we ask for what is necessary in our lives, we have to work on charity toward others                                – too many people pray to God, expecting God to answer—and God will—                                          – but do not make God part of the rest of their lives                                                    – in particular, how we treat others  + The prayer of petition is an important part of our spirituality           – it should be part of what we do every day, but we have to understand it well. MEDIA PRESENTATION Song: “Circles” — Post Malone IF IT IS JUST THE SEX The Gospel  MATTHEW 5:27-30 You have heard that it was said, “You shall not commit adultery. But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of you members than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna. And if your right hand cause you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into Gehenna.

Gospelthink: I give my strict rules about use of your sexuality. Am I following the Lord’s rules?

“Seasons change, and our love went cold, feed the flame ‘cause we can’t let go. Run away, but we’re running in circles. Run away. I dare you to do something, I’m waiting on you again, so I don’t take the blame. Let go, I got a feeling that it’s time to let go. I knew that this was doomed from the get-go. You thought that it was special. But it was just the sex though. I got a feeling that it’s time to let it go.”

Jesus uses the art form of exaggeration when he feels strongly about something. In this passage, he wants people to know that the Christian virtue of purity involves staying away from all lust both before and after marriage. One of the common faults of human beings, especially young human beings is the sin of “sex before marriage.” The song “Circles” calls that to mind. The couple are going around in circles trying to work out their relationship, not knowing from one day to the next whether the love they have is real love or not. Post Malone states what may be the real problem when he sings, “But it was just the sex.” The physical interaction they have feels good, but it may be the problem because feelings are only part of true love. When a couple experiences each other in the physical act of love, there are no doubt good feelings that they have for each other. But such feelings do not constitute true love. Practically any human being can enjoy the physical feelings of sharing one another. It is an experience that God has created so that people will want to populate our earth, and therefore is something very good. But when it becomes an end in itself, It does not necessarily bring about true love. The couple in Post Malone’s song wanted true love. They wanted to experience the true feeling of what it means to give completely to each other, with a true understanding of choosing the other person for life. Instead, like many couples who are not married yet, they became physically involved long before they knew whether each had the true love necessary for a real commitment. And the involvement clouds their love reasoning. Jesus knew the nature of human beings, and so he warned against lust. He knew that the physical could destroy any notion of true love. It is a lesson that people learning love must know.

PRAYER  Good and gracious God, we want to understand the true meaning of love before marriage. Help us realize that the physical actions of love making can never be interpreted to be true love. Be with us, we pray.

+++++ GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT Theme: The physical part of love should be part of true love. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. What does the song “Circles” teach young people? 2. Many people do not consider “premarital sex” to be sinful. In your opinion, why do they feel this way? 3 What are the signs of “true love” as one prepares for marriage? 4. In your opinion, does too much physical involvement before marriage interfere with the decision to marry? Yes or no and why? 5. In your opinion, do most people understand the true meaning of love at the time of marriage? Yes or no and why?