[media presentation below] GospelThink Monday, April 3, Monday of Holy Week JOHN 12:1-11 Judas was not able to understand the way that I thought. Prayerthoughts a. Martha was a person who liked to “take care of people.” It is a virtue that I should foster in my own life. Am I doing that well?   b. Mary was a person who liked to show her friendship to her close friends. Who are my closest friends, and how do I show that I care for them?   d. It was a “waste” to use the expensive oil in the way that Mary did according to Jesus.   Do I place too much emphasis on “things” in my life? e. Judas was a thief. Do I find that sometimes I take things that are not mine? f. Many were believing in Jesus. I should take the time, especially during this Holy Week, to express my belief in Jesus and His teachings. g. My prayerthoughts…   Today I will list the five most important “things” in my life, taking special notice of where I place anything of God/Church/Religion (Should it be higher than it is?). Some Thoughts on the Liturgy  OUR BELIEF IN JESUS CHRIST  + The first reading is called the first song of the Servant of Yahweh in the prophet Isaiah           – the second and third are tomorrow and Wednesday in the first readings                      – they are the statements about the Messiah and what he is all about                                – with a list of his virtues and accomplishments—today: justice, compassion, a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, opening eyes of the blind, bringing people out of darkness  + All of those virtues were enacted in the person of Jesus Christ           – he whom Mary anointed as recorded in the Gospel of John six days before the Passover, six days before he was killed  + In that Gospel also, John the Evangelist gives us his reasoning as to why Jesus was killed           – showing us the thinking of Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, who was to betray him                      – Judas was a thief according to John the Evangelist                                – and at the same time the chief priests wanted both Jesus and Lazarus killed because too many were believing in Jesus                      – those two facts came together to make Judas betray Jesus  + A good way to begin the weekdays of Holy Week is to ask ourselves about our own belief in Jesus           – Jesus who was evidently foretold in the Scriptures, as seen in Isaiah’s reading this morning           – the person presented by the Scriptures as our Lord and Redeemer                      – many were believing in him                                – what is our belief like?  + As we close off this Lent, we can ask ourselves some difficult questions:           – for example, what is the amount of time that we spend knowing Jesus in the Scriptures?           – how much personal prayer, how much spiritual reading, etc.                      – in comparison to the other major undertakings of our lives  + And, in what way do we see the effects of our belief in Jesus?           – as Mary made her belief evident           – have we made progress in our words and actions, and especially our thinking?                      – as we consider the things that happen to us and that cross our minds,                                – do we try to put them into a truly Christian perspective?  + The liturgy of Holy Week is designed to bring Jesus and his life directly before us           – one of the principal questions we should dwell on concerns how strong our belief in Jesus really is. MEDIA PRESENTATION Song: “Delicate” — Taylor Swift “DELICATE” LOVE The Gospel LUKE 6:30-36 Jesus said, “Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, and get back the same amount. But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as also your Father is merciful.”

Gospelthink: The Lord tells me to love my enemies. Are there people in my life that I should love more?

“I like you; this ain’t for the best. My reputation’s never been worse, so you must like me for me. Yeah, I want you. We can’t make any promises now, but you can make me a drink. Is it chill that you’re in my head? ‘Cause I know that it’s delicate, isn’t it?”

If there is a central element of Jesus’ doctrine, it would have to be love, and that which distinguishes his doctrine of love from other religious sects, is love of everyone including those who do not like us. “Give to everyone,” Jesus says, not only to those who love us, not only to those who do good to us, not only to those who would repay us, but to “enemies” as well. “Love your enemies and do good to them” is Jesus’ directive. But our human natures do not like the directive because there are people that we simply do not want to love because we do not trust them, and so even as we live Christian lives, we are not very Christian in our approach. We can call such a situation “delicate.” It is one in which I know what I should do, and if I do it, I could get hurt. Because it is difficult, it is “delicate.” While Jesus is speaking of love in general, Taylor Swift’s song “Delicate” is speaking of a specific romantic situation, one with a specific goal in mind. She sings about a relationship that seems to be good at the moment, but the lady in the relationship realizes that their time together has been for the wrong reasons. Now she’s not sure. Is it a good thing that he is in her head? So, she says it is a delicate relationship–she wants the feelings of the man’s presence, but she wants it to be for the right reasons. “You must like me for me,” she sings. Actually any love situation is “delicate.” Speaking in general, to love everyone the way Jesus suggests is “delicate” because of what Jesus said to do. People could easily take advantage of us and hurt us. In personal lives, to love a specific person who has not loved well in the past is “delicate” because even though he/she may want the relationship, the romantic love may backfire, and the relationship will be a hurting one. The lady is correct in saying that one must love another for the right reason. There must be an understanding of the delicacy of the situation if one is to be committed to a person forever which the song implies. Jesus’ directive goes one step further, however, saying that even if we do not feel like it, even if it is delicate, love includes everyone, whether a relationship is delicate or not.

PRAYER Good and gracious God, Your Son taught us to love everyone, even people who are not totally lovable. But in a romantic love situation, we must be careful, “delicate” about the commitment to love. Help us in both instances to understand the meaning of love. Be with us, we pray.

+++++ GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT Theme: It is a “delicate” situation if we want to love when it may hurt us. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. In your opinion, do Christians follow the Lord’s directive to love everyone? Yes or no and why? 2. Text analysis: “You must like me for me.” What is your understanding of the statement? 3. Besides love, what are some other “central” doctrines of Jesus? 4. When people are dating in a steady way, what are the most important characteristics that should be shown by both parties? 5. Do you think that many people realize that their situation is delicate, but get married anyway? Yes or no and why? 6. Jesus’ directive to love everyone may be the most difficult thing that he said. Is his directive even possible in today’s world? Yes or no and why?  7. What does the song “Delicate” teach young people?