[media presentation below] GospelThink Easter Friday, April 14 JOHN 21:1-14 I appeared to the disciples once again, this time stressing that I am just like them—needing food and companionship. Prayerthoughts a. In the passage, Jesus had risen from the dead; the disciples knew it, but they did not recognize Jesus. I am called to recognize the Lord in every person that I meet. How well do I do that? b. The Lord addressed the apostles as “children.” In many ways, we should be like children who are trustful of the Lord. Do I see the Lord working in my life as a good thing and that he will guide me always? c. Sometimes it seems as though the Lord is giving me a directive that does not make sense. It especially happens when something is happening to me that I wish were otherwise. I must take the time to see that the Lord is working with me in whatever that happens. d. Concerning answers given to us. The Lord gives the answer to the problem that the apostles had—not catching the fish that they needed. Do I recognize that the Lord answers all of my prayers in his time and according to his will? e. Have I tried to accept the answers that the Lord has given to me, even those that do not agree with my thought? f. As Peter jumped into the sea, am I willing to go out of my way to work with the Lord in my life? g. 153 is no doubt symbolic of something significant that scholars have guessed at. There is nothing “symbolic” in the Lord’s care for us. Have I thanked the Lord enough in my prayers? h. My prayerthoughts…   Today I will offer something to the poor in the place where I live. Some Thoughts on the Liturgy  HOW ARE YOU DOING  + I believe that today’s liturgy can be viewed as a help to the discussion of personal spirituality          – it is a liturgy that suggests some essential elements of that spirituality                   – elements that can challenge if we allow them to   + Peter reminds the hierarchy of Jerusalem that it is in the power of the name of Jesus Christ that the man who was healed / “stands before you perfectly sound”          – being perfectly sound—sanity—happens only if we are rooted in Jesus Christ          – and the Gospel gives us the pattern  + Jesus begins with a question—how are you doing          – and then tells them what to do about it                   – first of all—listen to what I tell you, do what I say                                     – learn from it, so that you can carry through with it                            – and if you do, you will have incredible results                                     – 153 fish—symbolic of all the countries of the world—universal results, implying a unity that defies imagination                            – so listen with the idea of carrying through—one action                                     – pour over the Scriptures, read some spiritual books                                              – and after you listen so that you can carry through                                                       – the second part of Jesus’ instruction–                   – make the Eucharist part of your life                            – all the scholars see a Eucharistic connotation in the meal that Jesus celebrates with his Apostles in the Gospel today                                     – we need the presence of Jesus every day  + And if we do those two things—listen in order to carry through and eat of the Eucharist,                   – then we will know, truly know the Lord Jesus, and truly be rooted in him                            – the “end” of the spiritual life. MEDIA PRESENTATION Song: “Earned It” — The Weeknd NEVER CONFUSED ABOUT LOVE The Gospel LUKE 14:25-30 Great crowds were traveling with Jesus, and he turned and addressed them, “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion? Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him and say, ‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’”

Gospelthink: Jesus tells us to prepare well if we intend to do something. I have said that I will follow the Lord. Is it a true statement given the way I am living now?

“You make it look like it’s magic ’cause I see nobody but you. I’m never confused. I’m so used to being used. So I love when you call unexpected; ’cause I hate when the moment’s expected. So I’ma care for you, ’cause, you’re perfect, you’re always worth it, and you deserve it, the way you work it, ’cause you earned it.”

Perhaps the greatest compliment that a romantic partner can give to their partner is the statement that “You never confuse me.” There are so many things that can be misinterpreted in the “love talk” between two partners. Did he/she mean this when they said that? Did I totally understand? Did she/he mean what I think they meant? And so forth. Conversation often becomes complicated when I am trying to get across the way I feel toward another. If we are “never confused” by our love partner, it is truly an accomplishment. Jesus was speaking about an accomplishment when he spoke about being a true disciple of his. He knew that if a person really wanted to follow him, there could be no confusion. If you say that you will be a follower of his, then there should be no doubt. He uses some examples to speak about it. Being a disciple means that Jesus and his teaching will be even more important than family. It means that we will take the time to calculate what it means just like we would take the time to determine how to construct a good tower. It is actually true for any conversation. If we can honestly say to another that in our communication there is no confusion, then we have accomplished the art of communication with that person very well. Unfortunately, human nature being what it is, many times we do not have such a luxury. We often get “hung up” on feelings and what our desires are, and we miss exactly what is meant. Jesus wanted his followers to be people who were not confused when it came to the single most important thing in their lives, namely, their faith lives. If we are not confused, then we will know for certain what we must do in order to be Jesus’ follower. In romantic life and even every day conversation, perhaps the goal that we should set is that we will not confuse anyone by our speech.

PRAYER Good and gracious God, your Son wanted to communicate with us without confusion. He explained to us how a disciple of his, a follower of his, should behave. Give us the grace to understand him completely and help us improve our own communication with each other. Be with us, we pray.

+++++ GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT Theme: One must really work at a relationship in order to be perfectly clear about how we feel. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. In Jesus’ mind in the Gospel, a true disciple will choose to follow Jesus even before choosing family or possessions. In your mind, do most Christians in our world truly understand what Jesus wants? Yes or no and why? 2. Text analysis: “Hating his father…” Jesus is using a very strong word here and probably an exaggeration. In your opinion, what was Jesus trying to “say” to his disciples? 3. In your opinion, what does it mean to hate one’s own life? 4. In your opinion, what does it mean to “carry one’s own cross.” 5. How did the relationship seem like “magic”? 6. Text analysis: “I’m so used to being used.” What is the meaning of the sentence? 7. Text analysis: “I hate when the moment’s expected.” What is the meaning of the sentence? 8. What are the characteristics of ” true caring” in a relationship? 9. Name some other “true” compliments that one partner can make to another. 10. Why does conversation become complicated when we are desiring to share with another how we feel? 11. The importance of “taking time” in a relationship is very important. In your opinion, how long should one wait before someone would make a permanent commitment with another? Why? 12. What are the most important characteristics of the art of communication? 13. The meditation suggests that we make as a goal that we confuse no one by our speech. If we are to keep it as one of our goals, what must we do more than anything else?     14. What does the song “Earned It” teach young people?