[media presentation below] GospelThink Tuesday, May 2 JOHN 10:22-30 I tell the religious leaders that they are not listening to my voice when I speak of Godly things. Prayerthoughts a. Jesus spent time in the temple on the feast day. Do I spend enough time with the Lord   in prayer on Sundays? b. There are situations in my life in which I do not have the answers I want. What are they, and do I spend enough time with the Lord asking for His help in those matters? c. Jesus’s works tell us plainly who he is. What are the works of God’s creation that most    impress me? (This is the task of the meditation.) d. We profess to be among Jesus’s “sheep.” If it is true that I am, what the characteristics that should be present in my life right now? e. I hear the Lord’s voice as I set out to do what I have chosen by my free will. In what way is the Lord “talking” to me? f. It is encouraging that the Lord has chosen me, and I am with the Lord no matter what. There are some things in my life however that hold me back. What are the things that hold me back from being the “sheep” that I should be for the Lord? g. My prayerthoughts…   Today, I will answer letter c. Some Thoughts on the Liturgy  THE SHEEP OF JESUS  + The readings give us a contrast of how people listen to the message of Jesus             – 1st reading: people open to receiving the message and actually receiving it                         – in Antioch, a strong commitment to the Lord and the beginning of the Antioch church with Paul and Barnabas as their principal preachers             – Gospel: Jesus saying that the Jews he was talking to were not open to the message and therefore did not accept it at all                         – in Jesus’ and John the Evangelist’s terminology, they were not his sheep  + We might spend some time with the question: what does it take to be a sheep of Jesus?             – Jesus gives that to us in the Gospel, and speaks of two things: that we hear his voice and follow him             1 – hear his voice                         – listen to what Jesus says in the Scriptures                                     – and more importantly—in our prayer connected with the Scriptures                                                 – that is, listening empathetically                                                             – listening not only to the words, but the deeper meaning of the words                                                                         – such a state only comes with what is called “pouring over” the Scriptures                                                                                     – apparently the converts in Antioch in the first reading were able to do that type of listening             2 – follow him                         – that we actually put into practice the words that we listen to                                     – including the real desire to love, forgive, bring about peace, to get along with people, to understand where people are coming from, etc.                         – again, from Luke’s description in Acts, the new Christians in Antioch were able to accomplish this characteristic  + If we really want to be Jesus’ sheep,             – we will listen to what he says, and then follow him. MEDIA PRESENTATION Movie: “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” — beginning session WHO SHOULD WE TRUST The Gospel JOHN 6:68-71 Simon Peter answered [Jesus], “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.” Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you twelve? Yet is not one of you a devil?” He was referring to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot; it was he who would betray him, one of the Twelve.

Gospelthink: I desired all to turn to me even Judas. Do I place my trust in the Lord the way He would want?

In the fantasy movie “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” S.H.I.E.L.D. operative Steve Rogers, better known as Captain America, found himself up against a powerful enemy who planned to kill millions of people in order to rule the world. The enemy was placed high up in the United States government and cleverly tried to implicate the head of S.H.I.E.L.D. Nick Fury to be part of the plot which would eventually lead to the control of the government. Fury realized what was happening and in his dying moments entrusted Steve Rogers with a secret and the instruction: “Trust no one.” It meant that Captain America had to discern whom he could trust to ascertain the truth and to help him bring about the capture of the enemy.

Psychologists and sociologists have pointed out that trust begins with the family and gradually grows to include others. The development of basic trust is the first stage of psychosocial development occurring during the first two years of life. If one accomplishes such trust, it results in feelings of security, mutual trust and an optimistic view of life; failure leads to a life of insecurity and mistrust. In the movie “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” lack of trust was an issue that jeopardized the whole S.H.I.E.L.D. operation. Its director, Nick Fury, realizing the severity of his situation told Captain America, Steve Rogers, that he should “trust no one.” Consequently Rogers had to be very careful about trusting his companions during his fight to save millions of people. Jesus was no doubt careful about trusting his companions. He chose his Apostles with the whole thought of being able to trust one another. Of course, Judas eventually did not lead the life that he should have, but Jesus trusted him enough to take him into his inner circle. Judas violated Jesus’ trust in him. Our world is a complicated world in many ways. One of the reasons may very well be that we so easily trust people who in the end cannot be trusted. It is then that evil will happen, and destruction will result. The only way to prevent it is to be a little more cautious of those we trust. It is a practical conclusion that comes from a popular movie, and a conclusion that Jesus himself learned.

PRAYER Good and gracious God, your Son trusted Judas to be a good Apostle, but Judas broke that trust. Help us learn the art of trusting people in our lives, but at the same time to be cautious of those we choose to trust. Be with us, we pray.

+++++ GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT Theme: We must be very careful about the people we choose to trust.   DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: (session: approximately 63 minutes) 1. What scene during this session of the movie was most striking to you? Why? 2. Gospel text analysis: “You have the words of eternal life.” In your opinion, do Christians act like they believe those words of Jesus? Yes or no and why? 3. Jesus chose Judas. Why do you think Jesus chose him in the first place? 4. Do you think that Judas really intended to “betray” Jesus? Yes or no and why? 5. Give your own definition of trust. 6. Analysis: Why is “trust” so important in the first two years of life? 7. Is it possible in life to “trust no one”? Yes or no and why? 8. In general, who do most people trust as they grow? 9. If it is true that we should be cautious as we choose whom we trust, what are the principal guidelines to us as we choose someone to trust? 10. Is it possible to fight into today’s world without the use of weapons (other than Captain America)? Yes or no and why? 11. Scene analysis: Natasha seems to be doing something wrong (extracting files from a computer on the ship). She was following orders without informing anyone else–“compartmentalization.” Do you believe that the military actually uses such methods? Yes or no and why? 12. Analysis: Do you think that a “helicarrier” is a possibility in the future? Yes or no and why? 13. Scene analysis: Peggy Carter who now has Alzheimer disease. What is the best way to care for a person with Alzheimer’s? 14. Scene analysis: Captain America cannot answer Sam Wilson’s question of “What makes you happy?” Why could he not answer? 15. Analysis: What should make people most happy in today’s world? 16. Analysis: Given the circumstances, is it wrong for Captain America to lie to Natasha? Yes or no and why? [See Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, numbers 2432-2487.] 17. Scene analysis: Captain America has a “vision” of his former self at the military base. Why is it important to know how we felt in the past?