[media presentation below] GospelThink Friday, May 5 JOHN 14:1-6 As I told my disciples, so I tell you, I will come back for you, and in the meantime, I am the guide for you. Prayerthoughts a. One of the most frequent lines in the Gospels is “Do not be afraid,” here, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” What are some things that I am most fearful of and why?   Perhaps I should pray about them. b. It is most comforting that the Lord prepares a place for me and I will be with the Lord. I should write a prayer of thanksgiving for all the Lord has done for me. (This is the task of the meditation.) c. Although Thomas says to the Lord that he does not know the way, Jesus tells us that we do know it. We know what the Lord has taught us and what we should do. What is the most important idea that Jesus has given me in the Scriptures? d. John’s Gospel gives us the famous quote of Jesus: that he is the way, the truth and the life. As I study the way of Jesus, in what ways in particular am I following it? e. As I think of the truth of Jesus, what truth is most important for the world in general? f. As I think of the life that Jesus gives, how do I define the “Christian life”? g. My prayerthoughts…   Today, I will carry out letter b. Some Thoughts on the Liturgy  KNOWING THE WAY  + There are a number of places in the Gospels in which we wonder how it was possible for the Apostles to be so lacking in understanding         – here, Thomas, speaking in the name of the others says:         “We do not know where you are going, how can we know the way?”         – it would seem that Thomas by this time—toward the end of Jesus’ public life and after spending significant time with Jesus—by this time Thomas should know a little about where Jesus was going                 – or at least be able to describe it in general terms                         – he and the other Apostles had to realize in some way that Jesus was speaking about the road to eternal life                                 – they had to know that he wanted to establish the kingdom of God that he had been talking about throughout his life                                 – by that time, they had to understand the basics of Paul’s speech in the synagogue at Antioch                 – but apparently not, as John the evangelist describes it, Thomas seems to have had no idea of what Jesus was talking about                         and so Jesus tells him that the center of religion and life for them must be him:         I am the way and the truth and the life.                 – the statement of Scripture that most describes why we are followers of Jesus  + Actually Thomas’ opening question resembles how we are at times         – even though we have a pretty solid background in Christianity, and are actively pursuing the spiritual life as we are    – it is evident to us especially when we are in prayer looking at our lives, that there are many times that we don’t know the way:                         – we don’t think like we should at times,                         – sometimes we say evil things,                         – we forget about Jesus’ presence in our lives,                         – we may criticize and judge, tearing down any possible unity at least in our own thoughts                 – in a word, we are human—not perfect, and never will be         – with Thomas, we must hear Jesus say that he is the way, the truth and the life                 – and then allow it to make an impression with us  + Paul uses the word “witness” in identifying his activity and the activity of the Apostles after the Resurrection         – a witness speaks out on behalf of someone else         – a leading question for us today might very well be:                 – do our actions and especially our thoughts witness that Jesus is the way and truth and life for us? MEDIA PRESENTATION Movie: “Dune” — beginning session THE DESIRE TO CONTROL The Gospel JOHN 19:7-13 The Jews answered: “We have a law and according to that law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.” Now when Pilate heard this statement. he became even more afraid, and went back into the praetorium and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” Jesus did not answer him. So Pilate said to him, “Do you not speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you and I have power to crucify you? Jesus answered him, “You would have no power over me if it had not been given to you from above. For this reason the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin. Consequently, Pilate tried to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release him, you are not a friend of Caesar. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” When Pilate heard these words he brought Jesus out and seated him on the judge’s bench in the place called Stone Pavement, in Hebrew, Gabbatha.

Gospelthink: Pilate questioned me about my kingship thinking he had power over me. Too often I look for power to make me feel better.

In the far future, the Emperor Shaddam controlled the planet Arrakis, the source of the necessary “spice” for the technology they had. But he was not satisfied that all of the different Houses in his realm were completely under his control. In order to have full power, he decided to set up an enmity leading to a battle between House Atreides and House Harkonnen. Both leaders of the two Houses could see advantages in having Arrakis, and so they set out against one another. Shaddam sided with House Harkonnen because he felt Leto of House Atreides was the real threat. Because of a betrayal by one of Atreides’s men, Harkonnen won the fight. But during the fight, Leto’s son Paul and concubine Jessica escaped and began an allegiance with the Fremen, the native people of the planet Arrakis.

Immediately before Jesus was handed over to be led to crucifixion, the interchange of ideas between him and Pilate and the Jewish leaders dealt with power and control. Both Pilate and the Jewish leaders wanted control of the situation by showing their power. Pilate even stated to Jesus that he had the power. Power and the desire for it unfortunately plays more of a role in life that we realize.  And when it does, there is often bloodshed. Witness the the warring parties in the movie “Dune.” Shaddam the emperor was worried about the power the House Atreides possessed. And so he used a ruse involving more power, setting up the House Harkonnen to obliterate House Atreides so that Shaddam could have full control. The desire for power caused the deaths of many people. The desire for power and control is a common theme in the movies that we see and enjoy. Anyone who really studies that desire immediately understands what it causes and especially the harm that it does to individuals, both those who are so anxious for control as well as those controlled. Human nature being what it is, a person desirous of control will do anything to accomplish the goal, often causing immense harm to others. One of the principal problems with viewing so many examples of the desire for control and power which we experience on the movie and TV screens is our ability to learn. We too easily learn how power and control feels in our lives. And we may learn that if we want it, we will look for the opportunity to make it happen. It will not happen in a spectacular overpowering way that emperor Shaddam wanted in the movie “Dune”, but it may happen in a small way in our insignificant (in the eyes of the whole world) lives.   And we could harm both ourselves and others.

PRAYER Good and gracious God, the desire for power and control is so common in the everyday lives of people. We easily see and possibly learn from those who seek power and control. Give us the grace to truly understand the temptation to have power and control of others. Be with us, we pray.

+++++ GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT Theme: Perhaps the strongest evil in the world is the desire for power and control.   DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: (session: approximately 72 minutes) 1. What scene from this session of movie is most striking and why? 2. In the world today, who has the most power and why? 3. In your opinion, do the countries of the world have true respect for the lives of their citizens? Yes or no and why? 4. Do you think that we learn “desire for personal power” from the ways of the world? Yes or no and why? 5. Do you think that we learn “revenge” from the ways of the world? Yes or no and why? 6. How is it a true statement that “Power corrupts”?