[media presentation below] GospelThink Monday, July 24 MATTHEW 12:38-42 The Scribes and Pharisees always wanted signs of my good intentions, but they would not read them, especially the sign to repent. Prayerthoughts a. People wanted a sign from Jesus that he was God even though he did so many things that proved it. Am I a sign that Jesus is God by the way I act, think and my words? b. Jesus points out the story of Jonah, the part where he finally did do what God wanted him to do, and the people turned to repentance. Do I frequently ask for forgiveness of my sins and faults and want to do something about them? c. Jesus also refers to the Queen of Sheba in first book of Kings (1 Kings 10:1-10). She found the wisdom of Solomon amazing. Do I seek the wisdom of Jesus’s teachings in everything that I do? d. Jesus points out that he is greater than Jonah or Solomon. As I consider the people and things that are influential in my life, do I place Jesus as my principal influence? e. My prayerthoughts… Today, I will read the book of Exodus, chapter 14, and write an important thought from it. Some Thoughts on the Liturgy  FAITH, NOT CERTITUDE  + The problem connected with faith           – is that we don’t want faith                      – we want certitude so that we know we’re right           – the same in Jesus’ time: Jesus was teaching faith                      – the scribes and Pharisees wanted certitude  + Jesus’ answer is not only the idea of faith           – but faith specifically in him                      – the sign of Jonah is the three days referring to Jesus’ death and resurrection                                – as Matthew explains it—Jesus is greater than Jonah, Jesus is greater than Solomon           – and it is also faith that leads to reform                      – as the people of Nineveh and the Queen of Sheba reformed                                – reform that means as Micah describes it:           – we are called “to do the right and to love goodness and to walk humbly with your God”  + A three-fold direction then for us as we try to grow spiritually:           1 – again, the importance of Jesus                      – we hear it so often in these Scriptures                                – we have to “pour over” the Scriptures:                                          – listen to what they say, really want to do what they say           2 – there has to be a deepening of our faith                      – to understand that we really cannot prove these things                                – but to constantly pray for the grace to increase our faith           3 – repent and reform our lives                      – even more than they are now                                – to study the actions of the Lord as the Pharaoh changed his mind and the Lord through Moses told the Israelites: the Egyptians shall know that the Lord is God                                          – and that the Israelites had to have faith in God  +You and I have the gift of faith           – we must cultivate it and pray that it becomes stronger. MEDIA PRESENTATION Movie: “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice”– final session SELFISHNESS AND THE TRUTH The Gospel JOHN 3:1-3 Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. He came to Jesus at night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you are doing unless God is with him.”

Gospelthink: Nicodemus understood what I was all about. Do I spend sufficient time trying to understand the Gospels?

Bruce Wayne/Batman finally discovered his own selfishness in the movie “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” by realizing both his and Superman’s love of their human mothers. Then the two heroes could finally work together, but immediately they saw their problem. Lux Luthor had managed to create a monster by use of DNA from himself and the evil General Zod one of Superman’s foes in the past. General Zod was much more powerful than Superman and Batman and their newly found friend Prince, a metahuman creature who had been working undercover. Understanding that the creature was subject to defeat only with kryptonite, Superman in a weakened state, took a weapon designed by Luthor with a kryptonite head, and thrust it into the creature. But in his state, Superman could not resist the creature’s power and the creature finally subdued and killed Superman even as the creature died.

The Pharisee named Nicodemus was interested in what Jesus was teaching. He was not ready to endorse him completely because he had his own life as a Pharisee to guide him. But he began wondering about the truth. So he came to Jesus secretly, telling him that his own experience did not seem to agree with the signs that Jesus was doing. He was looking for the truth, however, and he felt therefore that he had to study Jesus and his activity. The secret of a person who is seeking the truth is that she/he is willing to give up their own desires and wishes in order to discover what is right. As Nicodemus in the Gospels, so also Batman and Superman in the movie: “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.” They were seeking the truth; in fact, the truth may have been the only requirement for their existence. Consequently, when Batman realized that his own research about Superman was flawed, he had to give it up, and admit that he was wrong. And when Superman understood that the truth that would save the world was only something that he could do, and it might mean his death in the process, he had to do it. Truth was the ultimate end point that both heroes wanted. In terms of the title of the movie, it was the only way that justice could be maintained. Obviously, we are not going to prevent major catastrophes or save the world with what we do. For the most part we are normal people attempting to live our lives in the midst of a very complicated world. Perhaps the one guide that we ought to have is the pursuit of the truth, and as we discover it, to regulate our own selfish desires and thoughts to embrace it.

PRAYER Good and gracious God, we see the importance of the truth as the people of our earth studied Your Son. May our guide be to seek only the truth, and a willingness to give up our own selfishness to accept it. Be with us, we pray.

+++++ GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT Theme: We must look beyond our own desires in order to discover the truth.         DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: (session: approximately 70 minutes) 1. What scene during this session is most striking and why? 2. Gospel and character analysis: How would you describe Nicodemus? 3. Most Scripture scholars think that the Pharisees could not agree with Jesus because Jesus was going against their fundamental beliefs. What is most important for a “belief system” to be true? 4. Why are most people not willing to give up their own desires and thoughts? 5. In your opinion, do most people honestly seek the truth as they make decisions in life? Yes or no and why? 6. Is there any time in which the truth should NOT be a guide for someone? Yes or no and why? 7. Scene analysis: Why was Batman so interested in fighting Superman? 8. Analysis: What was Luthor’s desire in releasing the creature and killing Superman? 9. Scene analysis: Superman gave up his life in order to kill the creature, the ultimate sacrifice. In general, do you think that most people would give up their lives to save the world? Yes or no and why? 10. What is the significance of the close of the movie? 11. What does the movie “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” teach young people?