[media presentation below] GospelThink Tuesday, August 8   MATTHEW 15:1-2,10-14 I had a problem with the religious leaders because of their hypocrisy, Prayerthoughts; a. Most of the time the Pharisees and scribes found fault with Jesus without trying to understand him. In my life right now, are there some people that I automatically find fault with? b. Jesus points out that “traditions” sometimes change. Are there some personal traditions that I have held on to that no longer make any rational sense? c. “What comes out of the mouth.” I should look at the words that I spoke, say yesterday, and see if I could have been a bit kinder than I was. d. Am I willing to speak the truth even though it may upset some people? Am I honest in the words that I have spoken? e. My words, actions and thoughts should all be “planted” by God. As I study my life, what has not been planted by God? f. There are some people who are blind to God’s actions in their lives. Sometimes I question how God is acting in my life. What are some times in which I questioned how God was acting? Perhaps a prayer of faith in God for those times should be spoken. g. My prayerthoughts… Today, I will read Numbers, chapter 12, and write an  important thought from it. Some Thoughts on the Liturgy STUDYING THE BLIND GUIDES + Jesus could not tolerate people who were supposed to be doing something, said that they were doing it, but really weren’t               – the name he used for them was “blind guides”                              – people who were assigned to lead others, but did not know how to get there themselves               – it is a good meditation to consider what they were doing wrong                              – because once we understand that, we can avoid it, or do something different  + First of all, they were missing the point of what law was all about               – they followed a law that spoke of externals—washing hands and pots and pans, etc.                              – Jesus points out that externals are not what you should be worried about                                            – it is the internal: “what comes out of the mouth is what defiles” people                                                           – we have to be worried about what is happening in our minds, internally, and control that a little more so that what we say will be more Godly  + Secondly, they should have been people who had God as their foundation               – they should have been people who truly listened to the word of God                              – the point of the reading from Numbers is that Miriam and Aaron did not listen to the word of God, and therefore were punished                                            – incidentally, the Lord listens to Moses concerning Miriam and she is healed after some punishment                                                           – according to scholars, in the passage it is a mystery why Miriam was punished and not Aaron  + As I say, it is important for us to look at the things that the Pharisees and the scribes were not doing because we can choose the opposite for our own spiritual growth:               – 1) we have to work with the internal                              – what is in our mind—is it guided by the thoughts of Jesus so that what comes out of our mouths will be holy words guided by holy thoughts               – 2) our foundation must be God in everything that we do                              – our foundation is not what we want or what we will get out of a situation                                            – selfishness has no place in our spiritual growth                                                           – because when selfishness is present, we are blind to what should be  + We need to listen closely to what the Lord tells us:               – we will be people of the Lord                              – and if we are, God will be our God, leading us the proper way. MEDIA PRESENTATION Movie: “Soul” — final session CHOOSING TO BE A FRIEND The Gospel MARK 1:16-20 As Jesus passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men. Then they abandoned their nets and followed him. He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets. Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat and the hired men and followed him.

Gospelthink: I called fishermen to be my first apostles, telling them that I needed them to help me in my mission. Am I trying to carry out the Lord’s mission in my life?

After Joe had found his “spark,” namely being a real jazz piano player and liking it by using the badge of “22-become-Joe”, he began to understand that 22 had been left behind becoming a lost soul and if Joe would overcome his selfishness, he had to do something for 22. He willed to go back to the “Great Before,” and once he found 22, tried to return the badge. Using a small maple seed that 22-become-Joe had collected, Joe finally convinced her that she was ready to live on Earth, and with her badge back, 22 entered Earth with Joe accompanying her for as long as he could. Joe literally gave up his life on Earth for 22. But the powers to be in the “Great Before” recognized what Joe had done and gave him another chance on Earth before he had to go to the “Great Beyond.”

There is little doubt that in order to spread his message about the Kingdom of God to as many people as possible, Jesus needed some help. He therefore began his public ministry by calling apostles. Perhaps it is just as true to say that the human Jesus also needed companions and friends who would work with him. In our human life, we too need friendship. We begin in selfishness, something that is necessary for us to function, and the unfortunate thing is that many of us remain too long in that selfishness state. But after some serious thinking, we usually come to the understanding that there are other people in our lives, and that their love and friendship are just as important as our own. Such is the story line of the movie “Soul.” Joe Gardner, having lived a life dedicated to his own wishes and wants, spent some significant time of serious thinking, and gradually came to see exactly what he was doing. He had used 22’s badge and left her to be a lost soul while he enjoyed his life on Earth. 22 had become a friend with him while on the Earth in their messed up situation and Joe finally could see what he did. His friendship with 22 compelled him to go back to the “Great Before” and help her. Friendship is important for the human being. Eighteenth century philosopher David Hume acknowledged that friendship must be part of who we are: “There is some benevolence, however small, infused into our bosom, some spark of friendship for humankind, some particle of the dove kneaded into our frame, along with the elements of wolf and serpent.” In the midst of all that we are, friendship is there. We must learn to show it toward those who are part of our acquaintances making them more than mere acquaintances. They become friends when we realize that they have given to us, and now we must give back to them.

PRAYER Good and gracious God, You chose your Apostles to work with you, but more than that, to be Your friends, those showing us the importance of friends in our lives. Give us the grace to be a true friend to the people close to us.  Be with us, we pray.

+++++ GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT Theme: True friendship is a way to overcome selfishness.   DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: (session: approximately 50 minutes) 1. What scene during this session of the movie is most striking? Why? 2. What does the movie “Soul” teach us? 3. In your opinion, what does the phrase “fishers of men” mean? 4. Joe was given another chance on earth to have a happy life. How are we given the chances to lead a happy life here on earth? 5. What is your definition of a friend? 6. In your opinion, what does “serious thinking” mean? 7. What is your definition of a “best friend”? 8. Is there anyone who does not “need” a friend?  9. What is the greatest gift we can give to another?