[media presentation below] GospelThink Wednesday, September 6 Luke 4:38-44 The purpose for which I came to you was to preach the Good News of the Gospel. Prayerthoughts a. Jesus led a human life like you and I do. As we visit friends, are we as kind and gracious as we should be? b. We will run into people who are sick or ill, maybe some in a hospital. Am I willing to visit them, showing that I truly care for them? c. Obviously, I cannot heal people physically. But I can psychologically simply by my presence and concern and promise of prayer. d. Simon’s mother-in-law is a good example of showing gratitude. She got up immediately and waited on them. Am I as grateful to others as I should be? e. Evil is very much alive in our world. Sometimes I must confront it head on, although always with caution. Perhaps, without judging them, I should pray a little more for those who are perpetrating evil. f. Jesus wants to spend time in prayer. Have I set up a prayer life daily that I try to follow as best I can? g. Jesus says that his purpose is to preach the Gospel to all around him. I have chosen a specific way of living in my life (my “purpose”). What is the best way of making it a “Christian” direction? h. My prayerthoughts… Today, I will read Colossians 1, and write an important thought from it. Some Thoughts on the Liturgy  BEARING THE FRUIT OF THE GOSPEL  + The daily readings begin the consideration of the letter to the Colossians today           – at the beginning of the letter, our reading here, Paul, or more than likely a disciple of Paul, praises the Christians of Colossae saying that the Gospel that he preached to them is bearing fruit and growing                      – it is doing that because they were willing to listen to it and make it part of their lives  + The Gospel that Paul was speaking of, of course, is contained in what we have come to know as the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John           – in those Gospels, what Jesus did is to be a guide                     – if we follow through with what his actions teach, then the Gospel will bear fruit and grow as it did for the Christians of the early era                               – the important idea is that it will bear fruit and help the world around us, a world that really needs that help  + In the Gospel of today, perhaps three ideas that if we followed what Jesus gave us, we would bear fruit           – first, Jesus was all about “curing people”                      – we won’t be able to perform miracles, of course, but we can offer help and consolation to the people around us                                – and in a sense, “cure” them with our kindness and willingness to help           – second, as Jesus did, we need to get by ourselves in a deserted place and pray, become connected to our God                      – asking God to be with us in the difficult task of living and working in this world           – and thirdly, as Jesus did, we need to “preach,” that is, “proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God”                      – and although we may not do it in a formal way, our lives and how we live them will become a way of preaching, a way of telling the world around us how important God is for this world  + The Gospels are more than anything a guide for us           – and if they bear fruit in us, both we and the world will profit from it. MEDIA PRESENTATION Song: “Good Ole Days” — Macklemore featuring Ke$ha MISSING OUT ON THE NOW The Gospel MATTHEW 19:16-22 Someone approached Jesus and said, “Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?” He answered him, “Why do you ask me about the good? There is only One who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” He asked him, “Which ones?” And Jesus replied, “You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; honor your father and your mother”; and “you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

Gospelthink: i call you to be as close to perfect as you can be, and that calls for you to be able to give away some things. How am I with regard to giving to others?

“I wish somebody would have told me: someday, there will be the good old days, all the love you won’t forget and all these reckless nights you won’t regret—someday soon, your whole life’s gonna change. Now look at where we are, still growing up. Now that I’m here, wishing for those good old days. Been scared of the future, thinking about the past while missing out on now.”

Whether the subject is love or life, dwelling on the past is not a way to maturity. The rich young man of Matthew’s Gospel was a person whose past had been profitable to the point of “having many possessions.” When Jesus called him to further growth, asking him to give up the past he had loved, he was not able to do it. With his refusal, the young man walked away from Jesus “sad.” The young man had missed an opportunity to improve. It seems that the person in Macklemore and Kesha’s song “Good Old Days” has had some good times in the past. The person is wishing that he/she could have them again, but there is the possibility that the person will miss out on the “now” when dwelling too long on that past. Young and old often miss the opportunity to improve because of their devotion to the past. In general, people do not want to let go of something that makes them comfortable, even when it is obvious that they should be choosing something else, or someone else. Such seems to be the case with Macklemore and Kesha’s song.But the missed opportunity because of a desired past goes further than personal relationships. As in Matthew’s story in the Gospel, many people cannot understand the promises of real perfection because past material possessions cloud their vision. In life, the pursuit of what is better is often hampered by a glorified past. There are many things that can be learned from the past, both good and bad. If we have made mistakes, we can learn from them. If we experienced something good or beautiful, our lives are so much the richer. But to remain in the past often condemns us to solutions of the past. We must all learn to live in the present and allow the past to be a teacher rather than a dictator.

PRAYER Good and gracious God, we all have a past, and sometimes some actions of the past have been good and some not good for us. Help us to study our past, and then give us the grace to learn from it so that we can live well in the present and future. Be with us, we pray.

+++++ GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT Theme:  We must live in the present while remembering some things about the past. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. What does the song “Good Old Days” teach young people? 2. Why does it seem that having too many material goods may block a good spiritual life? 3. In general, have the good old days been good most of the time? Yes or no and why? 4. What is the best way to insure that we will never miss an opportunity to improve our lives? 5. What is the meaning of “missing out on the now” when dwelling too long on the past? 6. What is the meaning of a “glorified past”? 7. It is true that to remain in the past often condemns us to the solutions of the past. What are some instances in which you have seen this to be true?