media presentation below] GospelThink Wednesday, September 20 LUKE 7:31-35 I speak about the virtue of true listening.   Prayerthoughts a. Jesus speaks of “this generation,” a negative terms speaking of my time now. In what ways have I agreed with this world when I should not have. b. Sometimes I act like a child when things do not go my way. Do I show this behavior often? c. Jesus points out that the people of his time were like children who were not listening to His message. How are my “listening skills”? Do I listen to others the way I should? d. Jesus and John are rejected. Do I always accept God/Church/religion as a guide to my  life? e. Do I listen to the difficult words of Jesus, especially in the way I should act toward others? f. Jesus has the wisdom I need in my life. Do I pray with that in mind? g. My prayerthoughts….   Today, I will read 1 Timothy, chapter 3:14-16, and write an important thought from it. Some Thoughts on the Liturgy  TRUE LISTENING TO JESUS  + Jesus goes into a little psychology in the Gospel           – saying in effect: you are like children arguing and playing in order not to really listen                      – you are ignoring what John and I (Jesus) are saying because we are saying difficult things                                – and you are playing games instead                                          – you see what you want to see, hear what you want to hear  + Perhaps we should spend a moment or two on the virtue of listening           – for a Christian, the listening comes principally in the form of listening to the New Testament of the Bible, especially the Gospels  + And that will mean three basic things: 1 – We have to come to him          – we have to make time for him in our lives                   – quality time that is just as important for us as any other action that we have to do during our day  + 2 – We have to place his yoke on us                   – as the Lord tells us in another part of the Gospel          – his yoke: his law, his words, his actions, his whole attitude                   – so that it becomes second nature to us to think as Jesus does                            – again, taking the time to do that thinking—                                     – not only what would Jesus do, but how would he think  + 3 – We have to learn          – that is, actually dwell upon that Christian attitude                   – in such a way as to educate ourselves in his attitude                            – comparing that education to any type of formal education, say to learn a profession, and all the ramifications of it                                     – so that we become versed in being a Christian  + If we allow the Lord to lead us          – we must listen carefully to what he says                   – here: come to him, place his yoke on us, and learn                                     – and our reward will be: an easy time of it in the sense that we will be with God—always. MEDIA PRESENTATION Movie: “Hereafter” — beginning session KNOWING A PAINFUL PAST The Gospel LUKE 8:43-48 A woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years, who had spent her whole livelihood on doctors and was unable to be cured by anyone, came up behind [Jesus] and touched the tassel on his cloak. Immediately her bleeding stopped. Jesus then asked, “Who touched me?” While all were denying it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds are pushing and pressing in upon you.” But Jesus said, “Someone has touched me; for I know that power has gone out from me.” When the woman realized that she had not escaped notice, she came forward trembling. Falling down before him, she explained in the presence of all the people why she had touched him and how she had been healed immediately. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Gospelthink: I heal anyone who really desires it. As I pray to the Lord, am I confident that the Lord hears me and will answer as he wills?

In the movie “Hereafter,” George Lonegan was a genuine professional psychic who looked on his gift of being able to communicate with the dead as a “curse.” It was a curse because it ruined the chance to have a normal life for him. During the practice of his art, he discovered many people who wanted to know about their past, but the knowledge often did nothing more than make them miserable. It had an impact on George’s own life since he was unable to deal with the emotions of painful reunions with the dead and of knowing disturbing family secrets. Indeed, our past and bringing it up again can be painful. But for the Christian, God’s grace is always present, constantly bringing about the possibility of dealing with a painful past.

In the Gospel story, the woman who touched Jesus’ garment had a painful past. It was physically painful to be sure, but it was most probably mentally painful as well. She had consulted the doctors of her day, and they could do nothing for her. She had practically given up on her life, no doubt, probably close to despair, but she had heard about Jesus and his healing power. Meeting him one day, she touched him in the hope that he could help her. Jesus rewarded her faith in him. In the movie “Hereafter,” George Lonegan knew that there was an “afterlife” because his “gift” allowed him to be in contact with it. But he had given up his profession of going into the “afterlife” because of the pain that he saw in people’s lives–both the pain of the people he was trying to help and his own personal pain. The fact was that he came to know too much about his clients and friends. Some things, George explained, were better left unknown. In the movie, Melanie, one of his romantic interests who pushed him to reveal her past, left their relationship, and would never be part of George’s life again. She left because as George had warned her, “Any chance that we had something will just move on.” Too often George’s “gift” became a “curse” because it destroyed the possibility of his own happiness. Pain in whatever form is something that we try to avoid. Perhaps even more than the physical pain, the mental pain of loss or loneliness or depression causes people to desperately search for some answer. Such an answer may come to a person who runs away from the problem, but most often not facing the problem only brings about different problems. We must learn to face the situation that is causing the pain, and address it directly. George Lonegan did not have the advantage of faith, even though he knew that there was an “afterlife.” Christians can find a solution to problems through their faith. As the woman in the Gospel chose to touch the Lord, Christians can reach out to him, listen to his words, follow his actions, and eventually find a solution. Facing their problems directly, believers will sincerely ask the Lord to help with the pain. Faith in Jesus will eventually bring the answer, finally giving personal peace.

PRAYER Good and gracious God, there is pain in our lives, and we often look for answers apart from you. Give us the grace to listen to your Son and choose to accept you totally into our lives, so that we will be able to find the peace we desire. Be with us, we pray.

+++++ GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT Theme: What happened in our past is often disturbing, but with God’s help we can overcome any pain and truly live well.   DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: (session: approximately 60 minutes) 1. What scene during this session of the movie is most striking? Why? 2. Project: outline and discuss a section of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition on faith, numbers 142-175.  3. What can you do if you want to help someone who is depressed because of his/her incurable illness? 4. In your opinion, what is the most difficult mental pain in people’s lives? 5. Do you believe that there is such a thing as a genuine “psychic,” that is, a person who can contact people who have died? Yes or no and why? 6. If a person were to discover something very disturbing about their past, what should they do? 7. If George Lonegan was a believer in Jesus, how could he use his “gift”? 8. The meditation speaks of “personal peace.” What is your definition of “personal peace.” 9. Scene analysis: Marcus and Jason desperately try to help their mother who is addicted to drugs. What can young people do to help a parent who has a drug/alcohol problem? 10. Scene analysis: Marcus is sent to a foster home. What is your opinion about foster homes? 11. Dialogue analysis: George is able to determine some of the past with his gift, and says that “some things are better left unknown.” Do you believe that this is true? Yes or no and why? 12. Dialogue analysis: Marie asks: “What happens when we die?” What is the answer most people would give? 13. Scene analysis: Dr. Meredith hopes that Marie will be able to persuade the scientific community about the reality of life after death. Do you think that most scientists believe in life after death? Yes or no and why? 14. Scene analysis: Marcus loses his (Jason’s) cap temporarily and misses the train which explodes (2005 London bombing). Later on, Marcus discovers that Jason (from the afterlife) was responsible. Christian doctrine suggests that there is no such thing as luck. What is your feeling about luck? 15. Scene analysis: Melanie leaves the relationship with George presumably because George knows too much about her past. In romantic relationships, can people know too much about another? Yes or no and why?