[media presentation below] GospelThink Monday, October 23 LUKE 12:13-21 I speak about the matter of money. Prayerthoughts a.Do I make judgments about other people’s money, and think or say something about it. Perhaps this is a time to say a prayer for them. b. The Lord asks me to look at the “greed” that I have, the desire to have more. Is this something I should consider more? c. The Lord often speaks of too many possessions. Have I too many possessions right now, and could I give some of them away to an organization that takes care of such things? d. The man did not ackowledge God for God’s help in obtaining the harvest. Should I be thanking the Lord more for all that God has done for me? e. The man did not consider his death as a possibility as he made more and more. How should I being preparing for my death right now? f. As I study my life right, even as I need money to exist, am I storing up “treasure” by making myself more aware of God’s presence in my life? In what areas can I do better?  (This is the task of the meditation.) g.  My prayerthoughts… Today I will carry out letter f. Some Thoughts on the Liturgy   THE DESIRE FOR MORE MONEY   + Paul writes to the Romans in the first reading today telling them to once again consider the example of Abraham          – who was empowered by faith and fully convinced that God was in charge of his life   + In contrast to a person like Abraham, Jesus presents a person in his story who was fully convinced that he could do things by himself          – and empowered by his own ability to store up goods, saying at the end of his story:          But God said to him, ‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’                   – then Jesus says that there is a difference between people who store up treasure for themselves and people who are rich in what matters to God   + And so, it is a straight-forward challenge for us from the liturgy today:          – where have we placed material goods, money in our lives?          – do we see money, profits, material things overshadowing truly Christian values in the way we live                   – this does not in any way deny the importance of money as a means to exist                            – it is important to make money                            – to invest money                            – even trying to make more of it                   – what it does do is make us ask the question                            – have we let our love for material things affect the “what matters to God” in our lives   + This is not an easy topic to think about          – because it always touches something which is quite personal to all of us                   – but Jesus is clear here and often throughout the Gospels                            – money is a means, a means to help us in life                                     – and when it becomes an end in itself, it becomes greed                                              – and then we start worrying about the wrong thing                                                       – we start thinking about making more of it only to make more of it   + We should probably listen very closely to Jesus today:          Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.          – what guarantees a man or woman life—how well we live while using the money we make. MEDIA PRESENTATION Movie: “The Karate Kid – beginning session ADUSTING TO THE PROBLEM The Gospel MATTHEW 26:47-50a While Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a large crowd, with swords and clubs, who had come from the chief priests and the elders of the people. His betrayer had arranged a sign with them, saying, “The man I shall kiss is the one; arrest him.” Immediately he went over to Jesus and said, “Hail, Rabbi!” and he kissed him. Jesus answered him, “Friend, do what you have come for.”

Gospelthink: Judas betrayed me.

One of the difficult things in life for any age is adjusting to a new lifestyle, one that the person has never seen before. Sherry Parker and her twelve year old son Dre both had to make such adjustments in the movie “The Karate Kid.” When his mother was transferred to Beijing, China, Dre very dutifully went along. It was not an easy transition for either of them. The movie centers in on Dre in particular who meets friends, but also meets people who do not like him. Some of them turn into his tormentors, and Dre is physically beaten. Dre’s life becomes extremely painful as he tries to adjust to his situation, and it is only after a man by the name of Mr. Han takes him into his care that he begins to understand what he can do. Mr. Han himself has an adult understanding of such suffering because he had to adjust to some very painful circumstances in his life as well.

Immature people often do not act well in crises. Sometimes they panic, or they will make decisions that only make matters worse, or they behave in a selfish way that does not help others. Mature people will calmly accept the situation, study what can be done given the circumstances they are in, and adjust to a course of action that is best for all involved.   Jesus of Nazareth knew well the meaning of “adjusting,” especially as he approached the end of his life. He had spent time in prayer with his Father, addressing the problem of what he was about to encounter. Now it was time to calmly enter the central act of his life, namely the redemption of humankind. He had a very good idea about what was going to happen in this crisis situation in his life, and he bravely accepted it. In a composed way, he begins the most painful part of his life with the word, “friend.”   One of the signs of maturity is the ability to act well in crisis situations. Most people will not experience immense mental or physical pain during their early years, but they will be involved in painful situations that require actions reflecting maturity. It is difficult to adjust to those situations, but it can be done. Too often, young people find themselves arguing, criticizing and judging others, often blaming others for what has happened. Such immaturity usually causes added harm to an already harmful experience. Crises demand clear thinking, and clear thinking demands the mature ability to deal calmly with anything that happens.

PRAYER Good and gracious God, your Son approached his death with serenity because he knew how to act with maturity. As we come upon some crisis in our lives, we ask for your grace to understand how to behave in a mature way. Be with us, we pray.

+++++ GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT Theme:  Adjusting to new circumstances, especially when there is pain involved, is very difficult, but it can be done.   DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: THE GOSPEL 1. Judas used the typical signs of how a disciple would greet his teacher to betray Jesus.  It is the absolute highest of insults.  What are the insults that are most difficult to accept? 2. Jesus bravely accepted what he knew would happen. Give your definition of courage. 3. The meditation makes it clear that Jesus was calm as he began this difficult portion of his life.  Why is “being calm” one of the characteristics of a leader? THE MEDITATION 1. Adjusting to a difficult situation is the theme of this session. What are the best ways to adjust to a difficult situation? 2. What are the situations that are most painful for a young person? For a person of middle age? For an older person? 3. Give some examples of people who have adjusted well to situations in their lives. 4. What are some “crisis situations” that you have seen? How did the people involved act? How should they have acted? THE MOVIE, PART 1  (approximately 43 minutes) 1. What scene during this session of the movie is most striking? Why? 2. It is always difficult to begin a situation that is new.  If you were in Dre’s shoes, how would you go about adjusting to a new situation in a foreign country? 3. Scene analysis: the group of boys fight Dre and hurt him. Sometimes this type of physical abuse happens in junior high school on a regular basis. If you were Dre, what would you have done? 4. Why did Dre not try to explain what happened to the appropriate authorities in the school? 5. Scene analysis: Mei Ying’s instructor is very demanding. In your opinion, what is the best way to teach a difficult subject? In particular, should a teacher be this demanding? Yes or no and why? 6. Scene analysis: Dre’s mother really wants to help him. In your opinion, why did he not tell his mother what was happening? 7. Scene analysis: Dre attacks the bullies. Why did he provoke the attack?