[media presentation below] GospelThink Thursday, November 2, All Souls JOHN 6:37-40 (other gospels may be chosen) I speak to you the most encouraging words that I spoke while I was here on earth: I will not reject anyone who comes to me. Prayerthoughts a. The Lord tells me that he will never reject me. That should give me great confidence in my life. Does the fact give me the confidence it should? b. The Lord repeats that he will never reject me because this is what the Father wants of him and he will accomplish it. Saying the same thing twice ought to move me to see how much he truly pays attention to me. Do I thank the Lord as often as I should? c. Jesus does what the Father wills of him. In general, given my way of life right now, what spiritual works does God want me to do? d. Jesus reiterates that God wants everyone to have eternal life. Everyone. Do I find myself judging that some people should not have eternal life? e. As I celebrate All Souls Day, who among those who have died are the most influential people in my life? What have they taught me? (This is the task of the meditation.) f. My prayerthoughts…   Today, I will carry out letter e. Some Thoughts on the Liturgy  REMEMBERING THOSE WHO HAVE DIED  + We remember the dead on this day especially          – and we do it for a couple of reasons  1 – one is that we can pray for them          – the opening prayer says it well: addressing our prayer to God, we pray that …as we renew our faith in Jesus who rose, strengthen our hope that all our departed sisters and brothers will share in that Resurrection                   – that is, we are praying not so much that they can get out of purgatory if they are there–that is too much like bargaining with God                            – bargaining like: I’ll do the praying, or so many prayers, and you have to let them go          – no, it is in order to renew our belief and hope in Jesus’ Resurrection, and as we renew it, we remind ourselves that the Lord is very much aware of those who have died                   – and at the same time, we remember ourselves so that when we die and the church prays for us, we will be receiving our reward because of our belief in Jesus  2 – and the second reason we remember the dead is to remember how their lives presented God’s gifts          – and what we can learn from those gifts          – I suggest that you do that with some friends that have died in your life—study their lives, and what they could possibly teach you          – I did that as I prepared for what I would say today, and I thought of a number of people                   – they were not saints                            – they had their faults, just like you and I do                                     – but that is the whole point: we can learn from them because even with the faults they had, they taught us things that can improve our lives now  + Francis of Assisi is often pictured with a skull          – for Francis it means that death has no power over him                   – nothing to fear, only life                   – it should be basically the same for us. MEDIA PRESENTATION Song: “Stay” — The Kid Laroi & Justin Bieber MERELY TALKING ABOUT CHANGE The Gospel MATTHEW 21:28-32 Jesus said, “What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ He said in reply, ‘I will not,’ but afterwards he changed his mind and went. The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, ‘Yes, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did his father’s will?” They answered, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him.”

Gospelthink: I tell the story that speaks to you about how to change behavior. Do I find myself saying that I will change and do not follow through?

“I do the same thing that I told you that I never would, I told you I’d change, even when I knew I never could. I know that I can’t find nobody else as good as you; I need you to stay. I get drunk, wake up, I’m wasted still. I realize the time that I wasted here. I feel like you can’t feel the way I feel. I’ll be messed up if you can’t be right here. You’re the reason I believe in love.”  [Lyrics adjusted]

Jesus’s story of the two sons who should have changed is an important story for those who say that they will change some behavior. One of them did, but the other even though he understood that he should have changed, did not, even after he saw the reason for changing. Jesus points it out as he told the story: speaking to the Pharisees, he says, “Even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds.” Jesus was speaking of the call to repentance that John the Baptist spoke. The song “Stay” from The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber is speaking of behavior change as a person is in the dating process.The man in the relationship understands that he should change for the better in order to maintain the relationship, and he even says that he will. But like the son in the story who said he would change, he did not. Consequently, the relationship will probably never happen. There are probably many things that should change in a person’s life, but as one dates and prepares for the permanent commitment of marriage, the ability to change is paramount. The couple have to each bring themselves to understand each other in the matters that involve communication, getting along, attitudes, ways of working things out, and so forth. And when they discover that there are differences, they must work toward some compromise. Such a compromise involves some element of change, and to make the change, there must be a promise of sorts to make it. Too often one will make the promise in order to bring it about, but will not follow through. If that pattern persists, the other should see that the relationship should cease. In the song, the man made the promise, but by his own admittance did not keep it, even though he still desperately wants to continue, saying that she is the reason that he believes in love. He must do more than talk.

PRAYER Good and gracious God, Your Son reminded us that we can talk about change all we want, but we must carry through if it is to make a difference. Help us to keep the promises that we have made. Be with us, we pray.

+++++ GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT Theme: If we say that we will change, we must mean it. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. What does the song “Stay” teach young people? 2. What behaviors in our world should change the most? 3. What is the main reason why people will not change for the better? 4. What is most important in any dating relationship? 5. What area needs the most compromise in a dating relationship? 6. What area needs the most compromise in a marriage?