[media presentation below] GospelThink Friday, November 10   LUKE 16:1-8 I tell this story to make you realize that you must act in a prudent way with every situation. Prayerthoughts a. The steward was misusing the property of his employer. In my work right now, are there times when I am lazy and not following through with my contract? b. The dishonest steward comes to understand his position because the owner threatens to dismiss him. Are there some areas in my life right now in which I need to change?           c. The steward does not cheat the owner; he gives up some of his own interest since the steward made his living off of the interest of the money the owner received. Am I too interested in myself, in my behavior, in my world? d. Jesus is praising the dishonest steward for acting prudently. The dictionary defines prudence to be “the state of being careful and sensible, marked by sound judgment.” Am I careful enough in my dealings with the things of this world? e. In Jesus’ story, he wants us to be careful and sensible with regard to eternal life. In what more ways can I show that I believe in eternal life? f. My prayerthoughts…   Today I will read Romans, chapter 15, and write an important thought from it. Some Thoughts on the Liturgy  CHILDREN OF THE WORLD AND CHILDREN OF THE LIGHT  + The story in Luke’s Gospel is an interesting one because it can be looked at as Jesus giving permission to bring about something not quite right           – but for the person interested in spiritual life, the moral of the story is an important one:           The children of this world are more prudent…than the children of light                      – that is, as the people of the world deal with things in a concerned way                                – so the people of the light—followers of Jesus, Christians, should be very aware of what they should do in their lives because they understand that their citizenship is in heaven as Paul would say  + It is important to pursue the contrast that Jesus sets up between the people of this world and the people of the light           – in Jesus’ story, the people of the world are going to take care of themselves                      – they will be shrewd in carrying out their affairs                                – in terms of Paul’s thoughts: he had to preach the Gospel because of what he saw happening in the world                                          – making money, day-to-day living, the affairs of daily life                                – and they will make sure that they are taken care of                                          – they insure for their future                                          – they do the things that are necessary to bring about a good living           – Jesus’ point is that the people of the light, the spiritual people, those who would be followers of his should be working with the same intensity as the people of the world in spiritual religious matters                      – that is, their minds will be occupied with the things of heaven                                – they will insure their spiritual future                                – they will do the things necessary to bring about their own spiritual good  + The story—as most of Jesus’ stories—leads us to some very direct personal questions           – for the spiritual person, that is for the people of the light who have promised to take their spiritual lives even more seriously than the people of the light who live in the world                      – for us, it is not a question of the fact that we will be as concerned about our spiritual lives as the people of the light who live in the world                                – but we will be more concerned—more aware that we have to work at the spiritual life                                          – that will mean:                                                    – a stronger effort at our formal prayer                                                     – serious, significant time in meditation on the Gospels                                                    – being more aware of the way we should be acting toward our fellow people                                                    – desiring to read more spiritual and theological material                                                    – etc.  + Paul reminds the Romans that the he had to preach the Gospel of Jesus           – because that Gospel was the means to a truly spiritual life even as people live their natural lives. MEDIA PRESENTATION Movie: “Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit” — final session PATRIOT OR TERRORIST The Gospel MATTHEW 26:50b-53 Then stepping forward they laid hands on Jesus and arrested him. And behold, one of those who accompanied Jesus put his hand to his sword, drew it, and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its sheath, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot call upon my Father and he will not provide me at this moment with more than twelve legions of angels?”

Gospelthink: I dislike violence in every form. Do I find myself being very angry at others with no desire for reconciliation?

Having strengthened himself and his resolve to help his country in whatever way he could, Jack Ryan set out to do his job. As a secret CIA operative, he discovered that there were some difficulties with the way one of the investors in his company was manipulating funds. The investor Viktor Cherevin was actually preparing to bring about the downfall of America’s superiority in the financial areas of life. In the process, he was working toward disabling America’s financial district and killing thousands of people. Jack Ryan with the active involvement of his soon-to-be wife Cathy, his mentor Thomas Harper and CIA team had to try to stop him.

No matter what the circumstances of war and intrigue leading up to war, there will almost always be killing. Unfortunately, war being the way it is, both the good and bad sides of the conflict will be involved in the effects of war. Killing others is one of them. So the question arises for the follower of Jesus Christ, if we must be involved in a serious struggle involving the possibility of life and death, perhaps the only guide is that we should hurt as few people as possible. Putting the thought into a philosophical format, the principal difference between a patriot and a terrorist is the patriot’s desire to pursue love of country without unnecessary killing. Studying the evil people in the modern movies, it seems that their desire is to hurt as many people as possible. So it is with Viktor Cherevin in the movie “Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit.” Even though he says at the end of the movie that he did it all for Russia, one wonders whether he really had to try to kill as many people as he had intended to do. It is difficult for a Christian to justify any killing; it is impossible to justify killing for the sake of killing. We live in extremely difficult times. One wonders how Christianity can fit into the horrors of a world that involves hatred of other countries and the desire to hurt others before they hurt us. Perhaps we have to simply pray on behalf of the leaders of our world, hoping that they will work at bringing peace, and spend our time concentrating on our own little worlds. Placing the words and thoughts of Jesus Christ as a personal guide, we can study our own involvement with others and realize that in every way, we are called to care and love them, all the time–period. We must fight the prejudice that the world teaches us, listening more to the thought of Jesus than the thought of the world.

PRAYER Good and gracious God, in this wonderful world you created we have chosen to ignore your Son’s insights at times. Give us the grace to allow His teachings to touch our individual lives a little more than they do now. Be with us, we pray.

+++++ GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT Theme: Perhaps the principal difference between a patriot and a terrorist is the patriot’s desire to pursue love of country without unnecessary killing.    DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. What scene during this session of the movie is most striking? Why? 2. Project: the instructor may want to pursue the whole question of a just war and what it consists of. See Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, 2307-2317. 3. In your opinion, was Jesus a pacifist, someone who avoided armed conflict at all costs? Yes or no and why? 4. Even if Jesus were not a pacifist, how do you think he would acted concerning the World Wars that have occurred? 5. It is very difficult to determine how we should act in the face of armed conflict. Besides the one suggested by the meditation–hurt few people–what are some other specifically “Christian” rules? 6. Some terrorists appeal to their religion in order to justify their actions. Do you agree with most scholars that no modern religion would ever justify outright murder? Yes or no and why? 7. In your opinion, is there ever a situation in which someone could “execute” another with no possibility of a trial? 8. What are some other solutions for peace for the nations of our world besides praying for the leaders? 9. In our own personal worlds, what is the most important way to bring about peace? 10. In your opinion, do the Christians of our world try to follow the directives of Jesus Christ? Yes or no and why? 11. The CIA obviously does not want secrets to be shared between couples about to be married because the marriage may not occur. But it places a strain on the young couple. What if any is a possible solution? 12. Both Viktor and Aleksandr are “church goers” in the movie, and yet are plotting to kill thousands of people. In your opinion, why did they not see any contradiction in what they were doing? 13. Should Harper have involved Cathy Muller in the dangerous plan? Why or why not? 14. Scene analysis: It seemed that the Church was involved in passing information about the future evil mission of Cherevin. Do you believe that Churches are involved in some of the evil of the world? Yes or no and why? 15. Scene analysis: Cherevin kills his assistant because his assistant spoke up to him about his problems. His problems were “vodka, vanity and women.” Discuss the principal problem of powerful people. 16. Dialogue analysis: After Jack tells Cathy that he chose the life of the CIA, Cathy tells Jack that she picked him. In your opinion, should Cathy have married Jack Ryan? Yes or no and why? 17. What does the movie “Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit” teach young people?