[media presentation below] GospelThink Wednesday, November 15 LUKE 17:11-19 One of the cured lepers said, “Thank You.” Prayerthoughts a. In Jesus’ day, leprosy was a disease for which there was no cure. There are a number of instances like leprosy in our world. How do I treat those who are handicapped in some way? b. One of my prayers should be the idea of my own sinfulness, saying “Have pity on me.” Do I reflect on my sinfulness enough (but not too much)? c. Jesus instructs the lepers to show themselves to the priests, which was the law of the   Israelites. Do I show sufficient respect for the law of our country and our Church? d. Maybe the most important word in this story is the word “realize.” Have I made an effort to continually realize the importance of what the Lord has done for me? e. The central thought for the passage is the thought of thankfulness. Do I spend enough time thanking the Lord for those things that I realize? f. In the passage, it is a Samaritan, another “religion” who gives thanks. Do I think of other religions as men and women seeking their salvation through their understanding of    God? g. The leper’s faith led him to salvation. Do I show my faith often enough to others? h. My prayerthoughts…   Today I will write a prayer of thanks to God and thank someone among my acquaintances. Some Thoughts on the Liturgy  THE LEPER WHO RETURNED  + In the Gospel, the evangelist Luke speaks of salvation:         – Jesus saying to the one leper who came back to thank him, that the leper’s faith had saved him                 – the cure was the occasion of the Samaritan leper’s salvation                 – so that the miracle is incidental                         – what is important is salvation  + That Gospel story has a couple of thoughts that come and are good to mention and dwell on just a little:         1 – that which brought salvation about for the leper: recognition of God’s action in his life                 – the obvious conclusion for us: do we spend enough time taking the time to study the Lord’s action in our lives, how he has really loved us, what he has done for us, how things have worked out for us         2 – there were nine others who do not recognize God’s action in their lives, but the Samaritan did and there was no judgment of others on his part                 – he was concerned about what he had to do—period                 – that’s a tremendous lesson in itself: when we do something right and we know that it is right, we shouldn’t be thinking about others in judgment of them         3 – our salvation is tied up with the whole concept of thanksgiving                 – what the fact of salvation should lead us to naturally is that we must thank God constantly                         – allowing it to become second nature to us                         – to live is to thank God         4 – the final understanding from the Gospel is what the leper did as a result of his understanding                 – it was a faith in Jesus that not only led the leper to recognize, but it led him to action as well         He fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.                 – our faith should lead us to do things that can be measured `+ Today’s reading from the book of Wisdom closes with the directive: “Desire therefore my words; long for them and you shall be instructed.”         – the Gospel’s words which is the story of the returning leper are a tremendous source of instruction for us. MEDIA PRESENTATION Song: “Good Time” — Owl City & Carly Rae Jepsen IT’S ALWAYS A GOOD TIME The Gospel LUKE 15:1-7 The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to him, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So to them he addressed this parable. What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.”

Gospelthink: I want you and everyone to be sorry for your sins. Do I ask for forgiveness from the Lord enough?

“Woke up on the right side of the bed. What’s up with this Prince song inside my head? Hands up if you’re down to get down tonight ‘cause it’s always a good time. Slept in all my clothes like I didn’t care, hopped into a cab, take me anywhere. I’m in if you’re down to get down tonight ’cause it’s always a good time. Good morning and good night. I’ll wake up at twilight. It’s gonna be alright. We don’t even have to try: it’s always a good time. Doesn’t matter when: it’s always a good time.”

What are the things that make up a good time? What are the things that make us feel good more than anything else? Some people might answer with the pleasure idea—going to a movie or a party or enjoying the company of friends. Some people like the stimulus of learning new things. Some people like quiet time in which nothing is really happening, and they are just relaxing like reading a good book or watching television or spending time praying. There are a number of different answers. No matter what the answer, according to the song “Good Time” by Owl City and Carly Rae Jepsen, anytime is the occasion for a good time. “It’s always a good time,” they sing. Jesus seems to agree in the sense that when people can learn to repent, they can have “joy.” And if one repents of her/his sinfulness all the time, it stands to reason that such a person can always have a “good time.” In other words, in the spiritual realm of things, a “good time” means that we understand the evil of our world, especially the evil that we have done. There is “joy”–feeling good–when we have “repented.” Our understanding of a “good time” in our day-to-day living would do well to have this spiritual element be part of it. There are far too many “good times” that hurt others or hurt ourselves because we think that a “good time” must mean that we satisfy only ourselves, and really do not have to think of anything else. We have a “good time,” but it is purely selfish. If we truly concentrate on developing a life that is concerned about living without sin and the importance of others, our times will indeed be good. We can say that it really “doesn’t matter when: it’s always a good time.”

PRAYER Good and gracious God, your Son has told us that there will be joy when there is repentance in our lives, and therefore our lives will be happy, and we will experience “good times.” Give us the courage to bring about such a life. Be with us, we pray.

+++++ GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT Theme: We can make any situation be a “good time” no matter what the circumstances.  DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. Jesus’ story in the Gospel is exactly what God does for us: he seeks us out. In what ways do you see God searching for us? 2. Text analysis: “A sinner who repents.” Describe what this means in day-to-day living. 3. Text analysis: “…righteous people who have no need of repentance.” What is the meaning of the phrase? 4. What is your understanding of the word “repentance”? 5. Text analysis: “right side of the bed.” What is the meaning of the phrase? 6. What is your understanding of a “good time”? 7. The song seems to say that we have to make anytime be a good time. Do you think that it is possible? 8. Give some examples of a “good time” that are not what you consider to be a good time. 9. The meditation is based on Jesus’ understanding of “joy.” How would you define “joy”? 10. What is the most common “evil” that you see practically every day? 11. Do you think that people can be “always happy”? Yes or no and why? 12. What does the song “Good Time” teach young people?