[media presentation below]
GospelThink
Friday, November 17
LUKE 17:26-37
Again I call your attention to the end of the world, using the thought
that if you lose your life for my sake, you will gain it.
Prayerthoughts
a. Jesus refers to the story of Noah and Lot in the book of Genesis, implying that the people had forgotten God. Do I find myself forgetting God too often throughout the day?
b. Jesus implies that they did not know what was going to happen. In my life, do I make it a priority to try to know what God wants of me?
c. Jesus refers to the suddenness of end of the world (Lot’s wife died suddenly). If I knew that my life was ending tomorrow, what should I do today?
d. Is the fact that I am going to die a scary thing for me? In light of my belief, how should I feel?
e. We can get wrapped up in the things of this life without the Lord (“saves” his life) or we can choose to lose our life for the Lord’s sake, that is, give ourselves to the Lord more and more in our living. Do I see evidence in my life that I am choosing correctly?
f. Jesus does not answer the desire of the disciples to know when and where the ending will happen. As vultures, we are merely watching what is happening. I must live my life as though I am always prepared for the ending. Am I doing that well?
g. My prayerthoughts…
Today, I will read Wisdom, chapter 13, and write an important thought from it.
Some Thoughts on the Liturgy
THE END OF THE WORLD
+ The book of Wisdom was written about two hundred years before the Lord
– and for the author, anyone who studies the wonders of the world should acknowledge God as creator:
“From the greatness and the beauty of created things, their original author—God—by analogy is seen.”
– fire, wind, air, stars, water, luminaries of heaven, the makeup of the seasons of the year all should point, the author says, to God
+ The beauty of the world and the sheer organization of that world and their pointing toward God is a good one for anyone trying to grow spiritually
– because the beauty of the world will point to God
– and then our faith takes over—
– we believe that God is shown especially in Jesus Christ and his teaching while here on earth
– the teaching of Jesus is not so much a specific set of teachings
– as it is what Paul the Apostle called an attitude of Christ
– that is, everything written about Jesus from all points of view—Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, early church compressed into one
– so that the attitude of Christ is not so much some specific statement as it is a way of living involving the acting and thinking of Jesus
– therefore, the attitude of Christ is something that must be worked at
– the reason why pursuing reading the New Testament in a consistent manner is so important
– we have to be influenced, infected, daily by it
+ Part of that attitude is Jesus’ whole approach toward the end times, what we call eschatology
– there are many places in Scripture where Jesus talks of the parousia, the end of the world
– and almost always two ideas will be part of his approach:
– one is preparation, today’s whole thought of Noah and Lot
– the other is the immediacy of both what will happen and the fact that we have to accept it
– Jesus’ statements today about two people in bed, two women grinding meal together
+ One of the best ways to look at the New Testament’s approach to the end of the world is to look at our own end of the world, namely our own deaths
– we don’t know when the end of the world is, but we know that it is coming
– we don’t know when our death will be, but we know that it is coming
– and our concentration as we consider our death is how well we have accepted the attitude of Jesus
+ The lesson of the end of the world or the end of our lives is a simple lesson:
– we must be prepared for our own deaths, whenever they come, even if it is at a time when we least expect
– and the best preparation is to grow in the attitude of Jesus
– an attitude that begins by our studying of the beauty of the world
– leading us to our belief in Jesus Christ.
MEDIA PRESENTATION
Song: “Sunroof” — Nicky Youre
MORE THAN A SUNSHINE
The Gospel
MATTHEW 2:9b-12
And behold, the star that [the magi] had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way. |
“I got my head out the sunroof, I’m blastin’ our favorite tunes, I only got one thing on my mind, you got me stuck on the thought of you, you’re making me feel brand new, you’re more than a sunshine in my eyes. We driving down the freeway at night, I’m feeling like this might be the time to shine with you.”
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What are the things that make us feel good about life? There are probably many answers, some very simple, some quite profound. The magi of Matthew’s Gospel were looking for something. They themselves probably did not quite understand what it was, but they sensed that the something was a person who may have been some type of royalty. When they discovered Jesus and offered him their gifts fit for a king, they felt overjoyed because they realized that he was indeed a king. But, much deeper than that, as they prostrated themselves before him, they understood that he was someone who ultimately would help their world.
The popular songs of our day often give answers to the question of what makes us feel good. Nicky Youre sings a common answer as he sings the thought of what being together feels like. He is enjoying the presence of another as they travel down the highway in their car.
Enjoying each other’s presence is certainly something that makes us feel good about life. But, even as we enjoy the feeling, we often sense that there is so much more to really feeling good. It not only has something to do with each other; it has something to do with our deeper lives. We need something that can make us feel good about life in a permanent way that is more than a passing emotion.
Christians have always believed the feeling that the magi discovered. The person of Jesus Christ and what he stood for can direct us to true happiness. It is the ultimate answer to what can make us feel good about life.
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