[media presentation below] GospelThink Sunday, November 19, 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time MATTHEW 25:14-30 I tell a story whose moral is to use the talents that you have. Prayerthoughts a. The man going on the journey is God who has given me spiritual “talents” or certain   spiritual abilities that I can develop, according to my own capabilities. Those spiritual    abilities deal with the spiritual things in my life such as prayer, spiritual reading, different devotions, spiritual retreats, spiritual workbooks, attendance at Mass, etc. Have I made proper use of all the spiritual opportunities that the Lord has given me? b. The man who had the most spiritual talents immediately developed more, building on what he had been given. Which spiritual talent should I develop more in my spiritual life? c. God has given me a long time—my life so far—and he will come to me at the end of it to settle accounts. How would I rate my development of the spiritual talents I have been given so far? d. The one who did not make use of the talents he was given received no reward, in fact, some “punishment.” Should Jesus’s story not move me to make a better use of the talents I have been given? f. My prayerthoughts…   Today, I will read 1 Thessalonians, chapter 5, and write an important thought from it. Some Thoughts on the Liturgy WHAT WILL WE DO WITH OUR TALENTS?           This story comes from a teacher friend of mine. One of her senior high school students had almost ruined his chances for a future. Spending much of his time at having fun, he had watched his once promising grades disappear. In fact, he had been accepted in the local state junior college only because his dad had been one of the trustees of the college. Surprisingly, the young man wanted to address my teacher-friend’s Government class. Government was one of the subjects in which he had fallen from a B to an F. The young man had gone to summer school to make up for the class that he failed, and something clicked in his mind as he had to spend the summer studying and re-taking the course.            After some consideration and strong promises, the Government teacher finally allowed him to speak. He came in to the class with a number of blank keys, one for each of her students. After he had given each student a key without saying a word, he said words similar to these:           “What door will you open with that key? That key can open anything you want. Last year, I made it fit the door of pleasure, and I had a great time, but according to my best estimation, opening that door has cost me. It will take years before I finally get myself into the groove of studying again, and the frightening thing for me is that I may never reach the potential I once had. I know most of you, and if you want to go through the door of success, I hope that you make that key open a different door from the one I chose. That key can open anything you want it to, but you’ve got to use it. I hope you use it wisely.”            Why do we not use the talents that we have? In the Gospel, Jesus is talking about a denomination of money that was common to his time in his story, but I like the idea of the translation of “talent” as applied to the natural abilities that we can develop. His story is about using what we have, and there are some important points as we listen to the story.            First of all, when we are given some talents, some abilities, we are meant to develop them, and do the best that we can with what we have. Secondly, we are not all given the same—some of us receive five, some, two, some, one, but we all are given something. We all can do something if we want to. Thirdly, doing nothing with what we have is not a good thing. In fact, Jesus gives a rather strong condemnation for those who do not use their talents well—in Biblical language, the person is sent to hell:           …the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. That is very interesting; there is no question of doing anything wrong except not using the talents the person is given, and that person is sent to eternal death.            Jesus’ story can be applied in the professional circle or the spiritual circle. The obvious application to us as we praise our God is the motivation that we should have toward spiritual matters in our lives. Why are we not motivated more in spiritual matters? Why do we not use the talents that we have in a spiritual way? Or to put it into particulars—           – why do we not make God more a part of our lives;           – why are we not willing to give time to spiritual things like spiritual education or retreats;           – why do we not read and think about some Scripture every day;           – why do we not do an act of kindness for someone without expecting a “thank you”?            We are being given a key, so to speak, as we think of the Lord today. Now, the question is that of the young man in the opening story: what do we do with that key? That key can open anything that we want it to open, but it is up to us to use it. We can be truly spiritual people, holy people—all we have to do is use the key, the talents that we have. MEDIA PRESENTATION Song: “Animals” — Maroon 5 LIKE ANIMALS The Gospel MATTHEW 26:36-39Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to feel sorrow and distress. Then he said to them, “My soul is sorrowful even to death. Remain here and keep watch with me.” He advanced a little and fell prostrate in prayer, saying, “My father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will.”

Gospelthink: In my human nature, I felt the pain of abandonment, but I allowed God to work. As I turn to prayer, do I allow God to work in my life?

“I’m preying on you tonight, hunt you down, eat you alive, just like animals. Maybe you think that you can hide. So what you trying to do to me. It’s like we can’t stop. We’re enemies, but we get along when I’m [with] you.You’re like a drug that’s killing me. I cut you out entirely.  But I get so high when I’m [with] you.”  [lyrics adjusted]

What were Jesus’ feelings like? We do not have a complete answer to the question, of course, because we cannot get into Jesus’ mind. But we have some indication from the way the writers of the Gospel talk about him and his actions. When Jesus was about to undergo the Roman process of crucifixion, he knew that he did not want that pain. His prayer, therefore, was to allow it to pass him by. He quickly came to an understanding of what he had to do, however, and he resolutely told his Father that he would do what had to be done. Analyzing his actions, we conclude that his immediate feelings were to avoid the pain, but he saw what he had to do. If he allowed only his human feelings to control him, he would choose something that he did not want. Studying Maroon 5’s song “Animals,” one could conclude that the man in the relationship realized what his physical feelings may do to him. But he allowed those feelings to control him because he still wanted the “high.” His friend was “like a drug,” and in the end, the whole relationship just might “kill” him, but his desire for the “high” motivated him to be with her. When our feelings control us, we may have difficulties as we mature. Our human feelings in general want to make things easier for us, that is, to keep away from immediate pain or give into a desire for temporary illicit pleasure. It may indeed be easier for us, but in the long run, it may harm us for perhaps a significant amount of time. We learn from Jesus that control of feelings is the way to live well.

PRAYER Good and gracious God, feelings are such an important part of our life here on earth. We like good feelings and want always to pursue them. Your Son teaches us however that at times we must control our good feelings in order to follow your will. May we learn from him. Be with us, we pray.

+++++ GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT Theme: When our feelings control us, we will often have difficulties as we grow. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. Jesus prays before every important happening in his life. In your opinion, do most Christians pray as much as they should? In your opinion, what is the most common petition Christians ask from the Lord? 2. Text analysis: “Keep watch with me.” What do you think the Lord wanted from his Apostles? 3. Text analysis: “like animals.” In what way can pursuing another romantically be “like animals”? 4. Text analysis: How can the couple in the song be enemies and still get along? 5. Text analysis: “You’re like a drug that’s killing me.” What is the meaning of the sentence? 6. The context of the song is a sexual one. In your opinion, are the songs of today too explicit when it comes to physical sexuality? Yes or no and why? 7. The Catholic Church is clearly opposed to premarital sex, considering it to be seriously wrong, and yet there are many Catholic couples who practice it. In your opinion, do couples consider this to be a sin? Yes or no and why? 8. In your opinion, is premarital sex always wrong? Yes or no and why? 9. What are the best ways to prevent premarital sex between couples who feel that they are in love? 10. Besides the sexual feelings, what other feelings do human beings experience that tend to “control” them? 11. In general, do you think that human beings “control” their feelings well? Yes or no and why?  12. What does the song “Animals” teach young people?