[media presentation below] GospelThink Saturday, December 16, Advent II MATTHEW 17:9a,10-13 I tell you that John the Baptist is Elijah and will suffer. Prayerthoughts a. The disciples did not understand everything that Jesus said. I sometimes do not understand how the Lord is acting in my life, and I should pray for guidance. b. The disciples wanted to know specific things about his teaching. I sometimes do not completely understand my religion. I should take the time to look up in a commentary or the Catechism about what I do not know. c. Jesus interprets Elijah to be John the Baptist who restores all things, in the sense that he will turn people’s attention to what is of true importance. Does God/Church/religion have an important place in my life? d. People did not recognize John when he came and therefore treated him badly. Are there some people that I do not recognize as important and I treat them badly? e. In my understanding, what is most important about John the Baptist and why? f. My prayerthoughts….   Today, I will read Sirach, chapter 48 and write an important thought from it. Some Thoughts on the Liturgy  A STUDY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST  + One of the saints that is featured during the Advent season is John the Baptist          – today recalled in the Book of Sirach, part of the Wisdom literature of the Hebrew Scriptures, with the statements about Elijah          – and Matthew’s words from Jesus that John the Baptist is Elijah          – quite naturally, the readings lead us to some thoughts about John the Baptist                   – with some specific applications to our lives  + 1 – from Sirach, John the Baptist/Elijah was a person who would speak God’s words with fire          – that is, difficult words, words that people did not like to hear                   – and therefore, challenging words          – there are many challenging words in the Scriptures for us to listen to                   – words that touch our lives right now if we allow them to  + 2 – also from Sirach, John the Baptist/Elijah calls for a turning back, a reestablishing          – that is, some type of a conversion in our lives-                   – a turning around          – we listen to those challenging words and we realize that we really should do something about our behavior, whether it be praying more or loving more or talking less  + 3 – from Matthew’s Gospel, John the Baptist and Jesus both suffered          – suffering is unfortunately part of the effects of human nature                   – not so much physical suffering, although that is part of it                            – and accepting that suffering patiently and as part of improving our lives          – but especially the suffering that will come if we accept the Lord Jesus totally into our lives                   – it means basically that we will take to heart the challenging words, lead us to conversion, and then we have to accept what that means                            – the ridicule of others                            – real disagreement with the world’s offerings  + 4 – perhaps a summary thought about John the Baptist          – that is, what he was all about, that which describes his character the best                   – he had one job to do—prepare for Jesus Christ                            – he did it and left the limelight                                     – his famous statement: “He must increase, I must decrease.”          – as spiritual people, we are called to prepare for Jesus to come into our lives—period                   – we have to be a single-minded in it as John the Baptist was. MEDIA PRESENTATION Movie: “Leave No Trace” — final session KINDNESS MAY BE A CURE The Gospel JOHN 5:5-9a  One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been ill for a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be well?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; while I am on my way, someone else gets down there before me.” Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your mat and walk.” Immediately the man became well, took up his mat, and walked.

Gospelthink: I searched out the man who was ill. Do I trust that the Lord will be with me when I have difficulties?

PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) is defined by The American Psychiatric Association to be a “mental disorder that can develop after a person is exposed to a traumatic event, such as sexual assault, warfare, traffic collisions or other threats on a person’s life.” For Will in the movie “Leave No Trace” it was warfare. He came home with very little hope of living a normal life. He chose to be homeless and withdrawn from society. Even when very good people tried to help him, he deliberately would not respond to them. What complicated matters for him was the fact that his teenage daughter Tom had no one who could care for her except him. He loved her and at the same time understood that it was not totally favorable to his daughter. She tried to help him also, but he resisted every attempt to help him. The point must be made that he could have responded to the help, but it was much too difficult to face what he had become.

The blind and disabled in Jerusalem where Jesus was ministering knew about the Sheep Pool. They believed that when the waters bubbled up, it was an angel of the Lord who was present, and the first one to get into the pool would be healed of whatever sickness they had. Most could never reach the Pool in time when the waters were stirred, and so they were doomed to lie in the place forever with no one caring for them. Jesus, always aware of those who were most in need, knew about the Pool as well. And so, in time, he came to the Pool to help and care for the ones who needed it. Without being asked, John the evangelist records that Jesus went directly to a man in need. Why did Jesus choose that particular man? Were there others there that needed his healing touch? The evangelist chooses not to answer those questions. He simply makes it obvious that Jesus knew what that man needed. The man wanted to be healed, but perhaps more than anything, the man needed someone who cared for him, and would take the time to help him. Jesus was open to the man and took care of his illness. In the movie “Leave No Trace,” Will had PTSD with very little hope for a cure, mainly because he was incapable of asking for it. The point must be made that he could have been cured. It may have taken time and his own effort, but he could have been healed. Just as the person who had been ill for a long time in John’s Gospel, the grace of the Lord was present in such a way, that he could have been made free of his ailment. But it would take time, a lot of time.  Will was not able to accomplish that in his understanding of things. Perhaps the lesson to learn here is that we are all called to help people who seem to have given up. In the movie, Tom was not able to bring it about, but she kept trying. The movie closes with that thought in mind.

PRAYER Good and gracious God, there are many people who will never be cured here on this earth. We will run into them from time to time. Give us the grace to truly love them and care for them in whatever way we can.  Be with us, we pray.

+++++GUIDELINES FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT Theme: People with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and other serious illnesses can be treated with kindness.  DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: (session: approximately 51 minutes) 1. What scene during this session Is most striking to you and why? 2. What does the movie “Leave No Trace” teach young people today? 3. Why is it so difficult to treat anyone with PTSD? 4. In your opinion, could young people help their parents who have something like PTSD? 5. From what you know, what is the best way to treat PTSD? 6. Every one who is seriously ill can be treated with kindness. In what areas of sickness in our world in particular can young people help with their kindness?