[media presentation below] GospelThink Sunday, December 31, The Holy Family LUKE 2:22-40 I grew up following the law of religious people. Prayerthoughts a. Mary and Joseph tried to follow the law for Jewish people as best they could. Do I follow the law of the Church as I try to live my life as a Christian?   b. The Holy Spirit was upon Simeon. Do I recognize that the Holy Spirit is at work in my life? In what way do I sense the Spirit at work in me? c. Death is, of course, a necessary part of our living. Have I accepted death as a true part of my living, welcoming it and praying for a good death? d. Simeon recognized that Jesus was the source of his salvation. How can I show better my appreciation for the redemption that Jesus has gained for me? e. Simeon tells Mary that there will be difficult times in her life. What are the principal difficulties that have happened in my life, and what can I learn from them? (This is the task of the mediation.) f. Anna was a true “Church person.” Have I done my best to help out in my parish? g. Luke says simply of Jesus’ early life that he grew and became strong. How well do I treat the children that I come into contact with? h. My prayerthoughts…   Today, I will carry out letter e. Some Thoughts on the Liturgy  THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY  + The topic the liturgy gives us today is “the family”          – my opinion: it is the single most important topic of our age                   – and according to many critics, it is very much in difficulty today          – what has happened?—why is the family, perhaps the most important part of society in jeopardy?                   – some Christian publications answer that question with very strong, accusing words  + One rather strong publication says this:          “Whose fault is it that our society finds itself in the moral mess it is in?  In all honesty I am compelled to respond: ‘It is the fault of the Church.’         “I think the Church has ignored its responsibility.  Far too often the message from the pulpit is about attending worship rather than addressing woes.”  + The fault lies in the Church, this publication says—the Church is the reason that there is a moral mess, that in particular, families are in the mess they are in—isn’t that an interesting point of view          – the author wanted to get across the point that we, the ministers in the Church, are not preaching strongly enough          – his thought is that we only talk about money and getting people and do not talk about what the real problems are                   – you may or may not agree          – if he is thinking of the Church as institution, organization, I believe he is wrong                   – our doctrine is pretty strong: we hear the message of Jesus Christ every time we come in here; we listen to that strong message, which is quite challenging          – I will say this, though—if he is talking about Church as people, he may be correct                   – you and I might be ignoring our responsibility  + So, as we talk about family, the most important and by far the largest group in the Church, allow me to go out on a limb, and address some woes          – let me say a couple of things from a person who is celibate, is not raising a family, and only remembers a family that he was in many years ago, but someone who has spent a lot of time with students          – I believe that it is the obligation of the Church and every parish to speak especially to the families in our parishes who have young people in elementary, junior high or high school, and to the grandparents who influence those families    + And I think we should say to those families that they must do four things in particular:          – I believe that families must first of all, TALK                   – it is my opinion that, generally speaking, husband/wife; Mom/Dad simply do not talk enough on deep levels                            – lack of communication is not only the number one cause of marriage breakdown, communication is the number one way to bring about understanding among families          – I believe that there must be more DISCIPLINE as young people grow                   – not physical discipline so much as mental discipline                            – somehow our children must hear that there are certain things that we as Christians cannot tolerate          – I believe that families are spending far too much TIME making money and far too little time making family                   – I think that we are much too interested in material things          – and I believe they there must be real PRAYER in the family                   – generally speaking, they will hear about prayer in no other place and I fear that children do not see prayer in their home as much as they should  +  The publication concluded the article in which they accused the Church of shirking its responsibility this way:         “At no time in the history of our country has the need been greater for God’s people to oppose popular sin.  To pastors and other Christian leaders I offer a challenge: stand before the pharaoh of darkness which has swept across our country and in so doing, help lead a decaying society back to sanity.”          – I’ll say this: the pastor can stand before the pharaoh of darkness all he/she wants,                   – but if the family is not talking or following through with discipline or taking time together or praying, I’m afraid what I or the Church or any Church says will never lead anyone back to sanity                            – it is and will always remain up to the individual family. MEDIA PRESENTATION Movie: “Arrival” — final session IF YOU COULD SEE YOUR WHOLE LIFE… The Gospel LUKE 21:5-8 While some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, Jesus said, “All that you see here–the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down. Then they asked him, “Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen? He answered, “See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name saying. “I am he,” and “The time has come.”  Do not follow them.

Gospelthink: You do not know the future, nor should you worry about it. Am I showing by my life right now that I have chosen the Lord for my future?

Dr. Louise Banks began to learn that the aliens who had landed on earth’s soil were not interested in hostile intervention. They were primarily interested in giving to the world a chance to help earth’s understanding by allowing them to know the future. They themselves would be in need of humanity’s help in a number of years. Dr. Banks slowly learned the intention of the extraterrestrials, and as she figured out the language, discovered some future facts that would help the world. At the same time, she learned of a future that would not be pleasant for her own personal life.

In Jesus’ day, the talk of the parousia or the end of the world was strong. People felt that if they knew when the end would come, they would be better for it. So when Jesus spoke of the falling of the Temple, they thought automatically of the end of the world. They thought that it would be to their advantage to know when such an evident would happen. Dr. Louise Banks In the movie “Arrival,” asks an important question about the future that is in a sense the theme of the whole movie. She wondered whether knowledge of the future was such a good thing. It is important in the movie because the aliens were capable of giving a knowledge of the future for those who mastered their language. Dr. Louise Banks found that out as she began to understand the language. It was a good knowledge because it helped her prevent a global war, but at the same time, it allowed her to see something that she did not want to happen at all. Would it be good for us to know the future? Given the circumstances of Dr. Louise Banks and her place in history, it might be good for us to know what the future holds, but in reality would knowing the future be good? Would we be better prepared, or would we arrange things so that we always obtained what we wanted. The chances are that we simply would become more selfish by knowing what might happen. The Christian actually sees part of the future with his/her knowledge of Christianity. The Lord has told us that there will be an end of the world, a Second Coming as we know it. Knowledge that it will happen is more important than when it will happen, Jesus says. With such a knowledge, we understand that we must prepare ourselves better.

PRAYER Good and gracious God, You knew that we are always interested in the future. The only knowledge of the future that You gave us was that there will be an end of the world. Give us the grace to always prepare for it by leading truly good lives.  Be with us, we pray.

+++++ GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT Theme: There may be advantages to knowing the future.        DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: (session: approximately 52 minutes) 1. What scene during this session is most striking and why? 2. Answer Dr. Banks question: “If you could see your whole life from start to finish, would you change things?” Yes or no and why? 3. Scene analysis: Dr. Donnelly’s answer was that he didn’t know and that perhaps he would say what he felt. In the future, we know that he would break up with Dr. Banks. Are we always careful when we think of “forever” commitments? Yes or no and why? 4. Analysis: of course we have no idea when the end of the world will come. Do you think that the “end is near” as many religions say? Yes or no and why? 5. It is significant that the topic of the movie is “communication.” Why is “communication” so important for us as we live our lives? 6. The meditation suggests that a knowledge of the future should help us prepare more for a better life. In your opinion, if we knew the future, would that be the result? Yes or no and why? 7. In your opinion, do most Christians look at the end of the world as a help to make them be better? Yes or no and why? 8. What does the movie “Arrival” teach young people?