[media presentation below] GospelThink Wednesday, January 3 JOHN 1:29-34 John the Baptist became aware of who I was. Prayerthoughts a. John sees Jesus, pointing him out as the Lamb of God. Do I try to recognize how Jesus and God are working in the different things that have happened to me, especially recently? b. John readily admits that Jesus is more important than he is. Do I resent people who are or who think they are more important than I am? c. In John’s Gospel, John did not know Jesus, but he knew that he was to prepare for Jesus’s coming. Do I prepare for the Lord’s coming by the way that I lived say yesterday? d. The Spirit was with the Lord and “remains” with Him. Have I addressed the Holy Spirit enough in my prayers asking for direction to my life? (This is the “task” of the meditation.) e. John testified that Jesus is the Son of God. We believe that fact also, but are we showing it to the people around us? f. My prayerthoughts….   Today, I will write a prayer carrying out letter d. Some Thoughts on the Liturgy KNOWING AND RECOGNIZING JESUS  + Twice in the Gospel today John the Baptist mentions his failure to know who Jesus was         – it is good for spiritual lives to try to get into John’s mind to see why he didn’t know him when it seems that he definitely should have                 – perhaps his problem was not so much in knowing him as it was in recognizing him  + I’d like to suggest to you that there is a spiritual difference between knowing and recognizing God’s presence         – knowing about God’s presence implies a knowledge that doesn’t necessarily move us to do anything about the knowledge         – recognizing God’s presence in our world implies some type of action that comes from the knowledge, that is–something must happen as a result of the knowledge                 – for example, I might know that love is necessary to help some situation that I am involved in                         – it is something else for me to recognize that it is up to me to show the love that is necessary    + Knowing the presence of God in our lives part of the thought of the first letter of John, our first reading today          – the author saying that the world did not know Jesus + We have a Baptist Church in my hometown in West Virginia whose pastor used to place sayings that are somewhat controversial on the billboard of his Church         – a couple of summers ago, on one Sunday, his saying read:         “I can’t recognize Jesus because he looks too much like my mother-in-law.”         – translated, it means that we can’t really recognize God’s thoughts when things are not the way we want them  + The fact is that we often become too concerned about our own situations to consider what Jesus/God has to say         – we get all wrapped up in what we think of others or other situations, what’s going on in our own lives                 – and we miss our chance to be better spiritual people, and in fact, may even become evil         – we must recognize God’s presence more in all of our situations no matter what they are  + John the Baptist did not know Jesus for some reason         – whatever caused it, the fact was that someone as holy as John did not recognize Jesus Christ                 – it is a lesson for all of us: perhaps we are not recognizing Jesus as much as we should, even though we are worshiping him right now. MEDIA PRESENTATION Song: “Pumped Up Kicks” — Foster the People ATTACKING THE VIOLENCE The Gospel LUKE 22:35-38 [Jesus] said to them, “When I sent you forth without a money bag or a sack or sandals, were you in need of anything?” “No, nothing,” they replied. He said to them, “But now one who has a money bag should take it, and likewise a sack, and one who does not have a sword should sell his cloak and buy one.  I tell you that this scripture must be fulfilled in me, namely, ‘He was counted among the wicked’; and indeed what is written about me is coming to fulfillment. Then they said, “Lord, look, there are two swords here.” But he replied, “It is enough!”

Gospelthink: There is violence in this world, and you must face it. Do I control my own temper in the matters of this world?

“Robert’s got a quick hand. He’ll look around the room, he won’t tell you his plan. He’s got a rolled cigarette hanging out his mouth; he’s a cowboy kid. He found a six shooter gun in his Dad’s closet hidden in a box of fun things, and I don’t even know what. But he’s coming for you, yeah he’s coming for you. All the other kids with the pumped up kicks you’d better run, outrun my gun. All the other kids with the pumped up kicks you’d better run, faster than my bullet.”

According to Mark Foster, the leader of the group Foster the People, the song “Pumped Up Kicks” is about a troubled and delusional young person with homicidal thoughts. Attempting to get inside the mind of an isolated, psychotic young person, the lyrics of the song were written to bring awareness to the issue of gun violence in our youth culture which the group feels is close to an epidemic. Such an epidemic, Foster says, is brought about because of a lack of family, lack of love and isolation. Jesus realized the violence of his day which might be somewhat comparable to the violence that we see around us, only with different weapons. He also realized that the weapons of violence had to be a last resort. In Luke’s Gospel, he tells his disciples to have swords handy because there were some who wanted to harm them, and they may have had to defend themselves. But in truth, as can be seen by the rest of the Gospel, Jesus was much more interested in helping those who needed help than he was in defending himself. That we are in violent times is hardly a point that must be proved. Songs such as “Pumped Up Kicks” realize it; our news reports show it all the time. Working with alarms and locks and the like, the fact that we often must defend ourselves is something that we live with daily. Something that every Christian must realize is that people get their “kicks” from hurting others or themselves. Violence exists in our homes, in our schools, or in the communities in which we live. It comes in the form of verbal and physical abuse, or revenge and retaliation, or simply being mean and unkind. We see it. We feel it. The Christian must not only be aware of the violence. The Christian must want to do something about it. Jesus was a pacifist in practice. He knew that he might have to defend himself, but his main interest was in eradicating the violence so that there would be no reason to defend or protect. Those who follow his teachings are called to do the same. Perhaps the Christian can do something about the lack of family, lack of love and isolation that cause evils like gun violence. Perhaps there are some things that the Christian follower can do in order to bring to fulfillment the perfect kingdom that Jesus wanted.

PRAYER Good and gracious God, your Son knew violence because there were those in his world that wanted to harm him and his followers. It was violence that finally killed him. Help us be aware of the violence around us, and give us the courage to want to do something about it. Be with us, we pray.

+++++ GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT Theme: Christians must be aware of the violence that is around us, and do what we can to prevent it. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. How do you feel about keeping guns and ammunition (in separate locked places) in the home? 2. In general, do you think that young people have greater access to guns than in years past? Yes or no and why? 3. Do you think that parents should teach their children how to fire a gun? Yes or no and why? 4. Text analysis: “He’s a cowboy kid.”  What is the meaning of the phrase? 5. Text analysis: “Kids with the pumped up kicks.” What is the meaning of the phrase? 6. In our world today, it is clear that guns in high school are a concern. In your opinion, what is the best way to take care of the problem? 7. Is gun violence a concern in your area? Yes or no and why? 8. In your opinion, are today’s young people more confused and “messed up” than in previous years? Yes or no and why? 9. Mark Foster of the group Foster the People believes that gun violence is at an epidemic stage. Do you agree? Yes or no and why? 10. What are the principal causes of gun violence? 11. It is Catholic doctrine that one can always defend oneself. What are the rules which should govern self-defense? (See Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, numbers 2263-2267.) 12. The meditation lists some forms of violence in our world today. What is the greatest act of violence that you know of? Why? 13. Given the fact that tragedies such as school shootings still happen, what can you do as a Christian to help eradicate them? 14. What does the song “Pumped Up Kicks” teach young people?