[media presentation below] GospelThink Thursday, January 11 MARK 1:40-45 I didn’t want to advertise the fact that I was helping people. Prayerthoughts a. The leper tells Jesus “if you wish.” He is saying to the Lord that it is Jesus’s decision and not his. In our prayer to our God, do I always add the thought that “if it is God’s will”? b. The Lord says to me as well that he wants to heal me, but it may be different from the way I want. Am I able to accept what the Lord sends? c. Jesus touched the leper, an action that was not permitted because of the law, but it was a sign of love. Do I show signs of “love” to others? Think especially of those that I see  every day. d. Jesus did not want to publicize the good thing that he had done. When I do something good, do I “brag” about it in some way to others? e. What is my opinion about why the leper publicized the miracle? It could have been that he was simply so overwhelmed that he had to tell someone. In what ways has the Lord “overwhelmed” me in my life? f. My prayerthoughts…   Today, I will read 1 Samuel, chapter 4 and write an important thought from it. Some Thoughts on the Liturgy  GOD’S PRESENCE IN OUR WORLD  + You can interpret the Gospel in two ways, I think             – one involves the understanding that the man healed of leprosy was directly disobedient to Jesus                         – instead of following the directions of Jesus, he went directly against them, setting up a very difficult situation for Jesus             – the interpretation that I prefer, however, is that the man healed of leprosy was so overjoyed with his new found life and thankful to Jesus that he simply had to publicize it,                         – God’s presence was an overpowering force, and he simply had to spread it to others  + Taking this second way of understanding the Gospel, and thinking about it             – there were two things that had to happen in order to feel overpowered with God’s presence                         – and both of them are important to us, I believe             – one of them is that he truly recognized the importance of Jesus in his life                         – or translated for us, that we recognize God’s presence in our lives             – it is easy to recognize God’s presence when it feels good for us                         – it is not so easy to recognize God’s presence when things don’t feel good                                     – that is the meaning of the first reading, I believe                                                 – we expected a good ending to the story                                                             – the Israelites brought the ark of the covenant, the word of God to the battle, the Philistines were very much afraid—their God was on their side—but the Philistines won the battle anyway with the exaggerated outcome—                                                                         – the good guys lost 30,000 men (not that many possible), that is, it was a resounding defeat             – and translated for us—God is present even when we lose, even when things don’t seem to go right  + And two, once we recognize God’s presence, in order to be overpowered by God’s presence, we have to publicize it in some way, as the leprous man did in the Gospel             – we have to state that God is alive in our minds and hearts                         – most of it is done by living our lives wherever we are with the fact that God is alive and well in our belief                                     – it is the Franciscan thought of preaching the word of God, but speaking only if necessary—living is the most important  + God is present in our lives and it should be an overpowering thought, so that we want to proclaim it to all             – but in order to proclaim it, we have to truly recognize God in everything that happens and we have to be willing to proclaim it by our actions. MEDIA PRESENTATION Song: “The Heart Wants What It Wants” — Selena Gomez THE HEART WANTS WHAT IT WANTS The Gospel LUKE 22:47-48 While Jesus was still speaking, a crowd approached and in front was one of the Twelve, a man named Judas. He went up to Jesus to kiss him. Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

Gospelthink: Judas my Apostle was a mixed-up man. In what ways do I show that I am betraying the Lord by my actions?

“There’s a million reasons why I should give you up, but the heart wants what it wants. The future that we hold is so unclear, but I’m not alive until you call. The heart wants what it wants. You got me scattered in pieces shining like stars and screaming but then you disappear and make me wait, and every second’s like torture, finding a way to let go. No, I can’t escape.”

Jesus had a great love for his chosen Twelve. They were his companions and his primary students. They were also the means that he used in order to spread his doctrine to those on the earth both during his time when he ministered and after he had risen from the dead. It must have hurt him very deeply when Judas betrayed him, a pain that is suggested in his question to Judas. At the same time, there was no doubt a significant amount of pain in Judas’ confused mind. Perhaps he thought that Jesus was not fulfilling what he had promised, and therefore felt that Jesus had abandoned him. Pain will always result when we love someone who does not love us in return. It is clearly the experience of modern day romantic love, when young people in particular are hoping for happiness with a partner who does not seem to respond. It is the case of the young lady in Selena Gomez’ song “The Heart Wants What It Wants.” She desperately wants the love of a boyfriend who apparently is not returning her love. The video to the song presents the picture clearly. The situation of young romantic love easily allows a study of such pain. But it is not the only place where one sees it. Young people feel it in developing personal friendships whether romantic or otherwise. Married people feel it when a spouse does not seem to respond the way he/she should. Seasoned adults often experience the pain from a trusted friend who seems to no longer care. One of the most difficult parts of human living is understanding that sometimes things will happen that we did not want or plan. It may even have been our fault without even knowing it, making it all the worse. We must learn from the pain, take some time to let the learning sink in, and then move on with life.

PRAYER  Good and gracious God, there is pain in life. It is part of our human experience–your Son felt it as we do. Give us the grace to understand any pain, correct our part in it if necessary, but then move on with your help. Be with us, we pray.

+++++ GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT Theme: Pain will always result when we love someone who does not love us in return. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. In the Gospel, Judas led the captors to Jesus, signifying an important role in the actual betrayal of Jesus. In your mind, why was Judas so intent on betraying Jesus? 2 .The kiss in Jesus’ time was a sign of endearment. As the meditation says, perhaps this is the reason it was so painful for Jesus. Do you feel that Jesus felt deep pain during his human life? Yes or no and why? 3. As far as you can from your study of the Gospels, describe the character of Judas. 4. Text analysis: “The heart wants what it wants.” What is the meaning of the sentence? 5. Analysis: Why do you think the lady in the song allowed herself to experience the pain, the “torture”? 6. Analysis: Why does she think that she cannot “escape”?   7. Do you agree with the meditation that Judas also felt a significant amount of pain? Yes or no and why? 8. Why do we want to hang on to a “love relationship” even though it is clear that it is over? 9. What is the best way to bring about a break up when it is necessary? 10. Obtain a copy of the video and study the pain of the young lady. 11. What is the best way for people to get away from the mental pain of a person who feels that he/she has been rejected by someone?  12. What does the song “The Heart Wants What It Wants” teach young people?