[media presentation below] GospelThink Thursday, January 18 MARK 3:7-12 There were so many people trying to touch me just to experience healing within themselves. Prayerthoughts a. The people in Jesus’ time came to him to listen and to be cured. Do I listen to the Lord’s directives even as I seek to be cured of an ailment? b. The people were “in pain,” some physical but mental as well. In my “pain,” do I try to “accept” that pain as what the Lord wants of me, even as I try to alleviate that pain in my life? c. The crowds were seeking to “touch” the Lord. Perhaps two applications here. Do I seek to “touch” the Lord the way I should, by seeking a solution to my problems by reading what Jesus said and did? d. Secondly, do I allow others to “touch” me, by giving them the time that they want and need? e. Jesus did not wish notoriety. Do I want people to notice me too much? f. My prayerthoughts…   Today, I will read Hebrews, chapter 7,  and write an important thought from it. Some Thoughts on the Liturgy  BEING A JONATHAN  + Jonathan is an interesting character in the study of David and Saul           – he was the son of Saul, and friend of David           – and he was a peace-maker who continually acted as a go-between his father and David                      – in terms of the Gospel, he was a person who tried to heal the difficulties that others had, a person who can be called a forerunner of Jesus  + Jonathan’s father Saul had been anointed king           – but Saul did not totally obey God                      – and when God told Samuel to also anoint David as the next king, Saul became very angry                                – he could have controlled it, but jealousy took over his life, and he wanted to kill David—and it became an obsession with him                                          – some scholars maintain that Saul had a mental disease of some sort, but whatever it was, he both loved and hated David                                                    – and in his hate, kept trying to kill him  + That made Jonathan’s work very difficult           – he realized what he had to do                      – he loved his father Saul and he loved his friend David           – it was a very tough position to be in,                      – but the thing to learn—Jonathan was able to help keep peace                                – in terms of the Gospel, he was able to heal  + In a sense, you and I are called to be “Jonathans” in our world           – that is, we are called to be peace-makers                      – trying not to become angry ourselves, trying to love everyone, trying to be people who really want to bring about peace in everything that we do           – and in terms of the Gospel, healers of a sort                      – we can’t heal the way Jesus did                                – but we can try to help people in a way that they will feel better about living in this world  + If we had more “Jonathans” in our world           – that is people who try to be peace-makers and healers                      – our world would be a lot better than it is right now. MEDIA PRESENTATION Song: “Stay the Night” / Zedd featuring Hayley WilliamsMADE TO BREAK…BUTThe GospelMARK 10:9-12[Jesus said:] “What God has joined together, no human being must separate.” In the house the disciples again questioned him about this. He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

Gospelthink: I am very clear about divorce. Do I agree with Jesus’ statement and why?

“I know that we are upside down, so hold your tongue and hear me out. I know that we were made to break. So what, I don’t mind. You kill the lights, I’ll draw the blinds. Don’t dull the sparkle in your eyes. Are you gonna stay the night; doesn’t mean we’re bound for life.”

Zedd and Hayley Williams’ song “Stay the Night” is the obvious invitation by the lady in the relationship for the significant other to stay the night. But because the relationship is in such a mess, he should not stay the night unless they are trying to work it out.  In the song, they are not trying to work it out—they only want the feeling of pleasure. The problem–as with most of the situations in which we should not do something–is that our human natures want to do it. We want the temporary moment when we will feel good, the passing sensation of well-being. And so, we let such a feeling dictate our behavior, and we end up doing something that we should not be doing. There are many instances in the Gospels that illustrate such a fact. One of them is at the very heart of Jesus’ teaching about marriage, one that goes against what human natures want. In the area of romantic relationships, we often find ourselves wanting the pleasure that comes from it without working at the commitment itself. We move too easily into what feels good without worrying about the future. Zedd’s song captures the image perfectly saying that the lady knows that they were “made to break,” but not to worry about it and just go for the pleasure instead. The song does not spell out the consequences of staying the night without working on the commitment. Often our human natures do the same thing. In pursuing pleasure, we forget about the pain that could come from it. As we pursue pleasure before commitment in preparing for a future commitment, we forget about possible further rejection and misunderstanding, or the revenge and even hatred if and when the relationship does not work out.  In the area of romantic relationships, Jesus knew psychology as well as theology. He was very clear that any follower of his must understand commitment when pursuing those romantic involvements. One must be concerned about working out a permanent commitment before pleasure. It is a difficult lesson, but it is one that our world should learn.

PRAYER Good and gracious God, your Son taught us about the pursuit of pleasure in relationships. Give us the grace to learn his thought when it comes to our own romantic desires and behavior. Be with us, we pray.

+++++ GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT Theme: There are some things that we should not do, but we do them anyway because we like the feeling they give. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. Jesus’ teaching on divorce in the Gospel  is obviously not a priority in today’s world. Why are there so many divorces? 2.  In your opinion, are there any good reasons for divorce? Yes or no and why? 3. What is the best way to prevent divorce among the married? 4. In your opinion, can the children of divorcing parents help their parents in any way? Yes or no and why? 5. Text analysis: “We are upside down.” What is the meaning of the statement? 6. The song brings up the topic of “sex before marriage” since “staying the night” often refers to sexual pleasure. What are the reasons why a Christian couple should refrain from such activity? 7. Jesus’ teaching is just the opposite of the song: if a person gives him/herself to another in complete  involvement, the action by its very nature means  that one is bound for life. Why is there no such thing as “casual sex” or “sexual intercourse without involvement”?   8. In real life, what is the best way for young couples to “work out” their difficulties? Why? 9. Project: the instructor may want to go through some instances of the Gospel in which human natures overcame what should be done, e.g., the Pharisees, Judas, etc. 10. Analysis: there are many young couples who give themselves to “sex before marriage”. If a couple really does not want to fall into this activity, what are the best ways to prevent it? 11. In your opinion, has the world learned the message of pursuing a permanent commitment before pleasure? Yes or no and why? 12. What does the song “Stay the Night” teach young people?