[media presentation below] GospelThink Saturday, July 2 MATTHEW 9:14-17 I give you some thoughts about fasting and my presence in your life. Prayerthoughts a. As we think of Jesus’s departure and his return on the final day, we are in that interim period now.  How do I fast?  Fasting can be more than fasting from food.  Do I fast from food, television, Internet, etc., by treating them with moderation in my life? b. Jesus gives a new meaning to fasting. It involves not the old idea of restraint, but the new idea of love of God. When I am asked to fast (by Church law), do I spend the time when I am fasting to turn to God in prayer? (This is the task of the meditation.) c. As I listen to the Lord speak of his death, I think of my own death.  As I study my life right now, am I preparing for my death by trying to correct my faults? d. The bridegroom, Jesus, is never taken away from us in the sense that the Lord is always with us. Do I acknowledge the Lord’s presence during the day as often as I should? e. Jesus’s approach to life is something new. How do I best describe the Lord’s law? f. New wine is poured into fresh wineskins. I must adjust my life to what the Lord wants. At this time in my life, what should I change the most according to Jesus’s law? g. My prayerthoughts….   Today, I will carry out letter b. Some Thoughts on the Liturgy  JESUS MUST BE CENTRAL  + It is generally recognized by Scripture scholars that this conclusion of the book of Amos was written much later          – and that the author, different from Amos, was predicting the end of the Babylonian Captivity                   – which with the book of Amos hasn’t happened yet          – this conclusion speaks of happier times and better days                   – those days were fulfilled in Jesus+ The importance of Jesus in our spiritual lives is once again brought to our attention in the Gospel          – when the groom is gone, that is when you fast                   – theoretically, then, since we have Jesus with us in the Eucharist, we do not have to fast                            – but it is a good reminder          – Jesus uses a couple of short parables as further discussion on what he is about to do                   – there is a separation here                            – a new and an old doctrine                                     – the new doctrine—Jesus’ doctrine—is to be preferred: new wine into new wineskins,                                              – then both the wine and wineskins are preserved  + As we await Jesus’ return in glory,          – we fast to remind ourselves of Jesus’s hold on us          – we recognize how central Jesus is                   – our devotion to the Eucharist                   – our devotion to the Word of God in Scripture  + We have to watch that all our devotions, as good as they are,          – always point to accepting Jesus more and more                   – along with what he said and did, with the intention of following him. MEDIA PRESENTATION Song: “Am I Wrong” — Nico & Vinz THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX The Gospel MATTHEW 14:15-21 When it was evening, the disciples approached [Jesus] and said, “This is a deserted place and it is already late; dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.” [Jesus] said to them, “There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves.” But they said to him, “Five loaves and two fish are all we have here.” Then he said, “Bring them here to me,” and he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the fragments left over—twelve wicker baskets full. Those who ate were about five thousand men, not counting women and children.

Gospelthink: I was moved with pity and compassion for the crowds. Am I a compassionate person trying to bring about love among my friends?

“Am I wrong for thinking out the box from where I stay? Am I wrong for saying that I choose another way? I ain’t trying to do what everybody else is doing just ‘cause everybody doing what they all do. If one thing I know, I’ll fall but I’ll grow. I’m walking down this road of mine, this road I call home. So am I wrong for thinking that we could be something for real? Now am I wrong for trying to reach the things that I can’t see. Am I tripping for having a vision? My prediction: Ima be on the top of the world. Walk your walk and don’t look back.”

Sometimes the solution to a problem is rather obvious and does not take much thought. Sometimes there seems to be no solution to a particular problem or a difficult situation except to give up completely. Sometimes the solution to the problem is the not the best solution. Consequently, it is important to spend time concentrating on just what the solution could be. Often if we think in terms of a solution “outside the box,” that is, one that is not usually considered, we may find a solution that we ought to try. The Apostles only thought of one solution to the problem of feeding the hundreds of people who were with them, and that was the usual one of buying enough food for all of them. They knew that they could not do it, and so that told Jesus to dismiss the crowds. But Jesus was able to think in a different way from his Apostles, and ultimately was able to feed the crowds with leftovers even. In terms of Nico & Vinz’s song “Am I Wrong,” Jesus chose “another way” and accomplished the solution to the problem. Jesus was able to think “outside the box.” One of the important ideas of leadership is the idea of fresh thinking or the ability to view the problems of life from a different point of view. It involves trying to determine the cause of the problem or that which is making a situation difficult and looking at it in a way that is not the same way as everyone else. When we are able to accomplish it, the chances are that we will discover something new about the problem or situation.  It is an avenue of discovery, often bringing about solutions that were never considered before. We often face very difficult problems and situations in the course of our lives. Perhaps we must spend some time outside of our “comfort zone” and think about the solutions in an entirely different way.

PRAYER Good and gracious God, your Son was able to think about problems from a different point of view while he was with us on this earth. Give us the grace to carefully consider the problems we have in such a way that we can consider all of the possible solutions. Be with us, we pray.

+++++ GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT Theme: Some of the solutions to our problems may lie outside our normal way of thinking. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. The Gospel passage is usually considered to be a passage that calls to mind the Eucharist. What is the meaning of the Eucharist for a Christian? See Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, numbers 1322-1344. 2. “Five thousand men” can be an exaggeration. Why would the evangelists use exaggeration when they described certain scenes of the Gospel?      3. Text analysis: “Thinking out the box from where I stay.” What is the meaning of the phrase? 4. Why does the person in the song describe his way as “home” to him? 5. Text analysis: “Tripping for having a vision.” What is the meaning of the phrase? 6. What does it mean to be “on top of the world”? 7. Give an example of “thinking outside the box.” 8. What is the best way to determine a solution “outside the box”? 9. In your opinion, how do you define “fresh thinking”? 10. In your opinion, what does the idea of “comfort zone” mean? 11. What does the song “Am I Wrong” teach young people?