[media presentation below] GospelThink Tuesday, February 21 MARK 9:30-37 I was trying to think of my future and all the Apostles could do was to think of their own importance. So I gave them an example of a child. Prayerthoughts a. In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus predicts three different times that he will undergo his Passion and will rise from the dead. What makes this one different is that “human beings– men” will kill him. In what ways have I “killed” him by my attitude toward others whom the Lord told us were really himself: “Whatever you do to others, you do to me.” b. Jesus goes to a house, perhaps his house in Capernaum. Where do I spend the most time in my life, perhaps called in a sense “my home”?  How would I describe my behavior around those I know the best? c. Do I get into too many arguments with others, perhaps being too passionate about my beliefs and not letting another have their say? d. It is unbelievable that the Apostles would actually talk about who was more important than another Apostle. In my thinking, do I consider myself to be more important than  others? e. The Lord wants me to be a servant while being the least. In what ways am I showing myself to be a servant to others? f. Jesus obviously respects children. As I study the children that I am around a lot, do I show them the attention that they crave? g. “A child such as this.” The Lord wants us to be “like children,” as he says in a couple   places in the Gospel. Most of all, probably, children are dependent on someone. Jesus wants us to be truly dependent on God. Do we acknowledge our love and dependence on God enough? h. My prayerthoughts…   Today, I will be especially kind to the children I meet. Some Thoughts on the Liturgy  A CHRISTIAN MUST BE A SERVANT  + As one studies the Apostles and how they reacted to Jesus, and when we hear the evangelist Mark say: “they did not understand …, and they were afraid to question him”             – we have to conclude that the Apostles needed a lot of direction and education during their training                         – one of the ways that Jesus taught them is given to us at the end of the Gospel reading today—what might be called education by observation                                     – Jesus “uses” in a sense the child as he takes him/her and places his arms around the child                                                 – Jesus wanted them to observe him so that they could learn something themselves  + And the thing that he taught them with the child was the whole thought of service             – that which the disciples observed him do                         – was that he was kind to a child             – and then said in effect:                         – children need direction and they need support                                     – a person who will get nothing for what they do because often children generally do not say “thank you” or do not give anything back                                                 – a Christian, a follower of mine—Jesus would say—must be someone who shows service to people like these who will not return anything  + There are two things to consider with that Gospel story:             – one is the idea of service itself                         – service is of essence for the Christian                                     – being called great, or being given recognition is not important at all             – it is the way God works with us                         – the Book of Sirach calls us to serve the Lord because the Lord has served us                         – Jesus says to the apostles who were discussing how great they were:             If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.                         – serving others in some way is the essence of a Christian disciple, and essential in the disciple’s response to God  + And I think the second thing from that Gospel is that the idea of service is to be especially shown to the people who need it most—children             – children absolutely need the direction and guidance of concerned adults                         – parents, obviously                                     – but also grandparents, adult relatives, and older people, in general  + Jesus speaks a most important message for the people who want to inherit his Kingdom today—learn service—be the servant of all             – and treat children with care and direction. MEDIA PRESENTATION Song: “Shape of You” — Ed Sheeran FOLLOW MY LEAD The Gospel JOHN 3:14-16 Jesus said, “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.”

Gospelthink: I came into the world to save it out of love. Love should be my hallmark and those who know me should see that in me.

“Girl, you know I want your love. Your love was homemade for somebody like me. Come on now, follow my lead. I may be crazy, don’t mind me. Say, boy, let’s not talk too much. Come on now, follow my lead. I’m in love with the shape of you.”

The man in the relationship described in Ed Sheeran’s song “Shape of You” feels strongly that his relationship with another will work. He is at a bar, and the lady in the relationship comes it. They dance, and he sings his devotion to her, saying to her, “Come on, follow my lead.” It gives rise to the discussion about allowing ourselves to be led by another. Is it a good thing? Perhaps, sometimes. In romantic love, as in the song, we want the other person in the relationship to help us grow. It was with a much more profound love than any romantic love that God loved us. He gave us His Son to help us grow in our relationship with God, saying in effect that His Son is the only guide we need in life in order to possess God. Jesus then becomes our leader, and in terms of the love song by Ed Sheeran, God says to us, “Come on now, follow my lead.” Follow the lead that I give you that is, God the Son, Jesus. There are many things that human beings allow to lead them in life. We may be so much in love that we want the other in the relationship to lead us, as in the song. But we also allow other leaders–leaders that may be described as “possessing more and more material goods,” or “enjoying life no matter what” or “having my way in everything that happens.” Unfortunately, those leaders serve the guide of selfishness, and we neglect to see what is important in life. The leadership of Jesus Christ is the opposite of selfishness. The one who “believes in Him” learns the ultimate lesson of love. It is a love that reaches out to others, making other people important to us. It is a love that extends to all, including those that we love in a romantic way.

PRAYER Good and gracious God, You have given us Your Son as guide in our lives, saying that we should make Him our leader. May we truly accept your Son and all that he teaches, so that we may have eternal life with you. Be with us, we pray.

+++++ GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT Theme: Following the lead of another is good for us if the other is someone we can trust. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. What is your understanding of “eternal life”? (See Catechism of the Catholic Church, numbers 266-272.) 2. The saying “John 3:16” is often used by evangelical Christians at different events as a sign they hold up to remind people of the supremacy of Jesus. Do you think that displaying the saying is profitable? Yes or no and why? 3. Text analysis: “Let’s not talk too much.” Why would couples say this? 4. Text analysis: “Shape of You.” Do you believe that physical beauty is too often considered more important than other important elements in a relationship? Yes or no and why? 5. Do you think that “love at first sight” ever happens? Yes or no and why? 6.  In your opinion, do most Christians honestly follow the lead of Jesus? Yes or no and why? 7. Is it a true statement that we tend to follow the guide of “selfishness” too much in life? Yes or no and why? 8. Define “selfishness” as you understand it. 9. What does the song “Shape of You” teach young people?