[media presentation below]
GospelThink
Sunday, March 5, Second Week of Lent
MATTHEW 17:1-9
I tell you to “listen” to what I say.
Prayerthoughts
a. There are certain times during Jesus’ human life when his divinity “shines through” and the Transfiguration is one of them. In my life, where do I see the Lord’s presence most of all?
b. Elijah symbolizes all the prophets. In my life right now, where do I most need to be guided to do better?
c. Moses symbolizes the law. Which directive of Jesus is most important to me at the present time?
d. “It is good that we are here.” Jesus’ saying should encompass everything we do on earth. Do I have a positive attitude toward life?
e. How can I be more positive right now?
f. “Listen to him.” This is one of the top 10 most important directives from God in my life. Do I truly “listen,” that is, not only “hear” but desire to follow the Lord’s directives in every way?
g. They were very much afraid. When we truly sense the Lord’s presence in our lives, it can truly be incredible. In what area of my life do I most sense the Lord’s presence?
h. My prayerthoughts…
Today I will read 2 Timothy, chapter 1, and write
an important thought from it.
Some Thoughts on the Liturgy
OPEN YOUR EARS
+We had a high school teacher who loved to get our attention in a unique way. While we were taking a test or reading very intently, for example, he would suddenly slap the desk as hard as he could. We just about jumped out of our chairs, and then he would say something like, “Now that I have your attention.”
I look at the Transfiguration in Jesus’ life as one of those times. It is like God saying to us: “I want to get your attention because I’m going to say something today that is so important that I want you to never forget it.” And the point God was making was arguably the most important message in Sacred Scripture:
Listen to Him.
If we are to make the Christian life something personal to us, we have to listen to Jesus. But right there, we have a major problem in spiritual development. How do we listen to Jesus? Obviously, he is not talking to us as we are accustomed to. The standard answer is that Jesus talks to us in the Scriptures, and in ways other than spoken words. That is true, but I do not think that it is complete enough. What we need to do is to listen with complete attention, what might be called, with our ears completely open, with nothing to block what he says.
There is an English phrase that is used in the story about Stephen the Deacon in the Act of the Apostles that is worthwhile for us to think about. In chapters 6 and 7 of the book, Stephen is giving the Lord’s words to the scribes of the Sanhedrin, telling them to “listen.” He then goes on to give Salvation History up to that time, pointing out that the culmination of Salvation History is the person of Jesus Christ. The scribes did not agree with him, of course, and the Acts described what happened: “They cried out in a loud voice, covered their ears—and that is the point I would like to make: they covered their ears—and rushed at him together as one” (Acts 7:57).
They covered the ears—just the opposite of what listening is all about, I believe. Listening is opening our ears in every way we can to what is being said by another person. In Marriage Encounter, it is called the “repeat then reply” technique. That is, as we listen to what the other says, we take the time to repeat it, to get it right from the other’s point of view; then and only then do we reply.
Our problem with listening to Jesus may be nothing more than we do not want to listen because we do not like what he is saying. Jesus says some very strong words in the course of any Gospel reading and we must spend serious time to determine whether we are blocking what he is saying. Blocking because we do not like it or we do not want to go where he is suggesting. We ought to apply the “repeat then reply” technique to the Scriptures or the things that happen in our lives—deliberately spend time with the words the Lord is using, or spend reflection on just what is happening in our lives, and only then reply about what we should do.
Is there one rule that a person could give that covers the art of listening? Well, there may not be a better person to listen to than Mark Twain on that subject: he had an opinion on just about everything. He always seemed to capture the essence of the problem with his satire. His answer was very direct: “Stop talking.” “If we were supposed to talk more than we listen, we would have two tongues and one ear.” Even when we are supposed to be listening, we have a tendency to want to break in and give our own view. If we could hold our speech until after we have listened to someone else, we may not need to say anything at all.
MEDIA PRESENTATION
Movie: “Limitless” — final session
THE CHOICES WE MUST MAKE
The Gospel
LUKE 6:13-16
When day came, [Jesus] called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called a Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. |
In the movie “Limitless,” Eddie Morra gradually became aware of what the pill NZT-48 did to his body. Not only did it give him limitless ability in just about anything he wanted, but it also was addictive in that he wanted to remain limitless. Unfortunately, he discovered also that it gradually was killing him. His girlfriend Lindy had tried it once because she had to, and reminded Eddie that being invincible may seem wonderful, but it is not real. She points out to him that being invincible is in itself a drug: it will take over our minds, and in the end, will not help us at all. Eddie has a choice to make–stay on the drug or do something that would change his life without the aid of a drug.
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Jesus had to make some choices after he decided how he was going to preach the Kingdom of God to the world. Those choices were the occasion for further choices because he asked specific men to help him in his endeavor. Called by Jesus, the apostles had to deliberately choose to give up family and livelihood in order to follow him. One can easily imagine that the apostles made the decision only after they had discerned, possibly with their families, that it was the right choice.
The right choice is not always easily discernible. Often the choice is between what we want to do and what we should do. What we want to do often involves satisfying only ourselves, even though it may seem like we are being objective in our choices. In the movie “Limitless,” Eddie Morra finally learns from his friend Lindy what the final choice must be with regard to the miracle drug that he has taken. Eddie finally chose to stop taking the drug and instead determine how to live the way he wanted without it.
The world in which we live has been labeled by many as a “drug society.” Not only have illegal drugs made a significant entry into our day-to-day living, but legal drugs play an important part in our physical well-being as well. Often even legal drugs lead to further problems. We are called to make choices concerning those drugs.
In fact, we must make choices all the time. Our Christian guide for those choices must be the example of people like Jesus and his Apostles. They teach us to make the choices, but always to make them with the intention of bringing about what is right and good.
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GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT
Theme: In our choices, we must always choose what is right no matter what the cost.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(session: approximately 49 minutes)
1. What scene during this session of the movie is most striking? Why?
2. The Gospel passage immediately before this passage of the selection of the Apostles is the statement that Jesus spent the night in prayer. In general, do most Christians ask for God’s help when they make important decisions? Yes or no and why?
3. The word “apostle” comes from the Greek word meaning to “send out.” In what ways are Christians “sent out” to the world today?
4. Judas Iscariot is mentioned as “the traitor.” In your opinion, why did Jesus choose Judas?
5. A person’s conscience helps make the right choices in life. Project: Make a presentation about “conscience.”. See Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, numbers 1776-1794.
6. Why does “selfishness” always play a part in the choices that we make?
7. Is the label of a “drug society” true for the society in which we live? Yes or no and why?
8. Why do young people choose to take drugs?
9. What is the best way to help a person who is addicted to an illegal drug?
10. Scene analysis: The movie leads a person into thinking that Eddie could have killed someone while under the influence of the drug. From what you have seen in the movie, did he kill her? Yes or no and why?
11. Scene analysis: Eddie meets his ex-wife and sees what NZT-48 has done to her. Why do drug addicts often refuse treatment?
12. Scene analysis: Lindy takes the drug in order to escape. Do you believe that there are ever justifiable causes to take an illegal drug? Yes or no and why?
13. Dialogue analysis: Lindy tells Eddie that taking the drug makes one feel invincible, but it was not good for her. Why would “feeling invincible” not be good?
14. Dialogue analysis: Carl to Eddie: “You do not know what I know because you have not earned those powers.” Why is his statement a true statement?
15. Dialogue analysis: Eddie, about to commit suicide, says that really we all want to live. What causes people to become so depressed that they no longer want to live?
16. Scene analysis: Carl tries to take advantage of Eddie thinking that Eddie is still dependent on the drug. Evil takes advantage of any opportunity. Where do you see the most evil in your world right now? Is there anything that you can do about it? If so, what can be done?
17. What does the movie “Limitless” teach young people? |
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