[media presentation below] GospelThink Thursday, March 9 LUKE 16:19-31 You should listen closely to the story about the rich and the poor. It is the poor person who is rewarded. Prayerthoughts a. Jesus sets up the ends of a continuum in his story: a rich person at one end, and Lazarus the poor person at the other. I am somewhere in between. As I study my income and money, where am I on the continuum? b. In his story, Jesus exaggerates the status of the poor person. As I study my concern for the poor of the world, am I doing anything toward helping them? c. Jesus gives us a picture of heaven and hell. Am I actively considering my future home by the way I live? d. Jesus’s picture of the netherworld or hell is a place of torment, and the desire to have relief. What effect does this picture of hell have on me? e. Jesus’s picture of heaven is a picture of comfort and peace. What effect does this picture of heaven have on me? f. Jesus’s picture of the chasm between heaven and earth is the picture of loneliness for the person in torment. What effect does this picture have on me? g. The rich man wants to warn his family about the place of torment in which he is suffering. Obviously, I don’t want my family to be in hell. What can I do to help them? h. Jesus tells us in the story to listen to Scripture, especially to him, the person that has risen from the dead. Am I spending enough time listening to the Lord in my life? i. Jesus comments on how people listen to the prophets and him in this world in which we live. Perhaps a prayer right now is in order for people of our world to acknowledge the Lord’ presence in their lives. (This is the task of the meditation.) j. My prayerthoughts…   Today I will carry out the thought of letter i. Some Thoughts on the Liturgy  LOOKING AT WEALTH  + The contrast set up in the reading from Jeremiah is a good one to learn from:             – the one who trusts in human beings—barren bush—finds emptiness, and is cursed             – the one who trusts in the Lord—a tree with water—bears fruit even in the year of drought, and is blessed  + The person who trusts in the Lord will understand the meaning of wealth in his/her life             – studying the Gospel in particular:                         – the rich man and Lazarus did nothing wrong or right                                     – they simply had money or didn’t                         – Luke is the only evangelist who reports this story                                     – showing Luke’s feeling for the poor and his desire to make the downtrodden be important  + There are some important conclusions from the Gospel:             a) there is a need for concern for the poor in our lives                         – often the poor can do nothing about their plight                                     – they can’t get money because they can’t get a decent job because they don’t have money to educate themselves to have a decent job                                     – we are obliged as Christians to give to the poor, especially the money they need, as much as we can                                                 – there are a number of different programs where we can give money: food pantries, United Way, the Bishop’s collections during the year. etc.             b) there is a need for concern if we have more than what we need                         – the Gospels, and therefore Jesus, especially in Luke’s Gospel, but the others as well, “hit” people with money pretty hard                                     – probably the idea of “rich” is defined by the thought of having more than we need                                                 – we have to take to heart what Jesus has said about riches                                                             – and consider whether we need a change of heart in that area             c) in order to live well, we have to heed Moses and the prophets                                     – translated to Christianity, heed what Jesus said and why he said it                                                 – here: looking at our riches, and our motivation concerning those riches, recognizing that we really do have to listen to the one who has risen from the dead, namely our way and truth and life, Jesus. MEDIA PRESENTATION Song: “Driver’s License” — Olivia Rodrigo GUESS YOU DIDN’T MEAN IT The Gospel MATTHEW 26:31-35 Then Jesus said to them, “This night all of you will have your faith in me shaken.”… Peter said to him in reply, “Though all may have their faith in you shaken, mine will never be.” Jesus said to him, “Amen, I say to you, this very night before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” Peter said to him, “Even though I should have to die with you, I will not deny you.” And all the disciples spoke likewise.

Gospelthink: Peter, overcome by the danger of the moment denied me even though he said he would not. Do I deny the Lord by not following through on my commitment to Him?

“I got my driver’s license last week, just like we always talked about ‘cause you were so excited for me to finally drive up to your house. But today I drive through the suburbs cryin’ ‘cause you weren’t around. And you’re probably with that blond girl who always made me doubt. I know we weren’t perfect but I’ve never felt this way for no one and I just can’t imagine how you could be so okay now that I’m gone. Guess you didn’t mean what you wrote in that song about me, ‘cause you said forever; now I drive alone past your street.“

Most of the songs of our day speak about love, and almost always there is an idea of commitment that runs through them. Our world doesn’t do well with commitments. Ruled by selfish human natures, people of our world too often make what might be called “temporary permanent commitments.” Such commitments are a contradiction, of course, but they are so much easier than “permanent permanent commitments.” Granted that there are legitimate exceptions in which permanent commitments should be abandoned, but one wonders whether there should be as many exceptions as there are. Of course, the answer to the idea of commitment comes before the commitment is made. People must spend time and study on questions like “Are you willing to say and mean ‘forever’?”; “Do you know what you are getting into?”; Are you aware of the scope of ‘for better and for worse’?” Case in point, the song by Olivia Rodgrio, “Drivers License,” and this line in particular: “Guess you didn’t mean what you wrote in that song about me, ‘cause you said forever. Now I drive alone past your street.” The rest of the song displays the pain that the lady in the song feels. Peter the apostle learned such a lesson the hard way. He was very bold in his prediction of the future. He was convinced that Jesus was the Lord. He knew that he loved Jesus as his God, and therefore he was certain that he would never deny him, even if other people’s faith in him had disappeared. In fact, his brother apostles said the same thing. But, their talk was cheap. In the end, Peter and most of the disciples disowned Jesus when he suffered the unjust punishment given by the Romans. The situation of Olivia Rodgrio’s song, and indeed the situation of Peter the Apostle, is a difficult one for a human being, and the point is that the human being may use the word “forever” or “never” or “always” and not mean it. Those words are significant words in our vocabulary. If we say them, it must convey what they mean. A person simply cannot say those words in the heat of the moment of love, and then forget about it.  We must listen closely to the pain of the lady in Olivia Rodgrio’s song, and hear her say, “Guess you didn’t mean what you wrote.”

PRAYER Good and gracious God, we use words to communicate with you and with others. Often we say words that do not carry with them the necessary actions. Give us the grace to understand the meaning of the words we say to you and others, and give us the courage to follow through with what we say. Be with us, we pray.

+++++ GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT   Theme: People often say “forever” to a relationship but they don’t really mean it. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. What does the song “Drivers License”  teach young people today? 2. In the Gospel, Jesus tells the Apostles that their faith in him will be shaken. What are the things in life that disturb us the most even though we still have faith in Jesus? 3. All the Apostles spoke as Peter did, saying that they would never deny Jesus. It is easy to agree with a group of friends, especially when they are saying correct things. Why is it so difficult to disagree with your friends? 4. The circumstances of the song suggest that the relationship is about to end. What is the best way to close a relationship with a boyfriend or girlfriend? 5. In your opinion, what are the most important characteristics of the art of communication? 6. Why do people get divorced? 7. How should people deal with the pain of a breakup or being rejected by another?