[media presentation below] GospelThink Monday, April 17 JOHN 3:1-8 I explain the idea of being “born again.” Prayerthoughts a. It is significant that Nicodemus was a “ruler” and yet was asking for an explanation of something he did not understand. In my speech, am I open to the fact that others can teach me something? b. It is clear that people have “God with them” as Nicodemus speaks about Jesus. Do I tend to think of people with the thought that God is with them? c. The Greek word for “from above” can also be understood as the thought of “again.” Nicodemus speaks from the thought of “again” and therefore misunderstands Jesus.   Nicodemus is humble enough to search for an explanation. Do I admit it when I do not understand something? d. If I want to be part of the eternal kingdom, I must be “born again” through Baptism and the Holy Spirit. Am I acting “born again” with my attitude? e. The Spirit is always active in my life just like the wind that blows. I need to be more aware of the Spirit alive around me in everything that happens, realizing that the Lord is always active in my life. f. My prayerthoughts…   Today, I will read from the Acts of the Apostles, chapter 4:21-31 and write an important thought from it. Some Thoughts on the Liturgy  ACTING LIKE WE ARE BAPTIZED + Studying the directives of Jesus in the Gospel, speaking to Nicodemus, we have in fact been born again– our Baptism          – begotten of water and the Spirit          – the question of spirituality: has this adjusted our lives like it should                   – that is, do we act like we are born of water and the Spirit?  + Part of what that means comes from the first reading which is a continuation of the presentation of the Acts of the Apostles          – looking at the historical situation                   – and in particular the prayer of the early disciples after their first brush with opposition that later was to take their lives          1 – part of our prayer and life should have to do with seeking assurance from God          – the disciples’ words: “take note of their threats…”, that is, help us understand God’s presence in whatever happens                   – that is, learning to look at the world, even the bad things that happen as one continuous sign from God                            – God is speaking to us                                     – God’s power in nature                                     – God’s power in the working out of things in life                                              – learning to see that God is directing how things always come to a good final goal          2 – speaking God’s word                   – “They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.”                   – this is a common application to the readings of every day                            – it involves speaking God’s word directly at times                                     – “this is what God wants” said in whatever circumstances                            – but especially it involves speaking God’s word “indirectly”                                     – the way that we talk and act                                              – but especially in the way that we think                                                       – so that we begin to truly think as a holy person  + We are baptized, or born again          – that should do something profound to our lives. MEDIA PRESENTATION Song: “The A Team” — Ed Sheeran IT IS NEVER “TOO COLD“ The Gospel MATTHEW 28:1-10 After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, approached, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. His appearance was like lightning and his clothing was white as snow. The guards were shaken with fear of him and became like dead men. Then the angel said to the women in reply, “Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ Behold, I have told you.” Then they went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce this to his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

Gospelthink: Jesus is risen! We should always act like his disciples.

“White lips, pale face, breathing in snowflakes, burnt lungs, sour taste, lights gone, day’s end, struggling to pay rent, long nights, strange men. And they say she’s in the class A team, stuck in her daydream, been this way since 18, but lately her face seems slowly sinking, wasting, crumbling like pastries. And they scream, the worst things in life come free to us ‘cause we’re just under the upper hand and go mad for a couple of grams, and she don’t want to go outside tonight, and in a pipe she flies to the Motherland or sells love to another man. It’s too cold outside for angels to fly.”

Ed Sheeran explained his song “The A Team” this way: “A drug like crack cocaine is called a “Class A” drug. That’s in the same category as heroin. Instead of making it clear and just saying what the problem was, I’d say, ‘She’s in the ‘class A’ team.’ It was kind of my way of covering up (a person’s addiction), I guess, making it a bit more subtle.” He explains further that the song came from an experience that he had when he sang at a homeless shelter. “I was 18 at the time and kind of quite naïve,” he says. “So, I was a bit taken aback by some of the stories that I heard. I got home that night and I just wrote a lot of the lyrics. I wanted to write it so it sounded kind of upbeat, so you wouldn’t really know what it’s about, because it’s quite a dark subject.” Not only is the song dark because of the situation he is describing, but it is likewise depressing in that there seems to be no way out of the experience. “It’s too cold outside for angels to fly,” he sings, as if to say, that even angels had given up.Interestingly enough, however, he allows the music to say that there is hope by making the sound of the song, as he says, be “upbeat.” A Christian always has hope. That which gives such hope is Jesus’ Resurrection. The fact that Jesus rose from the dead proved that everything about him was true. He was indeed the Son of God, and therefore he could urge his followers, as he did so many times during his stay on earth, “Do not be afraid.” The Christian has nothing to fear. Part of our fear stems from our addictions. There are physical addictions in life as sung about in Ed Sheeran’s song, but in every one of our lives right now, there are some addictions to power or money or selfish desires that can hurt us, and often, as with the song, we can be led to despair. There seems to be no solution: it is even too “cold” for angels. The Christian response to despair is a continuous call to the One who told us that we should not be afraid. We know that He will help. We know that together with Him, we will win.

PRAYER . Good and gracious God, we believe that you raised Jesus from the dead, and that he is truly the Son of God. We always hope then that he will be with us, helping us no matter how difficult our lives become. Give us the grace to always make Jesus a true guide for us. Be with us, we pray.

+++++  GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT Theme: There are no hopeless situations for the Christian. THE GOSPEL 1. No one witnessed the Resurrection of Jesus nor does Matthew suggest that anyone did. He and the other evangelists tell only about the empty tomb and the appearances of Jesus. Why is the Resurrection of Jesus essential to the understanding of the Christian faith? 2. In your opinion, could the Christian faith “make sense” without the Resurrection? 3. What is most striking about the Resurrection account given here? Why?   THE SONG   1. Considering the description of the the lady on drugs as a whole, what is most striking of all of the phrases? Why? 2. Text analysis: “Stuck in her daydream.”  What is the meaning of the phrase? 3. Text analysis: “Just under the upper hand.”  What is the meaning of the phrase? 4. Text analysis: “Too cold outside for angels to fly.”  What is the meaning of the phrase? 5. Project: the presenter may want to make a presentation on the evils of drugs. 6. Why is the use of drugs considered a sin in the Catholic Church? See Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, numbers 2288-2291. THE MEDITATION 1. In your opinion, how prevalent is the “drug culture” in today’s schools? In today’s society? 2. What can be done for a young person who is “hooked” on some drug like cocaine or alcohol? What is the first step in such a process? 3. When is there no way out for a person who is “hooked” on some drug? 4. Give your definition of “hope.”  See Catechism, numbers 1817-1821. 5. Why do you think Jesus urged his followers to not be afraid? 6. The meditation mentions the possibility of many addictions in our society. What is the evil that is most addictive in the world? Why? 7. Why can a Christian have confidence in Jesus? 8. What do you think the meditation means when it says that “we will win.” 9. What does the song “The A Team” teach young people?