[media presentation below] GospelThink Saturday, April 29 JOHN 6:60-69 There were many who did not believe this doctrine. I want you to believe and say as Peter did that I have the words of eternal life. Prayerthoughts a. What are the most difficult of all of Jesus’s teachings for me, and what has been my response  to them? b. Those words of Jesus in the Gospel are a major part of my spiritual life. Am I spending as much time as I should in developing my spiritual life? c. There are some who do not believe as we do. Jesus did not condemn them. Perhaps I   should adopt a new attitude toward believers who are different in belief than I am. d. I have been blessed by God in believing in the Eucharist and Jesus’s other major   teachings. Again, thanksgiving to the Lord is in order in my prayer today. e. We reply with Peter that Jesus has the words of everlasting life. What thoughts, actions and words should I work on to make them more indicative of Jesus’s influence? f. The apostles tell Jesus that they are convinced that Jesus is the center of their lives. We believe that Jesus is Lord for us. Do I go so far as to say, “I am convinced”? What should I do to show that I am more convincing in my words? g. My prayerthoughts… Today, I will read Acts of the Apostles, chapter 9:21-43 and write an important thought from it. Some Thoughts on the Liturgy  COMING TO BELIEVE  + There are two ideas that come from the readings today, both of which concern the thought of becoming a believer in Jesus             – one of them is the thought of Peter and his particular process of becoming a believer             – the other is the thought of coming to believe for all of us  + In the Gospel, we see Peter in the process of beginning to believe             – using strong words, words of real commitment                         – “we have come to believe”, “we are convinced”             – of course, he was in process because we know of his struggles later on as Jesus suffered and died                         – his denial and running away from the situation             – but he was to end by the grace of the Holy Spirit in the Acts reading                         – with complete trust in the Lord, total confidence because of him                                     – capable of miracles  + The application to us Christians is pretty easy             – we too are in process                         – we believe in the Lord, but we know that we also fail and have failed                                     – but our prayer is that we survive as Peter did                                                 – and become true believers in the Lord who are willing to follow him completely  + Secondly, that phrase of Peter’s in the Gospel —“we have come to believe”             – and a similar statement at the end of the Acts reading describing the early followers of Peter—“many came to believe”             – meaning—“we have done some serious thinking, and we have arrived at the conclusion”                         – the Gospel statement is after Jesus’ discussion of the Eucharist in John’s Gospel                                     – some people could not accept it, and left Jesus                                     – Peter says: we have carefully considered this, and have come to believe in you, concluding—“to whom shall we go”                         – in the Acts statement after Peter’s miracles                                     – people were trying to understand the world around them, how God was at work                                                 – and they finally conclude after seeing Peter’s miracles that they will believe  + The application here is that we have to be people who carefully consider what Jesus says and did             – by study, by reading, by prayer             – and come to the conclusion as Peter did in the Gospel—“to whom shall we go, you have the words of eternal life”                         – and then follow through with those words in our living  + Therefore, we have two thoughts to consider about coming to believe             – Peter’s evolving into who he was             – our own evolving into what we should be. MEDIA PRESENTATION Movie: “War Horse” — beginning session IN SELF-DEFENSE The Gospel LUKE 22:35-38 [Jesus] said to them, “When I sent you forth without a money bag or a sack or sandals, were you in need of anything?” “No, nothing,” they replied. He said to them, “But now one who has a money bag should take it, and likewise a sack, and one who does not have a sword should sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you that this scripture must be fulfilled in me, namely, ‘He was counted among the wicked’; and indeed what is written about me is coming to fulfillment.” Then they said, “Lord, look, there are two swords here.” But he replied, “It is enough!”

Gospelthink: I want my disciples to be prepared for whatever might happen in the future. Am I prepared for my death as well as I should be?

The brilliant screenplay of the movie “War Horse” writes sections of the history of World War I as if it were told through the eyes of one of the horses who is pressed into the service of the war. In a sense, Joey, the war horse, tells the story of both the English and the German sides of the war. In the beginning session of the movie, Joey is born, raised by a dedicated young person, and eventually brought to the war. He befriends another horse, Topthorn, and together they serve in the war. Throughout the session, it is clear how war alters the reality of human plans and disrupts the happiness that could have been present if the war had not happened. Whether human or animal, life will never be the same when war and hatred take over lives.

The Scripture passage cited is the one New Testament passage which can be taken to mean that Jesus advocated the use of a sword (or any other weapon) in self-defense. It has been discussed at length especially by those who feel that Jesus was a complete pacifist, namely, advocating no physical defense. Perhaps the best way to understand the passage is to say that Jesus gives a limited justification for fighting in self-defense. Fighting in a war, therefore, must fall under the category of “self-defense” and Christians will further refine their understanding of the need to fight and kill with the laws that Jesus gave us about love, especially love of enemies. Generally speaking, the wars that have occurred in our world have not been events in which Jesus’ commands were carried out well. They have been and continue to be (for those wars that are being waged right now) difficult times for a Christian to be a Christian. Difficult or not, however, for the Christian the principles of Jesus Christ must guide them. In the movie “War Horse,” the horse Joey moves in and out of situations caused by World War I. Considering a Christian application to those situations, the one thing that can be said is that whatever the event in which Joey was a part, the Christian human beings that made up the situation should have acted in a Christian manner. The fact is, of course, that many Christians did not act the way Jesus wanted his followers to act. The circumstances of war cause people to act in ways that they never would have planned. In truth, Christians must behave a certain way in every adverse circumstance. At all times, Christians are called to remember who they are.

PRAYER Good and gracious God, human beings have created much evil in your world. One of them is the evil of war. Give us the grace to practice your Son’s desires even in the face of extreme circumstances such as war. Be with us, we pray.

+++++ GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT Theme:  Ordinary human beings cannot do much to prevent war, but they must react in a Christian way to the circumstances caused by the war. In fact, they must act as Christians in every adverse circumstance. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: (session: approximately 68 minutes) 1. What scene during this session of the movie is most striking? Why? 2. As mentioned, there is a dispute over the exact meaning of Jesus’ words in the Gospel. One interpretation is that Jesus was speaking figuratively to alert the disciples to the seriousness of the struggle, and the disciples took him literally, producing two swords.  In that case, Jesus’ words “It is enough” means that they simply did not understand. How would you understand Jesus’ words? 3. Jesus is referring to his Passion and Death and later Resurrection that would come immediately in Luke’s Gospel. What is your understanding of why Jesus died and rose from the dead? 4. There was indeed persecution in the early Church. In your opinion, in your locale is there any persecution of the Church? Yes or no and why? 5. If Jesus were a pacifist, how would Christianity survive? 6. As you study the most recent wars, can you place any of them in the category of “self defense”? Yes or no and why? Choose the most likely of recent wars that was self-defense. Was the whole war justified in your opinion? Yes or no and why? 7. Practically, how can a soldier practice “love of enemies” during war? 8. If your family was killed in a war, what would you do, given that you are a Christian? Why? 9. The presenter may want to present for discussion some part of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, numbers 2258-2318 concerning the fifth commandment. 10. What is your feeling about “conscientious objectors”?  See Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, number 2311. 11. In your opinion, what is the worst part of war? 12. What are some circumstances other than war in which Christians have a difficult time remembering that they are Christians, followers of Jesus? 13. Scene analysis: Ted uses the rent money to pay for the horse. Using a budget is important for every family. Do you believe that most families spend money foolishly? Yes or no and why? 14. Analysis: Ted and Rosie obviously have a marital problem of poor communication. What are the most important characteristics of communication in a marriage? 15. Scene analysis: Albert puts the collar over his own head to show Joey what it consists of. Giving example is the best form of education. Do you believe that most adults teach young people by good example? Yes or no and why? 16. Scene analysis: Albert and Joey plow the field. Do you believe that most young people are willing to work this hard to bring about a good end? Yes or no and why? 17. Scene analysis: Albert and his mother talk about Ted’s service in the war. In your opinion, why do people not like to talk about their involvement in a war? 18. Dialogue analysis: Ted feels that God has given him more than his share of bad things. Do you believe that God “causes” bad things to happen to people? Yes or no and why? 19. Dialogue analysis: Rosie says to Ted–“I might hate you now, but I’ll never love you less.” What does this mean for a marriage commitment? 20. Analysis: the British feel that God is on their side as they attack the Germans. In war, can one talk of God being on one side more than another? Yes or no and why? 21. Scene analysis: Joey “teaches” Topthorn to accept a collar. Do you believe that animals and horses in particular, can teach other animals? Yes or no and why? 22. Scene analysis: Gunther and Michael are executed for their desertion. Is the punishment too severe? Yes or no and why?