[media presentation below] GospelThink Saturday, May 13 JOHN 15:18-21 I have chosen you out of the world. Prayerthoughts a. “Hated” is strong word in English. The Lord is getting across the fact that people did not  agree with him and showed it in their actions. There should be no one that I actually “hate.” In my life, right now, are there some people that I should show more kindness toward? b. The world, that is the people against Christianity, are at odds with me because I follow Jesus. Is it clear from my actions that I am following the Lord? c. Jesus has told me that “no slave is greater than his master.” Therefore in my actions, I should reflect the characteristics of Jesus. When other people judge me, do they see the person of Jesus in me? d. Other people judge “Christianity” by the way I behave. That should have an influence on my behavior. e. My prayerthoughts…   Today, I will read the Acts of the Apostles, cheaper 16 and write an important thought from it. Some Thoughts on the Liturgy BELONGING TO GOD / FOLLOWING THE SPIRIT OF JESUS  + One of John the evangelist’s favorite distinctions is the distinction between those who belong to the world and those who are “out of the world”, that is, those belonging to God           – another way of saying it comes from how Luke described what happened to Paul in the Acts of the Apostles                      – Paul is on the second missionary journey                      – and Luke describes Paul’s actions as being controlled by Holy Spirit and what he called the “Spirit of Jesus”                                – I think that that is an interesting way of saying that things happened in a certain way                                          – the Spirit of Jesus allowed it to happen or didn’t allow it to happen                                          – in this case, the missionaries were so completely filled with the Spirit of Jesus that it didn’t matter what happened                                                    – they went with the flow and did what they could and the Spirit of Jesus remained with them                                                    – in that way, whatever they did was done in the Spirit of Jesus, and therefore was done well  + John the evangelist’s distinction together with Luke’s description can be expressed this way:           – when it comes to development of the spiritual life, there are two types of people:                      – those belonging to the world, that is those who do not follow the Spirit of Jesus                      – and those out of the world, or belonging to God, those who do follow the Spirit of Jesus           – it can easily lead to the question—what are the characteristics of those who belong to God, those who follow the Spirit of Jesus           – from the Liturgy today, we might see a couple of answers           1 – it is clear from the Gospel that those who belong to God or who follow the Spirit of Jesus           – will not have an easy time in the world                      – words like “hate,” “persecute”, “not knowing” are in Jesus’ discourse                                – which says that if people truly want to belong to God and accept the Spirit of Jesus as guide, then part of their destiny is rejection                                          – that is not a happy thought, of course                                                    – but the clear implication is that those who belong to God or those who pursue the spirit of Jesus will have the reward of God in their lives           2 – from the first reading, with Paul and Luke (who probably joined Paul and Timothy—“we” sections of Acts begins here for a while) on the second missionary journey, if we belong to God and are guided by the spirit of Jesus, we will be missionaries of sorts                      – our mission will be to spread the message of Jesus                                – obviously not in the sense of missionaries in a foreign land as Paul and Timothy and Luke                                – but as people committed to Jesus no matter what the situation—in word, in action, but especially in thought  + As the Liturgy does so often, we have an excellent question for meditation here           – do our actions show that we belong to God, that is, that we follow the Spirit of Jesus? MEDIA PRESENTATION Movie: “Jason Bourne” — final session A DIFFICULT LESSON The Gospel MARK 15:6-15 Now on the occasion of the feast he used to release to them one prisoner whom they requested. A man called Barabbas was then in prison along with the rebels who had committed murder in a rebellion. The crowd came forward and began to ask him to do for them as he was accustomed. Pilate answered, “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” For he knew that it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed him over. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas for them instead. Pilate again said to them in reply, “Then what do you want me to do with the man you call the king of the Jews?” They shouted again, “Crucify him.” Pilate said to them, “Why? What evil has he done?” They only shouted the louder, “Crucify him.” So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas to them and, after he had Jesus scourged, handed him over to be crucified.

Gospelthink: I suffered greatly because of other people’s selfishness. Am I too selfish in the way I act and speak?

David Webb discovered that he was made into the operative Jason Bourne to work with the CIA, but he did not know the circumstances behind the action. Through the help of others, he discovered that Robert Dewey, the CIA Director, was responsible for his father’s death. He decided to search him out, presumably prepared to take his revenge out on the Director. Meanwhile the agent called The Asset who was the real killer of his father as ordered by Dewey, was trying to kill Webb because Webb had discovered the truth. When David found out he allowed himself to be overcome with revenge.

The classic case of revenge in the Gospels is given to us in the Passion accounts of the evangelists. Mark in his account specifically mentions that it was out of “envy” or revenge that the chief priests stirred up the crowd to shout for the release of Barabbas and the death of Jesus. The chief priests felt that Jesus had treated them wrongly, and they wanted to “get back at him” in some way. They caused his death. Too often we see exactly that–death because of revenge–portrayed in the media of our day. We want to see “justice” done, even if people must take it into their own hands, and bring about someone’s death. The feeling is even stronger when revenge will take the life of someone who had  tried to kill them in the first place. Such is the case with the movie “Jason Bourne.” Bourne had been treated unfairly from the very beginning of his association of the CIA, and when he had a chance to get back at the people responsible, he took it. Our human natures react to injustice very strongly, especially when it is a personal thing. We do not like to be treated unfairly, and when we are, we want to “get back at” the other in some way. Jesus addressed that feeling in his life, telling us that there is to be no revenge, no matter what. Then he lived it out as he suffered at the end of his life. It is a difficult lesson, but one that every follower of Jesus must learn.

PRAYER Good and gracious God, Your Son showed us the very difficult lesson of not showing revenge on those who mistreated Him. Give us the grace to learn His lesson especially when our human feelings tell us to be revengeful. Be with us, we pray.

+++++GUIDELINES FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT Theme: The revenge that is presented by the media does not help us be better people. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: (session: approximately 61 minutes) 1. What scene during this session of the movie is most striking?  Why? 2. In general, why is “jealousy” and “envy” wrong? 3. Is it true that “most people” act at times “out of revenge”? Yes or no and why? 4. The meditation identifies “envy” with “revenge.” What is the difference between the two? 5. Certainly the most difficult time not to show revenge is a time when we or someone close to us have been hurt by another. In that situation, do you think that most Christians refrain from revenge? Yes or no and why? 6. In general, do Christians want to follow Jesus’ direction and example not to show revenge? Yes or no and why? 7. What are good points of social media? What are the bad points? 8. Scene analysis: In your opinion, was Heather Lee honestly wanting to help Bourne? Yes or no and why? 9. Instead of killing The Asset or Dewey, was there another option for Bourne? Yes or no and why? 10. In your opinion, does the desire to go higher in an organization always occupy the mind of people in authority in that organization? Yes or no and why? 11. What does the movie “Jason Bourne” teach young people?