[media presentation below] GospelThink Wednesday, June 7 MARK 12:18-27 There is a resurrection of the dead. Prayerthoughts a. Quoting Deuteronomy 25:5, the Sadducees speak against the resurrection of the dead.  Obviously, I believe in life that is eternal. Do I think of my death in such a way as to prepare well for it? b. The religious leaders speak in a “flippant” way about marriage. If I am married, is my relationship with my spouse a good one? How can it be improved? If I am not married, am I treating everyone with the respect they deserve? c. Jesus uses the word “misled.” Do I consider the real possibility that I could be misled in my strong beliefs? Am I willing to question myself in a strong reflective way in order to find the truth? d. Jesus says that we will be like angels in heaven. In your opinion, what does that mean and why? e. Jesus reminds his inquirers that God IS and that God will ALWAYS be. In what areas do I see God most at work in my life and in the world? (This is the task of the meditation.) f. My prayerthoughts…   Today, I will carry out letter e. Some Thoughts on the Liturgy CORRECTING BEING “MISLED”  + The story of Tobit continues in the first reading:           – Tobit is close to despair, praying that the Lord deliver him, and somehow work things out or else let him die           – meanwhile Sarah in Media cannot consummate her marriage, trying to do it with seven different husbands, each of whom died before they had intercourse                     – so Sarah prays that somehow this could work out or else let her die (not contained in the reading here)           – both prayers were heard not in the sense of granting what they wanted—they both were in despair wanting death—                      – but in the sense that God is aware of what they needed, and was willing to grant them what they really wanted, namely                      – Tobit would be given his sight                      – Sarah would have a husband, driving away the demon           – in terms of the word in the Gospel, they were both misled by their sorrow and despair, and did not really know what they were asking  + In the Gospel, Jesus was very aware of what the Sadducees were trying to do           – and takes the time to give them the truth                      – what they really needed to know, namely that there IS a resurrection of the dead                                – saying that they were misled in what they were believing  + We might spend a few moments with the idea of being misled, and consequently praying or behaving wrongly as a result of being misled           – sometimes we are misled, that is, thinking the wrong way because of the circumstances of our lives                      – Tobit and Sarah’s plights, one blindness, the other marriages not working the way they should                               – life giving us things that we don’t particularly want           – what do we do?                       – they both pray for death, or in general—they open their minds to God                      – God hears our prayers, but knows what we really need           – in times of problems, our prayer should be more—I don’t understand what is happening in my life, but I trust in God to help me out  + Sometimes, we are misled, that is, thinking the wrong way because we have chosen to go a different path than we should go, as the Sadducees in the Gospel           – when that happens, we have to be open to the truth                      – find that truth by study or reading or whatever                                – and correct that which needs to be corrected in our lives  + When we are misled, we do things that are wrong           – what must happen, of course, is that we correct what has misled us                      – and we do that by trusting in God, praying for God’s help, and working toward a true understanding of what is happening in our lives. MEDIA PRESENTATION Song: “Levitating” — Dua Lipa featuring DaBaby A RIDE IN THE GALAXY The Gospel LUKE 7:36-48 A Pharisee invited [Jesus] to dine with him, and he entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. Now there was a sinful woman in the city who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee. Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment, she stood behind him at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and anointed them with the ointment. When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.” Jesus said to him in reply … “Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet, but she has bathed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with ointment. So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

Gospelthink: I forgave the repentant sinner who anointed me, while pointing out that there are people who insult me. Do I beg for forgiveness as I should and thus show great love?

“If you wanna run away with me, I know a galaxy and I can take you for a ride. I had a premonition that we fell into a rhythm where the music don’t stop for life, glitter in the sky, glitter in my eyes, shining just the way I like. If you’re feeling like you need a little bit of company, you met me at the perfect time. You want me, I want you. I’m levitating.”

Jesus experienced many relationships during his time with us on earth. Some of them might even be labeled as “romantic,” though not in the sense that Jesus showed a love leading to marriage, but there were no doubt some who experienced a deep love relationship with him. One of them was the lady in Luke’s Gospel. Luke describes her simply as the “sinful woman.” As one reads the story, it is relatively clear that the woman showed her love for Jesus, a love that could constitute a deep love relationship. She felt good about that love relationship, and it became a “teaching experience” for the apostles as her emotions of love led her–as Jesus said–to a “great love.” Dua Lipa’s song “Levitating” is all about the emotions of love and how they can guide a person toward true love of the other in the relationship. She is “levitating” she sings, that is, she is filled with the emotions of the moment, and it leads her to a rhythm of love where the music of love will never cease. It is a love that allows the feelings of love that the couple have to be a means to deeper love. Songs of any genre of music often speak of the emotions of love. Sometimes they can lead the couple to actions which can hurt the couple in the long run, leading them into premature commitments. But emotions can also lead the couple to an even greater love than their beginning feelings. Couples must study how their emotions of love affect each other. What should happen is defined by the “sinful woman” in Luke’s Gospel. She came to “great love” because of her emotions. In life today, couples in love must allow their natural feelings of love to direct them to a stronger love than they have already.

PRAYER Good and gracious God, your law of love is paramount in importance in our lives. Sometimes it is a romantic love with all the emotions that implies, and when it is, give us the grace to work with that love, directing it to a deeper meaning. Be with us, we pray.

+++++ GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT Theme: Feeling good about a relationship can help the relationship become stronger. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. What does the song “Levitating” teach young people?   2. In your opinion, are Christian people truly “forgiving” in their lives? 3. In your opinion, do most Christians show love of God and neighbor in their lives? 4. How long should “romantic love” last before a marriage commitment? 5. The meditation refers to times when romantic love can lead the couple to hurt one another. What are some examples that you can think of? 6. Not all good feelings about another leads to marriage. What is the most important element of love that must be present before a marriage?