[media presentation below]
GospelThink
Tuesday, August 1
MATTHEW 13:36-43
I explained to the Apostles and to you: the Kingdom will be made up of those
who have completely accepted the Lord.
Prayerthoughts:
a. We might want the explanation of Scripture scholars concerning some of Jesus’s sayings and stories. Perhaps we could invest in a commentary, for example, New Collegeville Bible Commentary or read all the footnotes for each passage located in the Bible.
b. I am part of the good seed that has been sown. Given my circumstances right now, what are the three good things that I do. How can I do them better?
c. What are the three evils in this world that I encounter? What can I do about them?
d. There are good and bad people in our world. Do I judge people? Perhaps I should add a prayer for them when I find myself judging them.
e. We often want the Lord to take the evil out of the world. I have to believe that the Lord knows why he has allowed them in the world. Again, I should take the time to pray for them in my daily prayer.
f. The Lord gives his definition of eternal damnation—burning. We should listen carefully, and then deliberately choose to follow the Lord’s directives in our lives.
g. My prayerthoughts…
Today, I will read Exodus, chapter 33, and write an
important thought from it.
Some Thoughts on the Liturgy
AN OPPORTUNITY TO STUDY OURSELVES
+ The reading from Exodus is a study of the holiness of Moses
– he was able to speak to God directly
– and was moved to write the words of the covenant or agreement between the Israelites and Go
– it was a statement early on in the Hebrew Scriptures that God alone can save us
+ “God alone can save us” is the theme of a truly spiritual person: God and God alone is the source of salvation
– as Jesus explains the parable of the weeds, the person who will be saved will be the person who has turned to God alone
+ The parable of the weeds is a scare tactic in story form
– saying basically: look at your behavior and what it has led you to
– the Kingdom as Jesus describes it is a mixture of saints and followers of the evil one
– and although this parable doesn’t bring it out,
– it’s quite possible that one can influence the other
+ Our meditation suggests a couple of areas:
1 – we should look at our own involvement with the evil one
– it is often good for us to look at the “bad part” of the different examples that are offered to us, and not just the good
– perhaps there are tendencies toward evil in our lives that we have not noticed, and we should call ourselves to accountability
2 – we can’t judge who is a follower of the evil one
– we can’t get into another’s mind
– we know that there are good and bad among us, and we have a tendency to judge who is the bad without concentrating on what we should be concentrating on—ourselves
3 – we have to spend time on remaining part of the good seed of the Kingdom
– taking the time to make the Lord present to us in prayer and spiritual reading
+ The parable of the weeds is meant to make us carefully look at where we are right now
– in the category of the good or bad
– to listen carefully to the Lord talk about the fiery furnace,
– but also to understand that we can enjoy the eternal good.
MEDIA PRESENTATION
Movie: “Jason Bourne” — beginning session
THE SANCTITY OF TRUTH
The Gospel
JOHN 9:13-17
They brought the one who was once blind to the Pharisees. Now Jesus had made clay and opened his eyes on a sabbath. So then the Pharisees also asked him how he was able to see. He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and now I can see.” So some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, because he does not keep the sabbath.” But others said, “How can a sinful man do such signs?” And there was a division among them. So they said to the blind man again, “What do you have to say about him, since he opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.”
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| Gospelthink: The blind man told the truth about me. Am I truthful in my approach to life? |
| David Webb who assumed the identity of Jason Bourne in the movie named after him was always a problem for the CIA. The organization had “created” him in the first place in order to carry out the different “black ops” programs that they wanted. The organization had been keeping tabs on him ever since he went into self-exile. A co-worker of David’s, Nicky Parsons, discovered some unknown facts about David’s father, and wanted David to know exactly what their organization, the CIA, did in order to convince David to be Jason Bourne. In the process of accomplishing it, she also became a target. |
Because Jesus said and did controversial things in the eyes of the religious leaders of his time, he no doubt caused people to be very outspoken. John the evangelist gives us such a story in his Gospel. It is a rather long story that deals with the fact that Jesus healed a man who became the center of attention for a number of people. The religious leaders were very interested because they did not believe that Jesus was anything special and all he did was break the law. They also had the right to condemn their fellow Israelites, and place them in an adversarial position with their religion.
Consequently when one of their religious subjects went against their position, he/she was taking a chance on being cast outside of their religious circle. It is in such a position that the healed blind man found himself. But he made his belief known even at the risk of being ridiculed or threatened by those in charge. He boldly proclaimed to the religious leaders that “he is a prophet.”
There are similar instances throughout history in which seeking and proclaiming the truth may carry with it consequences that could jeopardize well-being. In the movie “Jason Bourne,” Nicky Parsons, Jason’s fellow worker wanted her friend Jason to have the truth as Jason tried to determine his complicated background. She risked even death to bring the truth to light.
We probably will never risk our lives in order to make a truth known, but it is a truly Christian thought that we should honor the truth in such a way that we will defend it with our lives. Unfortunately in our day and age, the sanctity of truth is not as paramount as it should be. Lying or not speaking the truth when it should be spoken is too often the usual fare. Perhaps our reading of the Gospels ought to lead us to proclaim the truth, no matter what the cost.
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PRAYER
Good and gracious God, Your Son led people to truly accept the truth and allow it to direct their lives. Give us the grace to understand the importance of the truth as we see it, and the courage to make it known if we should. Be with us, we pray. |
+++++GUIDELINES FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT
Theme: Sometimes helping others who are searching for the truth may hurt us, and we must be prepared for it.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(session: approximately 61 minutes)
1. What scene during this session of the movie is most striking? Why?
2. What are some signs that a person in today’s world is “from God”?
3. In general, why do you think the religious leaders had such strict rules for the Sabbath?
4. In our Christian world today, do you think that we should show more respect for our Sabbath which is on Sunday? Yes or no and why?
5. In our world today, do you believe that Christians are threatened because of their faith? Yes or no and why?
6. In general, do most people have respect for the truth?
7. As you study our world, where do you see the most dishonesty?
8. Besides the obvious fact of killing someone else, why is the occupation of “assassin” wrong in a Christian way of understanding things?
9. There are obviously secrets in the various organizations of any country? In your opinion, are some of the secrets that are kept against the moral law of a Christian? Yes or no and why?
10. Scene analysis: Nicky dies trying to help Bourne. In your opinion, is “dying for the other” a principle of every adult friendship? Yes or no and why? |
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