[media presentation below] GospelThink Saturday, September 2 MATTHEW 25:14-30 I tell a story whose moral is to use the talents that you have. Prayerthoughts a. The man going on the journey is God who has given me spiritual “talents” or certain spiritual abilities that I can develop, according to my own capabilities. Those spiritual abilities deal with the spiritual things in my life such as prayer, spiritual reading, different devotions, spiritual retreats, spiritual workbooks, attendance at Mass, etc. Take the time to thank the Lord for the spiritual gifts that I have received. b. The man who had the most spiritual talents immediately developed more, building on what he had been given. Which spiritual talent should I develop more in my spiritual life? c. God has given me a long time—my life so far—and he will come to me at the end of it to settle accounts. How would I rate my development of the spiritual talents I have been given so far? d. The one who did not make use of the talents he was given received no reward, in fact, some “punishment.” Obviously Jesus’s story should move me to make a better use of the talents I have been given. e. My prayerthoughts…   Today, I will read 1 Thessalonians, chapter 4 and write an important thought from it. Some Thoughts on the Liturgy  USING OUR TALENTS  + Today’s Gospel is one of Jesus’ classic stories about using what we have, trying to do better with what we have been given, and also not using what we have          – its original meaning had to do with talents as money, but our English word of talent carries the idea of “gift” or “ability”          – there are some very good points to note in the story:  + When we are given some talents, some abilities, we are meant to develop them, and do the best we can with what we have          – secondly, we are not all given the same—some of us receive five, some, two, some, one, but we all are given something                   – we all can do something if we want to          – thirdly, doing nothing with what we have is condemned          – and, it is a rather strong condemnation for those who do not use their talents well                   – in Biblical language, the person is sent to hell:          …to the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.                   – isn’t that interesting—no question of doing anything wrong except not using the talents one is given,                            – and the person is sent to eternal death  + Jesus’s story can be applied in the professional circle or the spiritual circle          – professionally, people must develop the abilities they have          – but, the obvious application to us as we gather for praise of God is the motivation that we should have toward the spiritual in our lives                   – why aren’t we motivated properly in spiritual matters?  + There are probably many reasons why we aren’t motivated in spiritual matters          – most of the time, it has to do with plain old laziness          – Paul writing to the Thessalonians is pleased with their spiritual endeavors, here especially their charity toward one another                   – but he says: don’t allow “laziness” to enter into it                            – we urge you, he says, to progress even more  + We can be truly spiritual people, holy people—if we use the spiritual gifts that we have been given. MEDIA PRESENTATION Movie: “Stay with Me” — Sam Smith SELF-CONTROL IN LOVE The Gospel MATTHEW 15:18-22 Jesus said: “But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile. For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, unchastity, theft, false witness, blasphemy. These are what defile a person.”

Gospelthink: My direction to you is to purify your mind and then you will live well. Am I trying to do that?

“I’m not good at a one-night stand. These nights never seem to go to plan. I don’t want you to leave, will you hold my hand? Won’t you stay with me? ‘Cause you’re all I need. This ain’t love, it’s clear to see, but, stay with me. No, it’s not a good look: gain some self-control. Deep down I know this never works, but you can lay with me so it doesn’t hurt.”

Sam Smith’s song “Stay with Me” is a beautiful, but sad song. The man has tried to make a “one night stand” work, but he realized that they never go according to plan. He wanted it to work with all his heart, but he knew that it was not love. He even tells himself that he must gain self-control, but he does not want the hurt, and so he begs his friend to stay. Jesus knew human nature very well, and therefore he understood the feelings of young love, even in his day. One can sense his understanding from the way he treated the sinners that he worked with. He did point out to his followers, however, that they must control the feelings of evil that come from the heart, mentioning unchastity and adultery in particular. God placed the drive for sexual pleasure in the heart of man and woman, and therefore it is something good, even “very good” as the book of Genesis describes human creation. But a follower of Jesus must learn the virtue of self-control in the area of human sexuality as well. If we do not have it, we end up only following self-desires and something good can turn to something evil. We end up using a sacred gift to be only a means to feel good. But perhaps there must be a disclaimer to this discussion. Granted, Jesus warns about the unchastity and adultery that often is the result of evil thinking. But Jesus also must have known about the intensity of sexual feelings that can rage out of control. The intensity is brought out very well in Sam Smith’s song and video. The Christian must indeed practice self-control in this area, but it is often very difficult, even to the point at which the couple may not even feel that it is wrong because of the overwhelming love that they have for each other. Determining guilt is often complicated in sexual matters.    The control of our sexuality is very easy to talk about, but it is not at all easy to practice. Self-control is a virtue that the Christian who is discovering romantic love must pray for and practice from early on.

PRAYER Good and gracious God, you have created us to be sexual creatures, aware of who we are and having the ability to interact with others on a sexual level. Give us the grace to follow what you want us to do as we work with romantic love. Be with us, we pray.

+++++GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT Theme: We must work for self-control as we look for romantic love. THE GOSPEL 1. Project: the presenter may want to define the list of evils presented by Jesus here in terms of today’s language. 2. Of the seven evils presented here, which one in your opinion is the “most evil”? Why? 3. Given your answer to number 2, what can you personally do about it in our world? 4. What is your understanding of the word “defile”?   THE SONG   1. How would you define a “one night stand” in today’s culture? 2. Why do “one night stands” never seem to go according to plan? 3. Text analysis: “You are all I need.” Why would someone make this strong a statement? 4. Text analysis: “No, it’s not a good look.” What is the meaning of the sentence? 5. The person in the song is “begging another.” Why is this not good for a human being?   THE MEDITATION 1. What are the different signs that a love relationship is real love? 2. In general, from your knowledge of the Gospels, how did Jesus treat sinners? 3. In general, do most young Christians have a “good” understanding of sexuality as they grow? Yes or no and why? 4. Young people often do not follow the directives of Jesus in the sexual area. In your opinion, do they think that there is sin involved in premarital sexual relations or in living together before marriage? Yes or no and why? See Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, numbers 2390-2391. 5. What is the best way for a young person to learn the importance of self-control in sexual matters?  6. What does the song “Stay with Me” teach young people?