[media presentation below] GospelThink Friday, August 11 MATTHEW 16:24-28 A true disciple of mine. Prayerthoughts a. The Lord gives his classic statement of what it takes to be a disciple: deny oneself, take up the cross, and follow the Lord. It leads to the following questions: i) have I taken the center of my concern about life away from myself as much as possible? b. ii) “Carrying our cross” refers to accepting the problems of my life as part of the plan of God. What are the principal problems in my life right now and have I accepted them with the thought that God wants me to have these problems at this particular time in my life? c. iii) “Follow the Lord.” Obviously, I am trying to do that. What area of my life should I work on the most? d. We can get wrapped up in the things of this life without the Lord (“saves” his life) or we can choose to lose our life for the Lord’s sake, that is, give ourselves to the Lord more and more in our living. Do I see evidence in my life that I am choosing correctly? e. Jesus reminds me once again about the final judgment. Am I prepared for it as well as I can be? f. My prayerthoughts… Today I will read Deuteronomy, chapter 4, and write an important thought from it. Some Thoughts on the Liturgy  GOD’S THINKING  + The closing line of today’s Gospel gives cause for some concern         – but we have to remember that the thought of the early Church and the human Jesus was that the second coming was near  + The closing line of yesterday’s regular Gospel was a statement that we should listen to: talking to Peter, Jesus says         You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.  + It is a good meditation to contrast our thinking with God’s thinking         – what is God’s thinking?                 – well, as described by Jesus today, God’s thinking would consist of three things, all three of which should be part of our meditation in life                 1 – denying oneself—selfishness has no part of God’s way                         – there must be very little concern for how much we ourselves will get out of any venture, and specifically, little profit in the form of power and money: he says:         What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?                 2 – the cross is part of God’s thinking—there will be pain and suffering, driving that point home to Peter, calling him Satan when he misunderstood it                 3 – we must have a guide who is a religious guide: he says:         Follow me.                 – it implies knowing Jesus well enough so that his thoughts become our thoughts                 – knowing what God has done, as the book of Deuteronomy calls us to in the first reading   + And what is our thinking?         – you really don’t have to go very far to find that out                 – all we have to do is go to our television sets, and see what advertisements tell us are really important                         – those advertisements are a far cry from giving up self, taking up the cross and following Jesus  + You and I are counter-cultural as Christians         – our vocation is different from the rest of the world’s                 – and we should meditate on it often. MEDIA PRESENTATION Movie: “Creed III” — final session  WHAT WE NEED TO WIN The Gospel MARK 1:12-13 The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts and the angels ministered to him.

Gospelthink: I was tempted and so will you be tempted.

Damien Anderson through some trickery fought to become the Heavyweight Champion of the world. After Adonis realized that he was used by Damien, he was encouraged by Bianca his wife, to come out of retirement and challenge Damien for the Championship. After Damien accepted the challenge, and after Adonis has trained with his friends Duke and former rival Drago, they met in what was advertised as the “Battle of Los Angeles.” In an evenly-matched fight, Adonis has visions of his abusive foster home and Damien’s life in jail, leading to a knockdown in the final round in which Adonis won the match and regained the Championship. Afterward, Adonis reconciled with Damien with both men admitting that their actions were not each other’s fault.

As in the movie “Creed II,” Adonis “Donnie” Creed accepted a challenge that required more than simply a “desire.” In “Creed II,” Rocky Balboa trained Creed to win the right to be called “Champion.” Now in “Creed III,” Adonis wants to win that same reward. But he is older and out of shape. He realized that if he was to succeed, he had to train like he never had, and he had to overcome his personal demons to finally win. The same Spirit who descended on Jesus in His baptism drove Him into the desert. The result was a radical confrontation and temptation by Satan who attempts to frustrate the work of God. The presence of wild beasts may indicate the horror and danger of the desert regarded as the abode of demons. It was a significant moment of preparation time for Jesus before he began his ministry. Theologians agree that Jesus was preparing himself for the important work of redemption during his sojourn there. It was a difficult undertaking, but the redemption of humankind was likewise difficult. Most Christians will not have to prepare to physically fight someone who is strong and powerful. But as we study what Jesus went through preparing to give us redemption, a Christian we must look forward to a difficult time of preparation to gain our heavenly goal. As Jesus felt, it is not a difficulty that stems only from being alone.The difficulty does not come from the direct onslaught of demons, nor of physical pain. Our difficulty lies in ourselves. Just as Adonis had to gradually understand that he not only had to prepare himself physically, but also mentally, so it is for us who suffer the power of evil. We must study ourselves and see that we need the help of Someone who can make us stronger to withstand the temptations of the world that often is evil.It is not an easy task, but we have help. In Jesus’ temptation, the evangelist Mark tells is that angels ministered to him. Our angels consist of the help that God gives us through the grace we receive every day of our lives.

PRAYER Good and gracious God, Your Son suffered temptation like we do. We ask you to continue to give us the grace to be courageous as we face the difficulties of living well. May we always accept You as our guide. Be with us, we pray.

+++++ GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT Theme: We can accomplish really difficult things, but we have to work at it. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: (session: approximately 58 minutes) 1. What scene during this session of the movie was most striking to you? Why? 2. What does the movie “Creed III” teach young people. 3. In our world, what are the greatest temptations that people face? 4. In your opinion, what was most difficult about our redemption that Jesus accomplished? 5. Name some difficult preparations for activities that take place in our world. How do they help the people involved in them? 6. How do we prepare ourselves “mentally” to lead a good life? 7. What or who do we depend on for help as we live our lives?