[media presentation below] GospelThink Thursday, September 28 LUKE 9:7-9 Herod was confused about who I was, thinking I was my friend John the Baptist whom he had killed. Prayerthoughts a. Herod has always been considered as “evil.” As I consider “evil” and the different places of “evil” in the world, can I do anything about them besides praying that the evil will  be conquered? b. John the Baptist above all spoke the truth. Perhaps there are some “truths” which I should speak. What are the principal “truths” which should be present in my life? c. The talk that Herod heard concerned prophets that had reappeared. Who are the modern prophets of our day today, and what should I learn from them? d. In my life, I, too, keep trying to see Jesus in the sense of making him part of everything I do. In my life right now, what needs the most improvement? e. My prayerthoughts….   Today,  I will read Haggai, chapter 1, and write an important thought from it. Some Thoughts on the Liturgy  MORE THAN TRYING TO UNDERSTAND JESUS  + An interesting meditation can be supplied by Herod’s question and Luke’s comment in the Gospel today          – Herod’s question: Who is this?         – Luke’s comment: He kept trying to see him.  + As one attempts to grow spiritually, Herod’s question is fundamental: who is this person?          – it is the beginning question which must be asked                   – why do we choose to follow this Jesus?                   – why do we base our spiritual life on his thoughts, words and deeds?                            – it can easily lead to commitment, deep involvement and acceptance as Lord and Savior                                     – but in order to accomplish that, we have to do more than simply try to see him  + Our Church calendar is full of saints and blesseds who were doing more than simply trying to understand Jesus          – studying Herod and the saints, it is possible perhaps to set up a distinction as a result of Luke’s comment today:          ***- there are those in the spiritual life who begin by trying to understand Jesus, and then really involve themselves in Jesus’ thought—the saints, for example                   – they are anxious to understand his words and actions and why he does certain things so that they can be guided by him                            – and willing to spend time in reverencing God, as God directed the early Israelites seen in the Haggai reading          ***- and there are those in the spiritual life—you really can’t even use that term to describe them–                   – those who are simply trying to understand Jesus’ thought, and going no further—people like Herod                            – they realize that they will have to change or at least spend a significant amount of time studying the situation of their lives if they go further than merely try                                     – and this does not fit into their pattern  + Herod’s question and Luke’s comment sets up a distinction for our spiritual life          – the key question is who is this person?                 – and the answer is not to merely try to see Jesus, but to try and then do something about it. MEDIA PRESENTATION Song: “Wrecking Ball” — Miley Cyrus I SHOULD’VE LET YOU WIN The Gospel MARK 8:34-37 [Jesus] summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? What could one give in exchange for his life?”

Gospelthink: If you want to have eternal life, you must not give yourselves completely to this life. Am I spending too much time on the things of this world?

“We clawed, we chained our hearts in vain. We jumped, never asking why. I fell under your spell, a love no one could deny. Don’t you ever say I just walked away; I will always want you. I can’t live a lie, running for my life. I came in like a wrecking ball; I never hit so hard in love. All I wanted was to break your walls. All you ever did was wreck me. You let me burn, and now, we’re ashes on the ground. Instead of using force, I guess I should’ve let you win.”

The couple in the relationship of Miley Cyrus’ song “Wrecking Ball” had had a very difficult time as the lady in the relationship looked back on it. The reason seems to be that they had moved into the relationship too quickly—”we jumped, never asking why” she sings. And as they moved into it, both of them moved like “wrecking balls.” As she sings: “I fell under your spell; I came in like a wrecking ball.” And the man’s reaction? “All you did,” she sings, “was wreck me. You let me burn.” What happened—”I can’t live a lie,” she sings. “Now we’re ashes on the ground.” What should the lady in the relationship have done, what should the man have done? Miley Cyrus actually gives the answer in her song: “Instead of using force,” she sings, “I guess I should’ve let you win.” When people are moving into romantic love, they cannot be bulldozers or wrecking balls. They have to be people who want the other person to win. They have to be people who are willing to give up their own way of doing things. Jesus calls it “losing one’s life.” He was not speaking of romantic love, but he was speaking of an overall idea that includes it. He was speaking of love in general, a way to guide our living on earth so as to help us to live eternal life with God in heaven. It is a guide that can be applied to love and life this way: if we want to achieve what we want most in life, we must control our desire to have our own way. Jesus phrases it: “Whoever wishes to save his life must lose it.” The lady in Miley Cyrus’ song had a very good insight into her relationship with her friend: “I should’ve let you win.” That which holds us back from achieving good relationships, indeed anything worthwhile in life, is our desire to “gain the whole world,” that is, everything we want, to win every game, to satisfy our every whim. When it tends to dominate a life, we just may lose that life. The way to keep it is to let others have their way at times.

PRAYER Good and gracious God, your Son often spoke words of challenge to us. He told us that we must control our desires by giving up what we want. Give us the grace to understand that our selfishness could prevent us from gaining eternal life. Be with us, we pray.

+++++ GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT Theme: In order to love and live well, we must control our desire to have our own way.  THE GOSPEL 1. Jesus’ saying means that life seen as mere self-centered earthly existence and lived in denial of Jesus ends in destruction. But when a person lives in loyalty to Jesus and his teachings, despite earthly death, it arrives at fullness of life. Do most Christians feel this way toward life? Yes or no and why? 2.Text analysis: “deny oneself.” What is the meaning of the phrase? 3.Text analysis: “take up his cross.” What is the meaning of the phrase? 4. In your opinion, do most Christians honestly follow what Jesus wants? Yes or no and why? 5. Give an example of someone (without naming anyone in particular) who has forfeited his/her life on earth. THE SONG 1. Text analysis: “fell under your spell.” What is the meaning of the phrase? 2. Text analysis: “I will always want you.” Is it really possible to go through life “always wanting” the love of someone else? Yes or no and why? 3. Text analysis: “live a lie.” How does one “live a lie”? 4. What kind of a love relationship does the song suggest? Why? 5. Text analysis: in general, what does it mean to always let another win? Is it always a good thing? Yes or no and why? THE MEDITATION 1. When does a couple know that they have moved into a love relationship “too quickly”? 2. The song is describing a bitter breakup. What are the ways to overcome bitter breakups? 3. In most love relationships, do you feel that both are trying “to let the other win”? Yes or no and why? 4. It is very difficult to give up our own way of thinking and doing things. In general, can most young people accomplish it? Yes or no and why? 5. Text analysis: “gain the whole world.” What does the phrase mean in our modern world today? 6. A person obviously will never achieve “everything they want.” As one sets goals for a future life, what should be the overall goal? Why?    7. What does the song “Wrecking Ball” teach young people?