[media presentation below] GospelThink Wednesday, October 4 LUKE 9:57-62 If you are going to be my disciple, you must do it wholeheartedly. Prayerthoughts a. Jesus gives some direction about being a follower of his. I have said that I follow Jesus. What kind of a follower of Jesus am I? As I consider my actions yesterday, what evidence can I show of being a follower? b. There are no exceptions to following Jesus. In the past, have I done things that kept me from being a true follower. What are the virtues of being a true follower of Jesus? (This is the task of the meditation.) c. One of the titles that Jesus had was “Teacher.” What is the most important teaching that Jesus has given me? d. Jesus says being a follower of his is even more important than any family obligations. In my list of important things to do, where do I place the virtue of “following Jesus”? e. My prayerthoughts…   Today, I will carry out letter b. Some Thoughts on the Liturgy  A TRUE FOLLOWER OF GOD  + One of the challenges we all have is to live in the world           – and at the same time live as a true follower of God           – the readings today can be viewed as what a true follower of God must do while remaining in the world  + From the first reading           – the true follower of God will risk for the sake of God                      – Nehemiah risked the king’s wrath to get what he wanted                                – which was really what God wanted                                          – to work on rebuilding Jerusalem           – the follower of God in today’s world will risk some things in order to follow God                      – that is, for the good of others, for the good of our own little world, that is, to make it a better place  + From the Gospel           – the follower of Jesus will have some difficult times                      – no where to lay his head, that is, interpreted in twenty-first century thought, putting up with difficulties                      – letting the dead bury their own dead, that is, sacrificing some things for the sake of proclaiming the Kingdom                                – sometimes it is a difficult thing to be a true Christian in our world, to proclaim the Kingdom, to preach his Word whether by word or action                      – being a true follower of Jesus will involve effort on our parts                                – putting your hand to the plow and not looking back on what could have been                                          – we like easy living                                                    – and the person who really wants to be a Christian must be one who spends some effort at it                                                               – that is, praying, reading Scripture, helping others  + The follower of God or Jesus           – must live in the world, make his/her living in the world                      – but at the same time really work at doing the work of God while they are here. MEDIA PRESENTATION Song: “Watermelon Sugar” — Harry Styles MORE THAN A FEELING The Gospel JOHN 15:14-17 Jesus said: “You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you: love one another.”

Gospelthink: I chose you to be a person who tries to love everyone. Is there anyone in my acquaintances that I do not love as I should?

“Tastes like strawberries on a summer evening. And it sounds like a summer feelin’, it’s so wonderful and warm. Breathe me in, breathe me out. I don’t know if I could ever go without. I’m just thinking out loud. Watermelon sugar high. I want that summer feelin’, getting washed away in you. I just wanna taste it, Watermelon sugar high.”

Feelings are an important part of the Gospels. It is clear that Jesus’ feelings for his Father were strong. And as one studies those feelings, it becomes evident that the feelings that Jesus has are merely the beginning of his love for His Father. His love goes much further than feelings. It is the same with his feelings for his disciples. It is clear that he has strong feelings of appreciation and care for them. But it goes much further than that. He calls it being a “friend” to them, that is, having the love of a friendship for his disciples. Then he calls his disciples to have that same love for one another. The point is that in Jesus’ mind, there are two thoughts: “feelings of love” and “love itself.” Feelings of love do not describe love. Love is much more than feeling love. It is an important fact as one studies the multiple love songs that are produced in the music genres of our culture. The feelings of love tend to dominate a love relationship because it is the feelings that we can see and experience. Love goes much further than that. Thus in Harry Styles’ song “Watermelon Sugar,” the feelings of love are quite apparent: a “summer feeling,” “wonderful and warm,” “getting washed away in you,” wanting to “taste it.” But the conclusion of the song, and the conclusion of every love song, must be that the love they want or describe is more than feeling. Here, he sings, “I don’t know if I could ever go without” the love. His words imply permanence which only comes about after the feelings of love are present. The love of a permanent relationship is a love that will not cease. It must be true when a couple makes the commitment to be with one another forever. In Jesus’ mind, it must be the commitment of every one of us for each other.

PRAYER Good and gracious God, there are many times when we have the feelings of love. Give us the grace to understand that if we are going to truly love, we must go further than feelings. Be with us, we pray.

+++++ GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT Theme: We want good feelings with love, but we must work at being truly loving. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. What does the song “Watermelon Sugar” teach young people? 2. Sometimes in Christian circles, there is a distinction made between “like someone” and “love someone”? Is that a good distinction to make as we read Jesus’ statement to love everyone? Yes or no and why? 3. In your opinion, what is a “watermelon sugar high”? 4. What is your definition of a “friend”? 5. What is your definition of “true love”? 6. There are other relationships in a person’s life that are permanent besides marriage. Give some examples/ 7. Do you think that a Christian can make a commitment to love everyone with a true love? Yes or no and why?