[media presentation below] GospelThink Saturday, November 11   LUKE 16:9-15 You must be trustworthy and beware of too many riches. Prayerthoughts a. Jesus warns his follower to use the “dishonest wealth,” but not to place trust in it. Do I place more trust in the money I make than I should? b. Being trustworthy is a Christian trait. Generally speaking, do people depend on what I say and do as true? Or, am I dishonest too often? c. Jesus’s classic statement of not being able to serve God and mammon (translate: riches): perhaps I spend more time with “making money.” Should I spend some more time with prayer in my life? d. Luke’s words that the Pharisees “loved” money is a strong indictment. In our world today, it has been said that most people “love” money. Do I find myself wanting more and more money? e. Jesus “knows hearts,” that is, how I think most of the time. As I study my thinking yesterday, was it one of judging others in a negative way? Do I spend most of my time at thinking “positive” thoughts in the sense of asking God to be part of my life? f. My prayerthoughts,,, Today I will read Romans, chapter 16, and write an important thought from it. Some Thoughts on the Liturgy  A MASTER PROBLEM  + The liturgy gives us a glimpse of the small community that made up the early Pauline community           – and you get the feeling of contentment and happiness even in the midst of persecution that was going on at the same time           – Paul ending the letter with a statement of who is the master: “God, through Jesus Christ, be glory forever and ever”                      – there is no doubt in Paul’s mind that God through Jesus is the master  + Jesus calls attention to a master in the Gospel           No servant can serve two masters.  He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other.  You cannot serve God and mammon.           – one of our problems in this world might be called a “master” problem                      – there is the possibility that we may be serving the wrong master                      – we may have defined our lives in terms of this world’s thinking                                – and we should be working with God’s thinking                                – that seems to be the essential meaning behind Jesus’ challenging words today                      – Jesus wants us to choose God as master and not the world  + What can that mean when we are surrounded by tragedies, terrorism, and evil?           – we first of all look at the certainties that we have to deal with                      – those certainties are these: tragedies happen, problems occur                                – and just as certain—we can’t change what takes place on a national and international level           – and that there is another certainty as well                      – it is certain that some people choose the wrong master                                – and I am not talking about religion or ethnic beliefs                                          – I am talking about civilized thought, mental health                                                    – some people choose to follow a man-created master that caters to sick minds, what Jesus called “mammon”  + Naturally, then, our mind is led to the question of what do each of us do in our daily personal sphere of activity if God is our master           – today’s Gospel tells us that we have to deliberately choose who is our master, and it is not a question of doing it half-way: it is one or the other  + That means that everything we do, say or think must be done with the question—am I doing, saying or thinking what God says?           – God is the master that I have chosen                      – not mammon, not the world                                – the Gospel talks of dishonest and true wealth                                          – we can’t allow the very good process called capitalism to override what God says to do                                – we also know about the prejudice and hatred and acts of violence that are being perpetrated throughout our country simply because someone doesn’t look like us or talk like we do                                                    – we know what our God says about that  + God is the master that we have chosen, and that should have a direct effect in our lives. MEDIA PRESENTATION Song: “Hotline Bling” — Drake STRESS THAT IS GOOD The Gospel LUKE 18:1-8 Then Jesus told them a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary. He said, “There was a judge in a certain town who neither feared God nor respected any human being. And a widow in that town used to come to him and say, ‘Render a just decision for me against my adversary.’ For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought, ‘While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being, because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me.’” The Lord said, “Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says. Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them? I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

Gospelthink: I want you to have faith enough to pray for everything you need at all times. Am I developing that strong a faith?

“You used to call me on my cell phone late night when you need my love. And I know when that hotline bling that can only mean one thing. Since I left the city you got a reputation for yourself now. Everybody knows and I feel left out. You got me down, you got me stressed out, ‘cause ever since I left the city, you started goin’ out more, glasses of champagne out on the dance floor, hangin’ with some girls I’ve never seen before. Ever since I left the city, you and me we just don’t get along. You make me feel like I did you wrong, going places where you don’t belong.”

The Gospels are filled with many common human problems for many reasons. Jesus was working with people who were very human. He also used very human examples in the stories that he told. One of them dealt with how a dishonest judge responded when he was stressed. He responded to the situation with a good solution because he was tired of listening to a complaining lady. Jesus calls attention to the way the unjust judge responded–he rendered a just decision because he was stressed. Jesus was using the story in order to remind the people to pray persistently, but it is a very good story for any human situation. That is, Jesus’ story can also be used without the spiritual conclusion. When someone is stressed, he/she must find a good way to respond. In the story of Drake’s song “Hotline Bling,” the man in the relationship had become stressed because of the lady in the relationship’s lack of response, and so he had to make a good decision in order to improve his way of life. Jesus used his story to bring home the importance of the persistence of prayer; the story in Drake’s song shows that stress can be relieved by making a wise decision about a relationship. Both conclusions to the story are good for the person interested in a better life. It is clear that persistence in prayer will bring about good things. It is likewise clear that when a relationship is failing for some reason, the person involved must take the time to make the best decision possible. The best conclusion in Drake’s song seems to be finding another relationship, and getting out of the one that is hurting him. Stress can be a good thing if it moves us to find a good decision for our lives. It worked well for the unjust judge in Jesus’ story; it can work well for a person seeking maturity.

PRAYER Good and gracious God, we are often stressed over things in our human lives. May we listen to the story of Your Son, and choose to allow our stress to bring us to good decisions. Be with us, we pray.

+++++ GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT Theme: When we become stressed because of some relationship, we must discover a good way to respond. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. In the Gospel, Jesus’ story is primarily about prayer, although the meditation chooses to dwell on the thought of stress leading to something good. What is your definition of prayer? (See Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, chapter 3, especially numbers 2697-2719.) 2. Stress led to a “just” decision on the part of the dishonest judge. but sometimes stress can lead to bad decisions. Give some examples of stress leading to bad decisions. 3. Text analysis: “…hotline bling that can only mean one thing.” What is the phrase referring to?  [Note: according to the dictionary, bling is a slang term popularized in hip hop culture, referring to flashy, ostentatious, or elaborate jewelry and ornamented accessories that are carried, worn, or installed, such as cell phones or tooth caps.]  4. Text analysis: “We just don’t get along.” What are some ways to “get along” with a partner in a romantic relationship? 5. In the song, do you agree that it is best that the person move on in the relationship? Yes or no and why? 6. What are some “good ways” to respond to a stressful situation? 7. In what ways is prayer important in a person’s life? 8. It probably is a true statement that we will never escape stress completely in our lives. What part of our lives is most stressful in today’s world? 9. In your opinion, do people “take their time” in most stressful situations? Yes or no and why? 10. What does the song “Hotline Bling” teach young people?