[media presentation below] GospelThink Monday, November 13 LUKE 17:1-6 I exaggerate, but I want you to know that the sin of bad example is very bad. Prayerthoughts a. Jesus says that that which causes sin will inevitably occur. I must remember that I am not a lesser person just because I am tempted to do what is wrong, I should take the time to thank the Lord for my humanity even though I may be tempted. b. Jesus reminds me that I should never be the occasion of a sin for another. I have no doubt caused others to sin in some way—what I said, what I did, or the like. Take the time right now to ask forgiveness for those times. c. As he often does, Jesus uses exaggeration to get across a point. Here the point is that our bad behavior should not influence another, especially those younger than us, in a bad way. In what ways have I been scandalous toward some other people, especially my family? d. When it comes to “rebuking” another, I have to be absolutely certain of my own good behavior in that area. Since I am hardly ever absolutely certain, perhaps I should leave “rebuking” another to someone else, and I should take the time to pray for him/her. e. Jesus using here a phrase that he uses so often—forgive another. Make the resolution right now to forgive the people I meet today, no matter what happens. f. “Seven” is one of the numbers of Scripture that carries with it the thought of “infinitely many” times. Forgiveness is that important. g. The apostles say to the Lord one of the prayers that I should pray often: “Increase our faith.” Pray it now, and what is the most important belief that I have? h. My prayerthoughts…   Today, I will formulate my own prayer asking for forgiveness for what I have done. Some Thoughts on the Liturgy  INTEGRITY OF HEART  + The first reading for this week will be taken from the Hebrew Scriptures’ Book of Wisdom           – the book was written by an author that we do not know, and was probably written about a hundred years before Jesus came to earth                      – its purpose was to motivate the Hebrew people to continue to love God even though they had seen suffering           – the author uses a phrase at the very beginning of the book that describes what each of us should do: “seek the Lord in integrity of heart”                      – the phrase can mean a number of things, but in terms of the Gospel today, there are a number of considerations  + 1 – A person seeking the Lord in integrity of heart will not scandalize           – not only scandals involving children, but scandals in general                      – Jesus had in mind people who were deliberately leading others away from the Christian message           – our possible involvement in scandal is not as evil as that                      – our involvement would be in the area of our words and actions scandalizing others  + 2 – A person seeking the Lord in integrity of heart must include the thought of forgiveness           – one of the hallmarks of Christianity                      – Christian people ought to be people who are able to forgive over and over again           – of course, we are all aware of just how difficult this admonition is                      – we have a tendency to hold grudges                                – and holding grudges and forgiveness cannot be together  + 3 – A person seeking the Lord in integrity of heart will be a person of faith           – faith that enables miraculous things to happen                      – Jesus calls us to let faith be a true guide                                – faith that in effect says—I believe completely in what Jesus has said                                          – and thus I will follow it with all my heart and soul                                – this is also not easy because we are basing our whole lives on something that we have not proven, namely something that we simply believe is true                                          – we could be wrong, but we follow the belief system completely  + One of the directives we ought to think about is what it means to seek the Lord in integrity of heart. MEDIA PRESENTATION Song: “Something Just Like This” — The Chainsmokers featuring Coldplay SOMEBODY WE CAN TURN TO The Gospel LUKE 23:39-43 At Jesus’ crucifixion, one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us.” The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, “Have you no fear of God for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied to him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

Gospelthink: Even on the cross, Jesus was thinking of those who repented. Have I sufficiently expressed my sorrow for the sins I have committed?

The lady in the relationship says, “Where d’you wanna go? How much you wanna risk? And the man in the relationship sings: “I’m not looking for somebody with superhuman gifts, some superhero, some fairytale bliss, just something I can turn to, somebody I can  kiss. I want something just like this.”

What do we turn to in life? What are the rock solid things that we can trust. Sometimes it is a friend such as in the song “Something Just Like This,” but as they sing, it has to be something that is real—not just a fairy tale or something that is false or fake. In the world of human relationships, it is often another person. In the spiritual world, it is the whole thought of God and the presence of God in our lives. The man who was crucified with Jesus knew that his life had not been a very good one. He had followed the wrong guide, and so he turned to the one person in his life that was to bring him happiness. The important thing, perhaps, is that we have that Someone or something that is rock solid, that is something we can turn to, somebody that we can miss. We need the help of others or Other—capital O—to make it in the world that we live in.  We are not meant to be alone, although sometimes we have to be alone with ourselves to do some serious thinking. But the point is a personal one: who or what should we turn to to help us as we go through our lives. Christians have chosen to accept Jesus as the guide, the same one that the condemned man turned to on Calvary’s hill. Christians will say that they have turned to Jesus with their words and even actions as they go to Mass, but the question is deeper. Has the Christian made Jesus the person that they honestly turn to as their sole resource in life? You and I are Christian. We say we follow the Lord. We must look at the intensity of the good thief on Calvary, and ask ourselves whether we have the same strong desire to accept the Lord as he did.

PRAYER Good and gracious God, we have placed our trust in you as our guide. You are the person that we turn to in times of trouble and despair. Give us the grace to always make you the guide that we need in our lives. Be with us, we pray.

+++++ GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT Theme: God must be the guide of our lives. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. The presenter may want to explain the “Kingdom of Jesus.” (See Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, numbers  543-556). 2. What are the worst crimes that are committed in our world? Is the death penalty for condemned people a good way of preventing them? Yes or no and why? 3. Who or what do most people choose as a guide in their lives? 4. Do you agree with the meditation when it says that we are not meant to be alone? Yes or no and why? 5. Do you think that most Christians have chosen Jesus completely in their lives? 6. In your opinion, what does it mean to have a strong desire to follow Jesus? 7. What does the song “Something Just Like This” teach young people?