[media presentation below] GospelThink Wednesday, November 29 LUKE 21:12-19 The end of the world will be difficult, but stay with me and persevere.  Prayerthoughts a. The evangelist Luke is influenced by the severe persecution while he was writing his Gospel. It is a statement about the end of time as well. What proof can I give that I am willing to suffer for Jesus’ name? b. Studying my life this week, what testimony have I given that Jesus has directed my life? c. Jesus promises that he will offer wisdom as we speak on his behalf. Where have I felt Jesus’ wisdom in my life? d. What is most frightening about my death, and what can I do to prepare for it better? e. Jesus promises that we will not be harmed, even if there is persecution. Obviously, he is referring to eternal life because often there is pain here on earth. What about “eternal life” encourages me the most? f. Jesus calls me to “persevere.” What does “perseverance” mean to me in my present circumstances? g. In my opinion, what does “secure my life” mean? h. My prayerthoughts…   Today I will write down the fundamental guideline for me as I think of my death. Some Thoughts on the Liturgy  PERSEVERANCE—PATIENT ENDURANCE  + The Book of Revelation is a book of hope          – because ultimately there is victory                   – here it is the same victory that Moses enjoyed over the Egyptians                            – God’s mighty deeds are clearly seen by anyone who is victorious  + That victory is also predicted by Jesus in the Gospel          – even though there will be persecution, even though close relatives will betray you, even though you lose your life, not a hair on your head will be destroyed                   – you will secure your lives          – as Luke is writing his Gospel, there is persecution of Christians, and so it is only natural that he would remember Jesus’ words                   – and give encouragement to those who are suffering persecution  + The phrase that bears some thought is the final phrase of the Gospel          – it is by perseverance that you will secure your lives                   – perseverance can be defined by the English translation that some translations have of this passage—patient endurance                   – those are two key elements that a person interested in the spiritual life must develop          1 – patience                   – the immediate results may not look promising—persecution                            – but if we trust the Lord’s words, ultimately, there will be victory                                     – our problem as human beings is the word ultimately                                              – we do not tend to be patient people                   – we are used to having things instantly                            – and this carries over to spiritual realities as well                                     – we don’t want to have to wait for—say—a deeper spiritual life                            – I love this saying of spiritual authors                                     – it takes a while for God to really get through to us          2 – endurance                   – consistency—that we will work at our spiritual lives every day                            – implies effort, once again, something that we don’t want to do                                     – and a constant involvement on our parts                            – one spiritual action is not enough to bring about a spiritual life                                     – it must be a constant effort  + It is an important word that the Lord Jesus has spoken today—perseverance, or as it has been explained, patient endurance          – it is a virtue that we must truly develop for a deeper spiritual life. MEDIA PRESENTATION Song: “Victoria’s Secret”–Jax CASHING IN ON BODY ISSUES The Gospel JOHN 6:37-40 Jesus said, “Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me.  And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him, may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.”

Gospelthink: We are truly blessed by God.

“All bodies aren’t the same, photoshop itty-bitty models on magazine covers, told me I was overweight. I stopped eating, what a bummer, can’t have carbs and a hot girl summer. I’d say: I know Victoria’s secret and girl, you wouldn’t believe she’s an old man who lives in Ohio making money off of girls like me, cashing in on body issues, selling skin and bones with big boobs. She was made up by a dude, Victoria was made up by a dude.”

According to its author, the song “Victoria’s Secret” was written for a girl who was insulted by someone who called her “fat.” She and her friends had gone into the store chain “Victoria’s Secret” with the intention of buying their first bikini bathing suits for a pool party. Someone offered the insult, and the singer remembered her feelings when someone called her that word. Basically the song says that you really don’t need to worry about what others say or what the media of our day says. We are all developing in a normal way, and once we truly realize that, then we can adjust to being the person that we want to be, given the circumstances of our growth pattern. Jesus did not talk about eating disorders or discovering ways to look pretty or handsome as we grow. But he did talk about being happy and the reason to be happy. In his Last Discourse, a Christian believer hears Jesus say that we are all loved and have the chance to eternal happiness. Such is the will of His Father, and therefore, “I will not reject anyone who comes to me.” Tranlasted into modern “love” language, it says that everyone of us is loved by our God. If we make the effort to come to our God, God will not reject us. It doesn’t matter how we look, what we wear, or whether someone considers us “pretty” or “handsome.” God is with you–end of story, no matter what. It leads to the fact that it simply doesn’t matter what degree of “beautiful” we possess. We are all beautiful in the sense that God has created us, we grow as God wants us to grow, and God loves us happiness no matter what. We can improve ourselves, to be sure, and we should in the sense of cleanliness and fostering healthy hygiene, but even before we make the improvement, indeed, perhaps the only way that we can make any personal improvement is to recognize that we are beautiful simply because God created us that way.

PRAYER Good and gracious God, one of the most important facts for any one of us human beings is that we are good, indeed, beautiful because You have created us, and given us Your life. Give us the grace to truly understand it in our lives. Be with us, we pray.

+++++ GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT Theme: We do not need to follow what someone else says in order to be loved. 1. What does the song “Victoria’s Secret” teach young people? 2. Recognizing that our God has told us that He will never reject us should lead to sincere thanksgiving on our parts. How can we show true thankfulness to God? 3. The store chain was not founded by “dude,” but like many places, it “plays” on our desires to beautify ourselves. In general, is that a good thing? Yes or no and why? 4. Many young people are hurt by the words of others, especially with regard to their weight and natural beautiness. What is the best way to help the people who are hurt by such comments? 5. It is important to see that Jesus did not talk about “beauty” in the sense that our modern culture does. In general, what does Jesus want most of all from us as we develop into maturity? That is, what should we be most concerned about as we grow into maturity? 6. What are the characteristics of true “beauty” in human beings? 7. You may want to compare this song to Alessia Cara’s song “Scars to Your Beautiful.”