[media presentation below]
GospelThink
Sunday, December 17, Third Sunday of Advent
JOHN 1:6-8,19-28
You need to recognize me in the world you live in.
Prayerthoughts
a. In a sense I testify to the light of Jesus by my thoughts, words and actions. What kind of a “Jesus” do I show by what I do?
b. John the Baptist could have made a name for himself, but he chose not to, giving any glory that was his to Jesus. Does my pride get in the way of my accomplishing anything great?
c. The question of “Who are you?” can be studied in the light of what I consider myself to be in a spiritual sense. Who am I in the sense of what are the ideals that govern my life?
d. There are times when I do not “recognize” Jesus in the sense of not understanding the things that happen in the world or not accepting other people or my own importance in working out the salvation of those around me. I must pray that I recognize how God is working in me and through me.
e. As John, I am not worthy to be associated with Jesus so closely. What can I do better today to show my association with Jesus?
f. My prayerthoughts
Today, I will read Isaiah, chapter 61 and write an important thought from it.
Some Thoughts on the Liturgy
RECOGNIZING THE PROPHET
+ The questioning of John the Baptist in the Gospel brings up an interesting thought for us to consider
– John’s answer to them is a statement about Jesus, of course:
There is one among you whom you do not recognize.
– the thought itself is good to think about: there was a prophet that they did not recognize
– I believe that that is a thought which we can learn from, namely, there are prophets that we do not recognize
+ Right now, there are prophets whom we do recognize because they have credentials, so to speak
– people who say words of prophecy: the Pope, our Bishops, holy people in our world, and so forth
– but maybe there are prophets among us whom we do not recognize
– people who have the message of Jesus Christ in some form or another
– and we are not listening to their messages as we should be
+ For example, in the early days of 1993, National Public Radio was interviewing a staff member of the United States army’s strategy-making personnel
– generally agreed that he was one of the officers responsible for the successful conclusion of the Persian Gulf War, one of the military geniuses who won the war
– he refused to have his name mentioned and refused to be seen on television, agreed to the interview only with voice alteration
– as a military person, he had learned the weaknesses of the enemy, was part of the invasion of Kuwait and South Iraq, saw the coalition forces finally win
– but he also saw the enormous property damage in Kuwait and Iraq
– he saw the unrest between the Kurds and the Shiites
– and studied the uneasy peace that is still uneasy
-when he was asked how the victory had been won, he said nothing about strategy, or battles, or attitudes of fighting people
– all he said were words of prophecy: “Men and women had better grow in love or else we are lost.”
– a military strategist, but a prophet as well
– and someone we should listen to
+ In the movie “Mrs. Doubtfire” which I recommend for everyone, not because it will make you laugh, but because of its content,
– the kids of the family are devastated by the fact that their Mom and Dad will not work things out
– in one of those moments of pain, the 5 year old daughter says to her Dad
– “Why can’t you just say you’re sorry”—innocent words, but words of prophecy as well:
– a hurting child, but a real prophet in a sense
+ There are many other prophets in our midst that we do not recognize
– prophets who are saying things that we should listen to but refuse to: our children and grandchildren, the editorials of a paper we don’t agree with, someone who is critical of us, people who are angry at us
– we don’t want to listen to them
– because we are not open to hearing them
– they don’t fit the mold, they don’t have the credentials, they are not what we think they should be
– we have made a judgment of them before they even begin
– or we do not think they apply to us
– the fact is that there are many things that are being said in various places that we should listen to, and as Christians, we should be listening to them a little more
+ Paul writes to the Thessalonians today in the second reading:
Do not despise prophetic utterances.
– prophecies are being spoken
– we must listen to the words that people say or what is written, forget about who is saying them or why they said them—simply look at the words, and see if they apply to us
– our problem may be the problem of the Hebrew religious leaders who didn’t recognize their Savior even when they saw and listened to him.
MEDIA PRESENTATION
Movie: “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, part 2” — beginning session
PITY THOSE WITHOUT LOVE
The Gospel
MARK 12:28-31
One of the scribes, when he came forward and heard them disputing and saw how well [Jesus] had answered them, asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” Jesus replied, “The first is this: ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” |
| Gospelthink: I give you the two commandments upon which the Kingdom is built. In what ways can I observe these commandments better than I am? |
Perhaps the key scene in the movie “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, part 2,” is the scene of Harry’s death. Harry realized that one of the Horcruxes of Voldemort is actually in his person, and that in order to kill Voldemort, he had to die himself. In the fantasy world in which he lived, however, Harry does not die, but goes to a “heaven-like” place to be taught once again by his old professor-friend Albus Dumbledore. While there, Harry learns that he has a choice of remaining forever in “heaven” or he can return to complete his task, now that the Horcrux of Voldemort inside of him has died. Dumbledore directs his decision with a statement that can be a guide for living on earth. He says, “Do not pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living and above all, those who live without love.”
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The evidence in the Scriptures is overwhelming that love of God and one another is the primary virtue of the Christian. It is not only clear from the Gospels, but it is evident in other Scripture passages as well. Perhaps the most beautiful description of it is from St. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians:
If I speak in human and angelic tongues
but do not have love,
I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal.
And if I have the gift of prophecy
and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge;
if I have all faith so as to move mountains
but do not have love, I am nothing.
If I give away everything I own,
and if I hand my body over so that I may boast
but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient,
love is kind.
It is not jealous,
love is not pompous,
it is not inflated,
it is not rude,
it does not seek its own interests,
it is not quick-tempered,
it does not brood over injury,
it does not rejoice over wrongdoing
but rejoices with the truth.
It bears all things,
believes all things,
hopes all things,
endures all things.
Love never fails.
(1 Corinthians 13:1-8)
Harry Potter chose to pity those who were living and were at the same time without love. He chose to come back from the eternal bliss that he had earned for himself because he knew that love did not have a chance in the world with Voldemort present in it.
Harry’s guiding thought was that if love is present in the world, there is still a chance for life. It should be our guiding thought as well.
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PRAYER
Good and gracious God, your Son gave us the doctrine of love–love of you and love of each other. We see it enacted in the example of people of fantasy and the real people that live in our world. Give us the grace to be people of love. Be with us, we pray. |
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GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT
Theme: Do not pity the dead. Pity the living and above all, those who live without love. (Professor Albus Dumbledore)
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(session: approximately 80 minutes)
1. What scene during this session of the movie is most striking? Why?
2. In the Gospel, Jesus makes the first of all commandments a dual commandment of love of God and love of neighbor. In your opinion, have Christians completely accepted this commandment? Yes or no and why?
3. Jesus practiced what he taught. Give some examples of how people are living this commandment today.
4. Jesus’ doctrine of love can change the world. Where in our world do we need this doctrine the most?
5. Suggestion: read the 1 Corinthians reading very slowly as a beginning meditation to a class.
6. The meditation makes the statement that if love is present in the world, “life” has a chance. What is the meaning?
7. Scene analysis: Voldemort kills the goblins. In your opinion, does such violence have any effect on the young people who are watching?
8. Scene analysis: Harry confronts Professor Snape without knowing the real story. We often act without knowing the facts. What is the best way to discover the truth before we act?
9. Scene analysis: Ron and Hermione kiss. What are some prerequisites that young love will last forever?
10. Scene analysis: Harry, Ron and Hermione save Malfoy and his friend, a truly Christian act since Jesus told us to love our enemies. Do most Christians believe this? Yes or no and why?
11. Scene analysis: Voldemort kills Snape, and Harry “comforts” him. Even though Harry still does not know the truth about Snape, he would have helped him if he could have. Do you see such examples of love of others in our world? Yes or no and why? |
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