media presentation below] GospelThink Saturday, January 27 MARK 4:35-41 My apostles are very afraid during the storm but I was with them. Prayerthoughts a. The violent storm may very well be symbolic of the actions of the world. Have I allowed myself to be completely overcome by the problems that are part of my life without thinking that the Lord can help? b. When we realize the problems that overcome us and we finally cry out to the Lord, do I continue to turn to the Lord even after I receive the Lord’s help? c. In the different serious moments of my life, do I turn to the Lord, trusting that the Lord will really help me, and believe it with all of my heart? d. The Lord speaks to me the words he spoke to the apostles saying that I have little faith. Is my belief in God so real that it affects everything in my life? e. I am surrounded by the beauty (and sometimes violence) of creation. Do I allow that world to move me to praise my God? f. My prayerthoughts…   Today, I will read Hebrews, chapter 11, and write an important thought from it. Some Thoughts on the Liturgy  DO YOU NOT YET HAVE FAITH?  + There are a number of scholars who look at this Gospel from the point of view of an allegory             – it may indeed have happened the way Mark describes it                         – but many look at it as a statement about the way to treat crises and tragedies as a Christian  + We cannot always prevent crises and tragedies from happening             – in fact, an argument can be made that happiness and sorrow are necessary to each other                         – that one is meaningless without the other             – tragedies happen to everyone                         – and when they do, often God is called into question                                     – some use tragedies as a proof that God does not exist                                     – some use them as a way to get out of any belief so that they can follow their own rules                                     – most are in the situation of the Apostles in the Gospel today:                                                 – we simply don’t understand, and we yell at God:                                                             – doesn’t it matter to you that we are going to drown?                                                             – doesn’t it matter to you that we have done everything right, even followed you completely, and here we are suffering?  + Where tragedy is really tough is when it comes to the particular circumstances of our lives             – and we wonder why Jesus, God, is sound asleep and not aware of what’s happening to us, and so we wake him up and complain                         – teacher, doesn’t it matter to you that my children are messing up their lives                         – doesn’t it matter to you that I have prayed for months, years, for this good thing, and I haven’t received any of it                         – doesn’t it matter to you that our marriage is not as it should be                         – doesn’t it matter to you that my friend, my family member is dying of cancer             – Jesus, God, answers in a calm voice:                         – don’t you understand, do you not yet have faith –I’m here, that’s all you need  + A stronger faith is the object of this Gospel passage             – the classic definition of faith is given to us in the first reading from the letter to the Hebrews:             “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.”                         – that is, I place my trust that you, God, will work things out  + We probably have to work a little harder at what our faith should be doing to the way we live             – unfortunately, storms and tragedies are part of life                         – but fortunately for the person of faith, so is God. MEDIA PRESENTATION Song: “Burn” — Elle Goulding WE GOT THE FIRE The Gospel LUKE 2:27b-33 When the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, [Simeon] took him into his arms and blessed God saying: “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.” The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them.

Gospelthink: I began my life in a normal way but Simeon could tell that I was going to help the world. In my life, am I helping my own little world?

“We don’t have to worry ‘bout nothing ’cause we got the fire, and we’re burning something. They gonna see us from outer space. Light it up, like we’re the stars of the human race. When the light’s turning down, they don’t know what they heard. Strike the match, play it loud, giving love to the world. We’ll be raising our hands, shining up the sky ’cause we got the fire, and we gonna let it burn.”

The story of Simeon as suggested by the Gospel of Luke is the story of someone searching for salvation. Simeon finally found it in the young person that he held in his arms. As he now understood, Jesus was the person who would give the salvation, a light or fire for the world, that would free the world from evil forever. Jesus was to do it by spreading his doctrine of love which he later was to call his commandment (John 15:12). It was a love that he wanted his followers to make their own so that they could give it to everyone they met. In that way, the love became both light and fire, light for guidance, and fire to purify the evil in their own hearts and in the world. Ellie Goulding’s song “Burn” is a general statement of the direction that Jesus gave. She sings of people who have the fire. The excellent video shows a group of young people who are truly enjoying themselves as they light up the world. What it says, of course, is that that particular group of people have the fire of love in their hearts. And once they have that fire of love, people will be able to see it from outer space which literally one can do in the video. Obviously the song is meant for everyone, saying that if we all strive to have such a love of others, it would make life a lot better than it is now. Unfortunately, not everyone has accepted such a challenge of love. But if we did, then our personal world which is made up of personal feelings and judgments would change. And our external world, the world we interact with, a world which is too often more evil than good, would also change. Like Simeon, we would be able to accept the truth of Jesus and recognize that he is the light and fire of love that we must have. We would light up the world with love.

PRAYER Good and gracious God, your Son was the light and fire of love for our earth. May we both experience his presence and help carry through on his desire to make love the fundamental way of acting for our world. Be with us, we pray.

+++++ GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT   Theme: Christians must develop the fire of love within them, and then give it to others.  DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. The presentation in the temple in the Gospel depicts the parents of Jesus as faithful followers of the Jewish law. In general, do most people follow the law of the Church in their lives? Yes or no and why? 2. Define “salvation” as you understand it. See Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, numbers 456-460. 3. In what ways is Jesus “a light”? 4. Text analysis: “We’re burning something.” What is the meaning of the statement? 5. Text analysis: “the stars of the human race.” What is the meaning of the phrase? 6. If Jesus freed the world from evil forever, how is there still evil in our world? 7. In general, do most Christians show the love that Jesus wanted them to have? Yes or no and why? 8. Obtain a copy of the video to the song. What is most striking about the video? Why? 9. If Christians truly possessed the virtue of love in their hearts, how would the world change? 10. Why have people not accepted the challenge of love? 11. As you study the lives of people in general, what personal change should most people make? Why? 12. How should a Christian treat people who do not believe in Jesus’ idea of love? 13. What does the song “Burn” teach young people today?