[media presentation below] GospelThink Tuesday, February 6 MARK 7:1-13 I use strong words against the religious leaders because they were using religion as a weapon against me. Prayerthoughts a. The Jewish people of Jesus’ time tried to “purify” themselves and what they were involved in with external activity. Do I try to purify my thoughts and activities by keeping them holy? b. The “tradition of the elders” were some unwritten laws that had a binding force sometimes equivalent to the Mosaic Law. Do I show a proper respect for the traditions of other religions? c. The Lord brings up the topic of hypocrisy. Do I find myself being hypocritical by saying pious things, but not doing them? d. I praise the Lord in my words, but have I turned my heart to the Lord completely in all of my actions? e. Jesus accuses the Pharisees of disregarding God’s commandment and following human precepts. Do I find myself obeying Church law, for example, going to Church, but neglecting what the Lord wants me to follow, for example, being forgiving and so forth? f. God’s commandment is always the most important law to follow. What do I consider the three most important of God’s commandments, and do I follow them completely? (This is the task of the meditation.) g. Jesus gives an example of how we “say” that we are following God’s law, but actually following what we want God’s law to be. Am I following my will instead of God’s? h. My prayerthoughts…   Today, I will answer letter f above in written form. Some Thoughts on the Liturgy  WORSHIP FOR THE RIGHT REASON  + The beautiful and poetic story of creation continues in the book of Genesis           – the last three days of creation according to the author           – God is in charge of creation and indeed everything is good                      – from that magnificent beginning, the human mind will want to honor and obey God                      – but as human beings did that, and as they tried to follow what God was to specifically give to Moses later on                                – certain human traditions and laws settled in                                          – human traditions that actually took away from the main idea of honor and respect to God  + Jesus points out that that is exactly what had happened to the Pharisees and experts in the law           – they had started to pay attention to their own traditions more than what the law stood for                      – and they did not honor God as a result                      – even to the point of finding loopholes in the law for their own benefit—e.g., the law of korban           – and the Lord using some of the strongest language of Scripture—lip service only to God, their heart is far from God, only empty reverence is shown, disregard of God’s commandments, clinging to human tradition, nullifying God’s word  + It is a fact that one of the possible sins of people who frequent church, especially those who come to church often—namely us—           – is the sin of hypocrisy           – by the very fact that we are doing more than others,                      – you and I have to carefully study why we are doing this                                – look carefully at the strong words of Jesus Christ, the Guide that you and I have chosen to follow in life: the possibility of lip service, empty reverence                                          – that is, being here for the wrong reasons           – we are here to worship God through Jesus—period—                      – and as we worship God through Jesus, we listen to what Jesus says to us                                – and we really try to do it                                          – and if it’s real, it won’t be empty, it won’t be merely words or lip service                                          – it is something that takes over every ounce of our being           – and will be evident in the way we conduct our words, actions and even thoughts. MEDIA PRESENTATION Song: “Catch My Breath” — Kelly Clarkson TIME TO CATCH MY BREATH The Gospel LUKE 21:36-37 During the day, Jesus was teaching in the temple area, but at night he would leave and stay at the place called the Mount of Olives. And all the people would get up early each morning to listen to him in the temple area.

Gospelthink: My pattern was to work and pray. It is a pattern that I should follow in my own life.

“I don’t wanna be left behind; distance was a friend of mine, catching breath in a web of lies. I’ve spent most of my life riding waves, playing acrobat, shadowboxing the other half, learning how to react. I’ve spent most of my time catching my breath, letting it go, turning my cheek for the sake of the show. Now that you know this is my life, I won’t be told what’s supposed to be right. It’s all so simple now. Catch my breath, no one can hold me back, I ain’t got time for that. You helped me see the beauty in everything.”

Kelly Clarkson viewed her song “Catch My Breath” as a special song on the tenth anniversary of her entrance into the music scene after winning the right to be called “American Idol” in 2002. She introduces the song this way: “To celebrate the strength and longevity that my fans, friends, and family have supported me with, I wrote this song ‘Catch My Breath’ with one of my best friends (Jason Halbert) that has seen me through everything. This song represents who I’ve been, what I’ve felt, and where I’m headed as not only an artist but as a thirty year old that is now smart enough to know that it’s time to stop, catch my breath, and be proud of not only what has been accomplished but of all the people that have helped me become the woman I am today.” In other words, she is taking the time to do some serious thinking about what she has become and what she wants to be. When one manages to take that time, one sees immediately that others have helped bring about beauty in one’s life. In Kelly Clarkson’s words, “You helped me see the beauty in everything.” For Jesus, it was his Father God that helped him. In fact, he would close every day during his ministry days, according to Luke’s Gospel, in the Mount of Olives in prayer. In terms of the song, his Father helped him see the beauty in everything, and so Jesus took the time to “catch his breath” and think about his ministerial life. We do not know whether Kelly Clarkson had prayer in mind as she thanked the people who were primarily responsible for bringing beauty into her life. But, having been inspired by Gospel singers early in her life, and being very generous with her money to needy causes at the present time, one might guess that she did. “Catching one’s breath” and “realizing the beauty in one’s life” easily lends itself to prayer–thanking our God for what has happened in our lives, and asking God to be with those who have helped us grow. There really is beauty in every one of our lives. There has indeed been some pain and sorrow also. Growth is not always easy. But the beauty is there, and every once in a while, it is good to “catch our breath” and take the time to thank the people who have brought it about for us.

PRAYER . Good and gracious God, there is beauty in my life, even though things may not have gone the way that I have always wanted. But I know it is you through the help of others that have helped me. Thank you, and be kind to those who have been so good to me. Be with me, I pray.

+++++ GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT Theme: We all need the chance to stop for a while, catch our breath, and think about what we have become and what we want to be. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. The Mount of Olives in the Gospel was a special place of prayer for Jesus. In your opinion, do most of the Christian people take time for prayer in their lives? Yes or no and why? 2. Luke’s Gospel says that the pattern for Jesus’ ministry was teaching during the day and then prayer at night. As you have heard the Gospel over the years of your life, what was the primary teaching of Jesus? Why? 3. Luke says that all the people would get up early in order to listen to him. In our day, how do we “listen” to Jesus? 4 Text analysis: “I don’t want to be left behind.” How are we “left behind” in today’s world? 5. Text analysis: “Distance was a friend of mine.” Explain the meaning of the sentence. 6. Text analysis: “Catching breath in a web of lies.” What do you think the phrase refers to? 7. Text analysis: “Turning my cheek for the sake of the show.” What is meaning of the phrase? 8. Text analysis: “Catch my breath.” What is the meaning of the phrase? 9. What is most striking about Kelly Clarkson’s statement as reported in the meditation? 10. In your opinion, do most people take the time to do some serious thinking about who they are and what they have become? Yes or no and why? 11. Define “prayer” in your own words. Why is it important in a Christian’s life? See Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, numbers 2566-2567, 2697-2699. 12. What are things of “beauty” in your life right now? 13. Analysis: “There really is beauty in every one of our lives.” Granted that this is a true statement, give some examples of situations where it is difficult to discover the beauty. Are these exceptions or can they be explained another way? 14. What does the song “Catch My Breath” teach young people?