[media presentation below] GospelThink Thursday, February 8 MARK 7:24-30 I deliberately tested the lady whose daughter was sick because I wanted to know her faith. Prayerthoughts a. The Lord did not want to be seen. There are times in my life when I should not be seen and just give myself to prayer. What is my prayer time during the day? b. The girl had an “unclean spirit.” We are not certain about the meaning of the term, but we know that there was some affliction in the girl’s life. There are a number of people that I run into day after day who are afflicted with something. Do I try to pay attention to their needs? c. The person was not Jewish. There are a number of people who are not believers in my faith as I believe. Am I open to their understanding of God? d. Jesus seems to insult the lady, probably as a means to test her faith. Is my faith in Jesus a guiding factor in everything that I do? e. It is obvious that the lady had faith and accepted the insult, but did not lose her belief,    and Jesus rewarded her for it. When I am insulted, I should respond with no thought of revenge. Has revenge played a part in the way I behave? f. My prayerthoughts…   Today, I will read Genesis, chapter 2, and write an important thought from it. Some Thoughts on the Liturgy  THE PRAYER OF PETITION  + The so-called “Second Creation Story” continues in the book of Genesis in the first reading today           – something to consider in this creation story: man is created before all the animals showing the importance of people  + It is an important thought for Jesus’ ministry           – Jesus was always into the idea of “people are more important than law or tradition”           – and today’s Gospel is a statement of that, and it goes a bit further  + Actually I look at the Gospel to be an important one for the understanding of the prayer of petition           – Jesus makes it clear throughout the Gospels that we should be asking God for help, no matter what the circumstances           – here the Gospel is a study of a particular circumstance                      – what do you do when it not only seems like God is not answering;                                – it actually seems as if God is deliberately ignoring your request           – such is the feeling of many of us in the prayer of petition when we are asking and it seems as though God is not listening  + What do you do?           – studying this woman                      – first of all, she accepts the Lord’s words—she doesn’t contradict him at all—saying to us that if we feel that we are not heard, then another answer may be given to us, and we have to be willing to accept that                      – but the lady tells us also—you keep pointing out to the Lord your faith in him                                – “Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s scraps.”                                – and Jesus says: “For saying this”—that is, for your persistence in asking, then your request is granted  + The prayer of petition is an important element of our spiritual lives           – we should ask of God because we know that God will always answer. MEDIA PRESENTATION Song: “Heat Waves” — Glass Animals VULNERABILITY CAN BE POSITIVE The Gospel JOHN 13:36-38 Simon Peter said to him, “Master, where are you going?” Jesus answered [him], “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, though you will follow later.” Peter said to him, “Master, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow before you deny me three times.”

Gospelthink: Jesus predicts that Peter will deny him. Have I denied the Lord by some of my words, actions or thoughts?

“Last night all I think about is you; can’t make you happier now. Usually I put something on TV so we never think about you and me, but today I see our reflections clearly; in Hollywood, laying on the screen. You just need a better life than this. Heat waves been faking me out. You can’t fight it, you can’t breathe, you say somethin’ so lovin’ but I gotta let you go. I don’t wanna be alone. You know it hurts me too. You’ll be better off in someone new. I’ll say goodbye.”

There was immense pain involved in Jesus’ act of redemption. The physical pain was part of it, but another part of it, and perhaps even more painful for the human Jesus, was the pain of rejection. He knew, for example, that his close friend Peter would deny him, and so he felt it from the depths of his being. At the same time, he knew that he would move on with his redemptive love. Studied from Peter’s point of view, there was immense pain for him as well as he looked back at Jesus’s prediction and then his denial (John 18:17.25-27). It was an extremely painful thing for Peter to admit his humanness. But it is important to see that Peter was able to move on in his life, even though the pain would remain. Love of another in a romantic way can cause pain because we never know what our futures will be, and likewise we never know how the other will eventually feel. It is a chance that we take, and in the Christian understanding of things, we are called to show such love to everyone. Jesus showed the way by giving us the example of love no matter what the pain. The group Glass Animals’ song “Heat Waves” is a song of a man in the relationship who broke up with his fiancée for some reason and now is looking at that relationship in a philosophical way. According to the leader of the group, the song is about realizing you cannot make everyone happy. And when we try to, then we have to cover up our feelings and hide inside TV shows or video games or drink or drugs.  Being vulnerable should be a positive thing, he says. We are human beings, and in the course of our lives, certainly our love lives, because we are human, there is a chance that we will hurt someone or hurt ourselves. It is clear in Glass Animals’ song. But what is important for us is to realize that there will be pain–we are vulnerable–but we will have a chance to move on in life and love.

PRAYER Good and gracious God, being human is something that You knew because Your only Son Jesus became human. He therefore knew pain. Help us be able to understand our pain, and understand that sometimes we hurt others. Give us the grace to always love as you taught us. Be with us, we pray.

+++++ GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT   Theme: We must understand that because of our human nature, we will be hurt, but we can move on in life. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. What does the song “Heat Waves” teach young people today? 2. Describe your opinion of what Peter the Apostle was like. 3. Where do you see the most pain in the world right now? 4. [not to be shared with the group] In your own life right now, where is the most difficult pain, and what is the best way to work with it? 5. In general, what are the ways to “work with” the pain that we experience in our lives? 6. In general in your opinion, is our world following Jesus’s directive to love? 7. What is your understanding of “being vulnerable”?