April 12

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Saturday, April 12, Lent V

JOHN 11:45-56

I made enemies during my lifetime because of my teaching.

Prayerthoughts
a. Some believed in Jesus; some did not; obviously, I believe in Him. Do I show it enough in my life?

b. A good question for our lives: "What are we going to do?" Given what I know about the Christian way, what is the most important change I should make in my life?

c. John the evangelist gives a "commentary" about Jesus's actions, that Jesus died for the nation to gather everyone into one people. John's view gives to us the challenge to try to be united as one people. Do I find myself excluding anyone in my thoughts and actions?

d. We know that we would never plot to "kill" Jesus as His enemies did. But we may "kill" the reputation of others when we hurt them by talking about them, etc. Perhaps we ought to take some time to think of how we treat others whom Jesus told us are "Him,” that is, Jesus.

e. Jesus spent some time away from the crowd with his disciples, presumably teaching them. In my opinion what are the three most important things that Jesus taught and why? (This is the task of the meditation.)

f. My prayerthoughts…

Today, I will carry out letter e.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?

+ The Gospel presents an interesting question

- the chief priests and the Pharisees are wondering what to do about this Jesus who was performing all kinds of signs

- the question was: what are we going to do?

- some asked the question out of legitimate concern—they really did feel that this Jesus was going to cause too much of a stir and the Romans would react accordingly

- some asked it, I’m sure, out of jealousy and the desire to have the power that Jesus had

+ We know the ending of the story, of course

- and we know that the chief priests and Pharisees went on to do exactly what Caiaphas suggested—to sacrifice Jesus

- but some good personal meditation time can be spent with that question: what are we going to do?

- as we strive to be stronger in our spiritual lives, what are we going to do given what Jesus has done and said

- how are we going to act as a result of our friendship and acceptance of Jesus into our lives?

+ Obviously, we would not act as the chief priests and Pharisees did in the Gospel

- we would not sacrifice Jesus, give him over to torment because of our jealousy of him

- but this liturgy presents some interesting answers of what we should do and should not do as we ask the question, “what are we going to do about Jesus in our lives?”

+ What we should do can be taken from the first reading from the prophet Ezechiel

- we should act like the people that God has chosen

- Ezechiel prophesies that the chosen race will be God’s people

- there were difficulties with the Israelite people carrying through on such a promise,

- but there are difficulties with our promise as well—if we are going to be God’s people, our actions should take on the characteristics of such a promise

- true love of God, but especially true love of others, as evidenced in the way we act toward all, especially family members and those close to us

+ What we should not do is given by the actions of the chief priests and Pharisees in the Gospel

- even if they were sincere in sacrificing Jesus for the sake of their state of life

- they should never have treated Jesus the way they did

- there must be always a sincere respect for another person, no matter whether one agrees with that person or not

- it was lacking in Jesus’s time among the religious leaders

- that respect is still lacking as we deal with people of different religions and different beliefs from ours

- we must have respect for others

+ What do we do about the fact that Jesus is part of our lives?

- that is a good question to think about.

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Song: "Love Yourself" -- Justin Bieber

LOVE OF SELF VERSUS SELFISHNESS

The Gospel

MATTHEW 16:24-26

MATTHEW 16:24-26

Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life?”

Gospelthink: Jesus gives us the threefold directive to deny oneself, take up one's cross and follow him. It begins with denying oneself. Am I too selfish in the things that I do?

"For all the times that you rain on my parade, and all the clubs you get in using my name, you think you broke my heart, you think I'm crying on my own. Well, I ain't, and I didn't wanna write a song 'cause I didn't want anyone thinking I still care. I don't. I don't wanna hold back. Maybe you should know that my mama don't like you and she likes everyone, and I never like to admit that I was wrong. And I've been so caught up in my job, didn't see what's going on. But now I know. You should go and love yourself.”

The threefold directive that Jesus gives in order to be his follower begins with arguably the most important statement, namely to deny oneself. Actually, the correct understanding of love of self is quite necessary in our world of love and life, but the evil of selfishness is the subject of Jesus' condemnation. Selfishness is too much love of self. Related to pride, it is probably the number one evil in a person's personal life as pride is the "first" capital sin.

Justin Bieber speaks of a man in the relationship who finally has realized that his girlfriend is quite selfish and therefore has lost his love. He speaks of it in rather strong terms, saying that he just does not care anymore. He may have been at fault because he was caught up in his job and does not like to admit that he was wrong, as he says, but for sure, now he knows. He tells her that her love of self is only selfish. And selfish love is not love at all.

Perhaps one of the most important distinctions in life is the difference between love of self and selfish love. It essential to learn it if we want to enjoy a true love relationship. Love of self involves a true understanding of what we should be in life. It includes the importance of humility and objectivity as we study who we are and the way we treat others. It involves an honest assessment why we do the things that we do.

Selfish love is nothing more than the evil of pride run rampant. We feel internally that the only way of thinking of life is in the way that we want. It loses sight of the importance of others, and only pays attention to another when we can get something out of it. Love for such a person is always conditional and never will be defined in terms of mutual love.

When we manage to achieve a true love of self, then selfishness will never be part of our lives.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, Your Son told us that in to be a true follower of His, one had to control selfishness. Give us the grace to shun selfishness and to learn a true love of self in all that we do. Be with us, we pray.

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: Selfishness destroys any relationship.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. In your opinion, how should we "deny ourselves"?
2. In your opinion, what does it mean to "carry one's cross"?
3. In your opinion, do most Christians really try to follow Jesus in the way they live? Yes or no and why?
4. The song has rather direct words that are almost words of hatred of another. What is the Christian way of "breaking a love relationship"? Do most people carry through with it?
5. The song says that we often get so "caught up in our jobs" that we miss important things like forming correct love relationships. What are the best ways to bring about good love relationships?
6. Why is "selfishness" such a evil?
7. In your own words explain the difference between true love of self and selfishness.
8. Give an example of "selfishness" that is clear from the news.
9. What is the difference between conditional love and unconditional love?
10. What is the best way to get rid of selfishness in our lives?
11. What does the song "Love Yourself" teach young people?