easter

April 17

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

April 17, Holy Thursday

JOHN 13:1-15

Fully Aware

Prayerthoughts

a. Jesus had the idea that his death would be occurring very close to this day. We all know that we will die. Are we preparing well for that moment?

b. How does it feel to know that Jesus loved us and will always love us? What should it lead me to do?

c. The devil “induced”—literally, “The devil put into the heart that Judas should hand him over.” The devil or evil is responsible for the evil in our world. In what areas do I see the most evil, and is there anything that I can do about them personally?

d. Jesus was “fully aware” of what he was doing. He wanted to teach his apostles something. Am I fully aware—dedicated to obtain the knowledge—of what I am called to do in my work, in my family, in my community?

e. The interaction with Peter. Peter knows that he needs help. I know that I need help in the spiritual area of my life. Do I take the time each day to reflect on being a better person?

f. Jesus asks his apostles whether they “realize” what he has done. Do I spend time with the Scriptures, trying to “realize” the Lord’s action in life and in my life?

g. “Wash one another’s feet” means that I should care for people. Are there some people that I see often whom I should care for a little more?

h. On Holy Thursday, we believe that the Lord instituted the Eucharist.(See second reading of Mass of Holy Thursday.) Have I received the Eucharist often?

i. My prayerthoughts…

Today, I will read Exodus, chapter 12 and write an important thought from it.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

SERVICE

+ John’s Gospel does not give an account of the institution of the Eucharist

- instead he gives what we read in the Gospel

- I’m always struck by how similar the introduction to Jesus’s act of service is to the institution of the Eucharist in the other Gospels

- it’s as if John’s Gospel wants the reader to think that he is about to give the account of the Eucharist using the same words

- but he doesn’t

- as if to say: you thought I was going to describe the Eucharist to you, but I have in fact described something just as important as the Eucharist, namely service of others

+ No doubt—the Eucharist is important

- we are a Eucharistic church

- the center of everything we do, and the first two readings bring that point home

- but John’s Gospel points out an action that is just as important for people after they have received the Eucharist: the action of service to others

- Jesus’ message today is crystal clear

- nothing hidden here, it is a direct statement: if you are going to be a Christian, a follower of Christ, you must serve others

- If I, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.

+ We may have forgotten how to be a servant because we have forgotten how to give

- a rather strong indictment was leveled at the American Christian Church recently

- it came from a relatively conservative fundamentalist magazine, and an American who was proud to be an American—as he said—who made the accusation

- it bears listening to even if it may be too strong:

- “Americans are for the most part too greedy. They cannot give without expecting something in return. Hardly anyone gives back to God what they should, for example. And when they actually give, older people often give only if their names can be placed on plaques or facades or receive tax breaks. Younger people often give to get what they want. Whether American people are rich or poor, it seems that any giving they do must have some reward. They don’t know how to give without getting something back.”

- whether we agree or not, it is a fact that the real concept of giving involves no desire about whether we get something back or not

- and it is something to keep in mind as we reenact the service and the giving of Jesus.

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Song: "The A Team" -- Ed Sheeran

IT IS NEVER "TOO COLD"

The Gospel

MATTHEW 28:1-10

MATTHEW 28:1-10

After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, approached, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. His appearance was like lightning and his clothing was white as snow. The guards were shaken with fear of him and became like dead men. Then the angel said to the women in reply, "Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, 'He has been raised from the dead, and he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him.' Behold, I have told you." Then they went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce this to his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me."

Gospelthink: Jesus is risen! We should always act like his disciples.

"White lips, pale face, breathing in snowflakes, burnt lungs, sour taste, lights gone, day's end, struggling to pay rent, long nights, strange men. And they say she’s in the class A team, stuck in her daydream, been this way since 18, but lately her face seems slowly sinking, wasting, crumbling like pastries. And they scream, the worst things in life come free to us ‘cause we’re just under the upper hand and go mad for a couple of grams, and she don’t want to go outside tonight, and in a pipe she flies to the Motherland or sells love to another man. It’s too cold outside for angels to fly."

Ed Sheeran explained his song "The A Team" this way: "A drug like crack cocaine is called a "Class A" drug. That's in the same category as heroin. Instead of making it clear and just saying what the problem was, I'd say, 'She's in the 'class A' team.' It was kind of my way of covering up (a person's addiction), I guess, making it a bit more subtle." He explains further that the song came from an experience that he had when he sang at a homeless shelter. "I was 18 at the time and kind of quite naïve,” he says. “So, I was a bit taken aback by some of the stories that I heard. I got home that night and I just wrote a lot of the lyrics. I wanted to write it so it sounded kind of upbeat, so you wouldn't really know what it's about, because it's quite a dark subject."

Not only is the song dark because of the situation he is describing, but it is likewise depressing in that there seems to be no way out of the experience. "It's too cold outside for angels to fly," he sings, as if to say, that even angels had given up.Interestingly enough, however, he allows the music to say that there is hope by making the sound of the song, as he says, be "upbeat."

A Christian always has hope. That which gives such hope is Jesus' Resurrection. The fact that Jesus rose from the dead proved that everything about him was true. He was indeed the Son of God, and therefore he could urge his followers, as he did so many times during his stay on earth, "Do not be afraid." The Christian has nothing to fear.

Part of our fear stems from our addictions. There are physical addictions in life as sung about in Ed Sheeran's song, but in every one of our lives right now, there are some addictions to power or money or selfish desires that can hurt us, and often, as with the song, we can be led to despair. There seems to be no solution: it is even too "cold" for angels.

The Christian response to despair is a continuous call to the One who told us that we should not be afraid. We know that He will help. We know that together with Him, we will win.

PRAYER .

Good and gracious God, we believe that you raised Jesus from the dead, and that he is truly the Son of God. We always hope then that he will be with us, helping us no matter how difficult our lives become. Give us the grace to always make Jesus a true guide for us. Be with us, we pray.

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: There are no hopeless situations for the Christian.

THE GOSPEL
1. No one witnessed the Resurrection of Jesus nor does Matthew suggest that anyone did. He and the other evangelists tell only about the empty tomb and the appearances of Jesus. Why is the Resurrection of Jesus essential to the understanding of the Christian faith?
2. In your opinion, could the Christian faith "make sense" without the Resurrection?
3. What is most striking about the Resurrection account given here? Why?

THE SONG
1. Considering the description of the the lady on drugs as a whole, what is most striking of all of the phrases? Why?
2. Text analysis: "Stuck in her daydream." What is the meaning of the phrase?
3. Text analysis: "Just under the upper hand." What is the meaning of the phrase?
4. Text analysis: "Too cold outside for angels to fly." What is the meaning of the phrase?
5. Project: the presenter may want to make a presentation on the evils of drugs.
6. Why is the use of drugs considered a sin in the Catholic Church? See Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, numbers 2288-2291.

THE MEDITATION
1. In your opinion, how prevalent is the "drug culture" in today's schools? In today's society?
2. What can be done for a young person who is "hooked" on some drug like cocaine or alcohol? What is the first step in such a process?
3. When is there no way out for a person who is "hooked" on some drug?
4. Give your definition of "hope." See Catechism, numbers 1817-1821.
5. Why do you think Jesus urged his followers to not be afraid?
6. The meditation mentions the possibility of many addictions in our society. What is the evil that is most addictive in the world? Why?
7. Why can a Christian have confidence in Jesus?
8. What do you think the meditation means when it says that "we will win."
9. What does the song "The A Team" teach young people?