April 21

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Monday, April 21, Easter Monday

MATTHEW 28:8-15

I appear to people telling them not to be afraid.

Prayerthoughts
a. The women were overjoyed and ran to the apostles. As I study my life, am I as “joyful” as I should be, given that I am redeemed by the Lord? Do I show it by a “happiness” in the way I live?

b. A common phrase that Jesus uses in the Gospels is “Do not be afraid” as he does here. What is most fearful to me and why?

c. The chief priests gave money to the soldiers to tell a lie. Do I try to cover up my mistakes or am I honest in admitting them? Do I consider myself a “truthful” person?

d. The chief priests promise that they will keep the soldiers out of trouble. Do I participate in “cover ups” by bringing others into the falsehood with me?

e. Have I taken part in covering up something that I know to be false for no reason other than my own selfishness?

f. My prayerthoughts…

Today, I will read the Acts of the Apostles, chapter 2:1-35, and write an important thought from it.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

WITNESSES TO THE TRUTH

+ The Church celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus for one complete week, and it celebrates the hope that the Resurrection gives for another six weeks after this one

- during this week, every liturgy is like an Easter liturgy, each with its own little nuance

- today’s first reading is part of the activity of the early Christians after Jesus had risen from the dead

- in fact all of the Acts of the Apostles which we read during this time of the year reflects people who are true “witnesses” as this reading calls them

- the Gospel closes off Matthew’s primary statement about the Resurrection of Jesus, by refuting the story that everyone of the early Christians had heard—namely that his disciples stole the body of Jesus

+ Perhaps our thinking this morning should center around the idea of witnessing to the truth

- and think a little about both of those ideas: witnessing and witnessing to the truth

- the early Christians and we in our own time can be called witnesses of Jesus

- what it means, of course, is that we will speak on behalf of Jesus in whatever circumstance we find ourselves

- this really means something in adverse circumstances where to speak the name of Jesus, for example, would be death

- but we don’t live in those times usually

- our lives center more around the idea of reminding other people of what Jesus said

- it might mean things like

- not taking part in conversations which go against what Jesus said

- being pro-active in our circumstances to make sure the teachings of Jesus are upheld

- as simple a thing as reminding ourselves by a religious symbol where we work or in our home

- the early Christians were true witnesses, often witnessing by their deaths

+ And we are to witness to the truth

- Matthew points out that it was not the truth that the early Christians heard from the authority that Jesus’ body had been stolen

- I think you and I ought be very aware of the truth in our own worlds

- and be willing to speak it when necessary

+ Jesus’ Resurrection meant something fundamental for the early Christians

- because Jesus rose from the dead, their lives took on a whole different slant

- our lives ought to do the same.

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Movie: "Divergent" -- final session

CONTROLLING THE FREE WILL

The Gospel

MATTHEW 18:6-7

MATTHEW 18:6-7

Jesus said: “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of things that cause sin! Such things must come, but woe to the one through whom they come!”

Gospelthink: Jesus exaggerates, but he makes his point. Do I cause or have I caused others to sin?

The world of the movie "Divergent" in Chicago of the future, the only place left that was inhabitable on earth, was in turmoil. Caused by the Erudite faction who wanted to rule the society, the Erudite discovered a way to bring about control by forcing the Dauntless to subdue everyone in the society. In particular, they set about to kill anyone in Abnegation, the ruling party. Beatrice Prior, or "Tris" as she was known was Divergent and therefore resistant to the serum of control that Erudite used to govern others. She and fellow Divergent Tobias Eaton, known as "Four" slowly discovered that they had to break the evil designs of the Erudite and lead a small group of like-minded people to bring about peace to their society.

Jesus was adamant about people who caused others to sin. He was quite explicit about a person who might cause children to sin. At the same time, he warned anyone in the world who causes others to sin by using the phrase "woe to you." It is a phrase reserved in Scripture for warning people about the possibility of their own destruction if they deliberately refuse to understand what they are doing.

The evil people who led the Erudite faction in the movie "Divergent" wanted control. They wanted to be in charge so that they could have their own way. It is a common enough desire of human beings. We want to be "more important" or "more educated" than others. The way they devised to control others was to bring other people's minds into subjection, to make them follow what the people in charge wanted them to do. Taking away one's free will may be the greatest evil in our world.

From the very beginning of human existence, free will has been a part of human nature. It was a part that even the Creator would not take away, even if it meant that the person would harm him/herself. Free will was a sacred gift. Taking it away violates the very nature of a human being.

Forcing one's will on another therefore is always an evil. It is the fundamental sin of a human being as Jesus warns. But it is also true that we must have control of ourselves. Jesus' constant message was that we must not control anyone except ourselves. He knew that our free wills could indeed hurt us, and so his teaching was that we must control ourselves by freely accepting his guidance.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, we value the free will that You have given us, but sometimes we do not understand it, since we often want to control others. Give us the grace to recognize the need we have to control our own free wills. Be with us, we pray.

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: Forcing people to do evil by controlling their minds is perhaps the greatest evil in the world.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(session: approximately 67 minutes)
1. What scene during this session of the movie is most striking? Why?
2. The designation of "little ones" here probably refers to the disciples, and translates to adults causing other adults to sin. It is the sin of scandal from an adult point of view. In your opinion, thinking of adults in the world scandalizing other adults, what is the greatest scandal in the world? Why?
3. What is your understanding of the phrase "woe to.."?
4. Jesus' words are quite strong about scandal. Why do you think Jesus used such strong language at times in his life?
5. In our world today, what comes to your mind when someone says "control of another"?
6. In your opinion, do most people of our world "control" themselves? Yes or no and why?
7. What are the greatest fears that human beings must face?
8. Scene analysis: Al commits suicide after Tris does not forgive him. In your opinion, did Tris really "cause" Al's death? Yes or no and why?
9. Dialogue analysis: "Four" says that he does not want to be just "one thing." Why is it good to desire to think beyond our own personalities?
10. Tris' father sacrifices himself for the others. Where in our world do we see this type of martyrdom today?
11. What does the movie "Divergent" teach young people?