aspider2

April 25

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Friday, April 25, Easter Friday

JOHN 21:1-14

I need food and companionship just as my disciples.

Prayerthoughts
a. In the passage, Jesus had risen from the dead; the disciples knew it, but they did not recognize Jesus. I am called to recognize the Lord in every person that I meet. How well do I do that?

b. The Lord addressed the apostles as “children.” In many ways, we should be like children who are trustful of the Lord. Do I see the Lord working in my life as a good thing and that he will guide me always?

c. Sometimes it seems as though the Lord is giving me a directive that does not make sense. It especially happens when something is happening to me that I wish were otherwise. I must take the time to see that the Lord is working with me in whatever that happens.

d. Concerning answers given to us. The Lord gives the answer to the problem that the apostles had—not catching the fish that they needed. Do I recognize that the Lord answers all of my prayers in his time and according to his will?

e. Have I tried to accept the answers that the Lord has given to me, even those that do not agree with my thought?

f. As Peter jumped into the sea, am I willing to go out of my way to work with the Lord in my life?

g. 153 is no doubt symbolic of something significant that scholars have guessed at. There is nothing “symbolic” in the Lord’s care for us. Have I thanked the Lord enough in my prayers?

h. My prayerthoughts…

Today I will offer something to the poor in the place where I live.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

HOW ARE YOU DOING

+ I believe that today’s liturgy can be viewed as a help to the discussion of personal spirituality

- it is a liturgy that suggests some essential elements of that spirituality

- elements that can challenge if we allow them to

+ Peter reminds the hierarchy of Jerusalem that it is in the power of the name of Jesus Christ that the man who was healed “stands before you perfectly sound”

- being perfectly sound—sanity—happens only if we are rooted in Jesus Christ

- and the Gospel gives us the pattern

+ Jesus begins with a question—how are you doing

- and then tells them what to do about it

- first of all—listen to what I tell you, do what I say

- learn from it, so that you can carry through with it

- and if you do, you will have incredible results

- 153 fish—symbolic of all the countries of the world—universal results, implying a unity that defies imagination

- so listen with the idea of carrying through—one action

- pour over the Scriptures, read some spiritual books

- and after you listen so that you can carry through

+ The second part of Jesus’ instruction--

- make the Eucharist part of your life

- all the scholars see a Eucharistic connotation in the meal that Jesus celebrates with his Apostles in the Gospel today

- we need the presence of Jesus every day

+ And if we do those two things—listen in order to carry through and eat of the Eucharist,

- then we will know, truly know the Lord Jesus, and truly be rooted in him

- the “end” of the spiritual life.

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Movie: "Spider-Man: No Way Home" -- final session

A HIGHER STANDARD

The Gospel

LUKE 12:47-48

LUKE 12:47-48

Jesus said: "That servant who knew his master's will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely; and the servant who was ignorant of his master's will but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating shall be beaten only lightly. Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more."

Gospelthink: I have been given much, and therefore I have great responsibility in the way I think, act and speak.

Following Dr. Strange's spell, Spider-Man's enemies all return, and they begin to cause mayhem in the city. Otto Octavious, Norman Osborn, Max Dillon and Flick Marco all bring their own specific evil to bear on the world. When Dr. Strange wants to return the villains to their worlds to be killed, Peter wants to cure them instead of having them die. But his concern backfires when the villains escape, and in the process fatally wound Peter's Aunt May who had told Peter that with great power, there must be greater responsibility. At first, Peter tries to follow her directive, but when May dies, he loses it, and sets about to kill his enemies, especially Norman Osborn/The Goblin who killed May. It takes Peter-Two and Peter-Three also from the multiuniverse to help Peter-One see what to do. Finally Dr. Strange casts a spell on the universe so that no one, even his friends, would not know that Peter is Spider-Man. And Spider-Man once again is alone to be the helper who brings about good.

Spider-Man's Aunt May knew the Gospels. At least she knew the principles that Jesus used to define what a disciple of His should look like. In one of His stories, Jesus was speaking of how earthly kings act in their kingdom. In a deliberately challenging conclusion to his story, He tells those of us who follow Him that we will be held to a higher standard than nonbelievers.

Or as Aunt May said it, "With great power comes greater responsibility." And at first, Peter Parker/Spider-Man wanted to follow what his Aunt May said. He was surrounded by his enemies, and Dr. Strange was about to send them back to their universes to die, but Peter wanted to follow Aunt May's advice. He wanted to cure them before they went back so that their lives could be happier. Then when one of them killed his Aunt May, he lost his good desires.

His actions and thoughts are not unlike ours. When Jesus calls us to the higher standard, saying that to the person who has been given much, much will be required, at first, our human natures will deny that we have been given much. Then we look around us and honestly see that we have so much. And we understand that we are called to be thankful people with actions that show we are thankful to our God.

But trials often come our way--enemies not unlike the enemies of Spider-Man, enemies who hurt us in some often unforgivable way, and we tend to forget how much we have been given.

God has blessed us and called us to respond accordingly--in good times and in bad.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, if we are honest with ourselves, we know that You have given us much as we live our lives here on earth. Help us be grateful followers of You and be the type of follower who will always acknowledge Your guidance by a consistent desire to follow Your Son all the time. Be with us, we pray.

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: The Christian directive of showing greater responsibility when we have greater powers is difficult in challenging times.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(session: approximately 69 minutes)
1. What scene during this session of the movie was most striking to you? Why?
2. What are some examples of the "higher standard" that Jesus calls us to?
3. In your opinion, do most followers of Jesus carry out his desire to be "greater" in our actions, words and thoughts? Give an example of a Christian who does.
4. Why is it true that every Christian has been given great things?
5. What is the most important way to show that we have been given greater things?
6. What does the movie "Spider-Man: No Way Home" teach young people?