April 8   [media presentation below] GospelThink Tuesday, April 8, Lent V JOHN 8:21-30 I AM Prayerthoughts a. Jesus tells the Jews that they will live and die without believing in Jesus. Granted that I believe in Jesus, does it show in my words, actions and thoughts? b. Jesus makes the distinction of what is below and what is above. What percentage of time during a week do I spend on things that are “below”—the things of this earth? And what percentage of time a week do I spend on “God-ly” things? c. The expression “I AM” is a direct statement that Jesus is God (the name given by God to Moses). I am obviously convinced that Jesus is God. What material things have people treated as “god” in our world, and have I given in to them? (This is the task of the meditation.) d. Jesus says that he has much to say in condemnation. What things that I do, say or think should be condemned? e. When Jesus is “lifted up” is a reference to Jesus’s crucifixion. It is then that they would realize that he is God. “Realize” is a good word for meditation. As I study my faith, what should I realize most of all? f. Jesus tells the Jews that the Father is always with him. God is always with me. What effect should that fact have on me? g. My prayerthoughts… Today, I will carry out letter c.
Some Thoughts on the Liturgy WHAT IS BELOW AND WHAT IS ABOVE + The theology of the liturgy today is the theology of Jesus’ redemption - the Book of Numbers: God’s directive to mount a serpent on a pole and then everyone who looks on will be saved, is a clear statement of the future cross on which Jesus was to die - and Jesus’ statement: when you lift up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I AM - and the theological reasoning: we will die unless we come to believe in the Lord Jesus + Believing in the Lord Jesus, according to Jesus in John’s Gospel is a matter of belonging to what is above - and it presents a good thought for meditation on our spiritual life - the contrast between belonging to what is below and to what is above - what is below breeds selfishness - what is above breeds holiness +What is below--- - what John keeps referring to as “the world” - is our concentration on what the world holds as important? - namely, the rise of power, pleasure and money - how much emphasis do we place on these things in our daily living? + What is above--- - namely, our whole involvement with God, that is, our spiritual development - our real desire to place the Gospel virtues into action in our lives + The problem involved in this contrast is that we want what is above, but we’re not willing to sacrifice what is below - that is the continual problem of Christianity, especially us in first world Christianity - we want what Jesus promises us, but we’re not willing to do much about it that deals with sacrifice + The Israelite people had to look on the seraph serpent mounted on a pole in order to live - that is the type of urgency that you and I should develop for the spiritual life - an urgency in which we are willing to sacrifice what is below for what is above.
MEDIA PRESENTATION Movie: "Coco" -- beginning session GUIDED BY A DREAM

JOHN 20:11-16

Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the body of Jesus had been. And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher.   

Gospelthink: Mary Magdalene was a special person who really wanted to be close to me. Am I a person that always wishes to carry out what the Lord wants?

Twelve year old Miguel had a dream that was totally different from anyone else in his family. He wanted above all to be a musician like the famous Ernesto de la Cruz. Allowing himself to be guided by his dream, he had to go behind his family's back to enter a music talent show in his town. In order to do it, he needed a guitar which he found in de la Cruz's shrine. But taking it brought a curse upon him, making him invisible to the town's people and a member of Land of the Dead. All along, he kept his dream to become a musician.

Mary of Magdala had a dream of what she wanted to do with her life. Since Jesus had touched her life in a special way, she wanted to follow him wherever it may lead. After Jesus' death, she did not know exactly what would happen, but her dream was still in tact. It meant of course that she would follow Jesus no matter what, even if he were stolen from the grave. Even before Jesus appeared to her, she was ready to pursue her dream of following the Lord.

In the movie, "Coco," Miguel had a dream that was much different from what his family wanted of him. They had assumed that he would be a shoemaker just like they were. But Miguel's dream was one of being a musician, in fact, being a famous musician very much like his idol Ernesto de la Cruz. He pursued his dream here on earth among the Land of the Living, and even in the Land of the Dead. When he had a chance to go back to the Land of the Living by renouncing his dream, he would not do it. He was convinced that his dream would guide him.

Such is the thought of every leader in our world. Leaders have an idea of what it is that they should follow in their lives. The dream may not be that of being a great musician as Miguel's was, but it will always have the idea of doing better than they are. It may come in the form of following the example of a great leader or doing the best they can with what they have.

Mary of Magdala knew what she wanted to do with her life because she possessed the dream that Jesus gave to her. Miguel in the movie "Coco" likewise allowed his dream of being a musician to be a guide in his life. When we are convinced of a dream, we will allow it to guide us.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, Your Son inspired so many people here on earth when He was here with us to be better than we are by nature. May we also accept His dream of a Kingdom of happiness and peace, and truly make it our own. Be with us, we pray. 

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GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: Following our dream often means that we will not follow what others expect or want us to do.
  
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(session: approximately 48 minutes)
1. What scene during this session is most striking to you and why?
2. Mary calls Jesus a "teacher" here. In your opinion, what is the best description of Jesus?
3. The meditation calls for us to follow our dreams. What is the best way to follow our dreams in our world today?
4. Mary of Magdala's dream was to follow the Lord wherever the Lord would lead.  What is the best way to follow the Lord in today's world?
5. In your opinion, do you think that most people always want to do better than they are?  

©2007 Capuchin Province of Mid-America
Fr. Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America