TGIMMuma

August 19

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Monday, August 19

MATTHEW 19:16-22
I call you to be as close to perfect as you can be by giving.

Prayerthoughts
a. In my opinion, what is most important for me to gain eternal life?

b. Jesus points out that “good” is an attribute of God. Do I look at the present direction of my life as “good”?

c. Can I reply with the young man that I have kept all of those commandments since I was very young?

d. What is apparent to me as I study my income and giving to others, especially the poor? Should I make some adjustments?

e. As the young man, I have many possessions. Obviously, the Lord wants me to look at my “possessions.” Do I have too much? Should I make give some of my “stuff” away?

f. The young man left his relationship with the Lord. I have not left since I am thinking of this Gospel passage, but are there some things that are keeping me back from a relationship with the Lord?

g. My prayerthoughts…

Today, I will list five things from my possessions that I should give away.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

SELL, GIVE AND FOLLOW

+ The Gospel is one of the primary statements of the type of people who will make up the Kingdom that Jesus is preaching about

- it will be made up of people in two stages of spiritual perfection

- the first are the people who keep the commandments

- Jesus mentions a couple of Moses’ commandments and one of his own

- the “further” stage are the people who learn to do three things on behalf of God: sell, give and follow

+ We are trying to follow that first stage if we have accepted the spiritual life

- perhaps we should concentrate on that further stage, what might be called a deeper stage of spirituality

- it is one of the New Testament statements of stewardship

- a concept which is very difficult for our society to comprehend and put into effect

1 – sell what you have

- there are some things that one cannot do away with obviously

- but the gist of the passage is not to have excess, more than we need

- that is, to have enough to live, but only enough to live

- our society goes directly against this thought with our understanding of saving and investing

- saving and investing can be done if it stays within the guidelines of having enough and only enough

2 – give to the poor

- not only does Jesus go directly against our best financial advice

- he even directs that we give away the earnings that we make, the earnings that we do not need

- give to those who need

- either through the local parish or by ourselves

3 – follow Jesus

- only when other things do not get in the way can we follow Jesus, that is, accept what he says and does

+ In the first reading, Ezekiel’s whole life was a kind of parable for the Israelite person

- saying in effect: know that the Lord is working even in bad situations

- the Lord wants to work in our lives

- but there are so many things that keep us from seeing what the Lord wants.

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Song: "Uma Thurman" -- Fall Out Boy

POWER TO BECOME

The Gospel

JOHN 1:10-13

The Word was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him. But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God.

Gospelthink: I came into your world and you have the power to accept me. Am I showing that I have chosen the Lord to guide me?

"I can move mountains; I can work a miracle. I'll keep you like an oath: ‘May nothing but death do us part.' She wants to dance like Uma Thurman. Bury me 'til I confess. She wants to dance like Uma Thurman, and I can’t get you out of my head. You’ll find your way and may death find you alive."

The group Fall Out Boy's song "Uma Thurman" recalls the actress Uma Thurman in some movies in which she starred. Ultimately, it is about the power that a young lady has over the man in a relationship. In the group's description, they say that she can "move mountains" and "work a miracle." The young lady is in charge of her life, and she understands that she can become whatever she wants as she sets up her relationship with the man.

In the superb beginning of John's Gospel, the evangelist describes the power of the Word who was with the Father for all time and together with his Father created the world in which you and I dwell. But he also describes the depravity of the human race, some of whom refused to accept the Creator. But fortunately for our race, some did accept Him by choosing to be born "of God." It was to them that He gave the power to become God's children.

Like the lady in Fall Out Boy's song, we now have the power to become whatever we want in God's world. We are indeed the children of God that John spoke of, but as children of God, we can still choose to reject Him since we all have free will. The call of the Word, of course, is a call to accept Him with all of our hearts and enable us to remain the true children of God which we chose at one time.

But we have free will also. That will never be taken away from us, even if we turn away from the Creator. We choose what we can be. It is up to us. The world will improve only when we choose to be the children of God that God wants us to be. We truly have the power; we can use it if we want.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, You have given us the power to be Your children. Help us accept Your help and grace to become more dedicated in our endeavor to be with You every moment of our lives. Be with us, we pray.

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: Everyone has the power to be who they want to be.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. In what ways have some people not accepted Jesus into their lives?
2. Fundamentally, how should a "child of God" behave in today's world?
3. Text analysis: "I can move mountains; I can work a miracle." What is the meaning of the sentence?
4. What role does "dancing" play in a love relationship?
5. What does it mean when someone is in "charge of their lives"?
6. What is the best thing about having a "free will"? What is the worst thing about it?
7. How is it true to say that we can "become what we want" in this world of ours?
8. What does the song "Uma Thurman" teach young people?