TGIMMuma

August 19

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Wednesday, August 19

MATTHEW 20:1-16
I tell you a story of a person who is very generous.

Prayerthoughts
a. I am involved with some work right now. Am I working as best I can, that is, following what I should be doing according to the guidelines that have been given me?

b. What is just and fair is a guide for the landowner. In my dealings with people, am I always at least just and fair?

c. The landowner was obviously generous in giving more than just wages to those who worked less. In what I do, am I generous in giving more than I can?

d. The English translation of “they thought” is important. The judgment of others begins in our thinking. In my thinking, am I too harsh on others? Perhaps I should make a practice of praying for those that I think ill of for whatever reason.

e. They grumbled, that is, they complained about something that they thought was right. Do I complain too much?

f. Sometimes I have the right to complain. Have I always checked the facts before I complain? When I have the right to complain, do I complain to the proper authorities?

g. When the landowner was generous, it upset others. As I work with everyone in my group, do I try to be aware of how everyone feels and adjust as best I can?

h. My prayerthoughts…

Today, I will read Ezekiel 34:1-11 and write an important thought from it.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

THE VIRTUE OF GENEROSITY

+ Over the past couple of days in the Gospel, we have heard about the importance of giving of what you have

- sell, give and follow, the Lord told the rich official

- Peter and the Apostles are praised by Jesus for “giving up”

- closely connected with the idea of giving is the thought of generosity

- which is even more than giving

- giving can be a matter of justice

- in fact, I think a point can be made that says that it is a matter of justice that we give back to God by giving to the poor and giving of ourselves

- in the first reading’s thought, it was a matter of justice that the shepherds of Israel should have given to the people and did not

+ Generosity is not a matter of justice

- it is a matter of love, going beyond what is necessary, doing more than expected

- Jesus tells us today that this must be a virtue of the spiritual life

- we must learn to be generous people

- that is, one of the marks of a spiritual person is that we are doing something for someone for which we are not paid

- so this goes beyond working on behalf of others when it is our job

- yes, we should be kind and loving and generous at our job, etc., but we are paid to do it

- generosity goes beyond what we are called, or paid, to do

- involving doing more than expected at the job, in the home, in the community

+ Generosity is not always a big thing

- in fact, most of the time it is a small thing:

- the offering to help and really meaning it, actually going out of our way to do something for someone who doesn’t expect it

+ Generosity also implies that we want nothing in return

- not even a “thank you”, although that may be the courteous thing to do

- the idea is that we give—period

- that remains one of the most difficult things for us human beings

- we expect recognition

- but if that is the case, it is often nothing more than showing off

+ Giving to others is difficult; generosity which is giving more than expected is even more difficult.

+++++

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?