August 20

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Thursday, August 20

MATTHEW 22:1-14
The Wedding Feast

Prayerthoughts

a. I obviously desire to dine in the Kingdom, that is, go to heaven. Do I think of eternal life as often as I should?

b. According to Scripture scholars, these are all legitimate excuses since the wedding feast could last a couple of days. Do I make excuses so that I do not spend enough time to pursue my spiritual life?

c. Does the thought that the Lord has chosen other people “less than I am (in my selfish opinion)” upset me? Why?

d. Our God is the type of God who “makes” people come to enjoy the Kingdom. Do I think of our God to be a compassionate God?

e. Everyone is invited to the wedding feast. Is there anyone that I exclude in thinking of the people I pray for? Perhaps I should think of the people that I have a difficult time with right now praying that God will be part of their lives.

f. The wedding garment was given to the people as they enter the feast. There is no excuse for the man not to have it on. Putting it on implies a complete change of heart. What is holding me back from a complete turning to God?

g. The master condemns those who are without the proper disposition to change. Notice that it is the person’s own fault. He/she chooses not to change.

h. “Many are invited, but few are chosen.” I am among the “chosen” simply because I am thinking about what I can do to change. I should not become scrupulous about having eternal life. I simply must keep doing my best to change for the better.

i. My prayerthoughts…

Today, I will read Ezekiel 36:23-28 and write an important thought from it.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

THE INVITATION TO CHANGE

+ The meaning of Jesus’s story in the Gospel today is that his invitation to come to his Kingdom should change people’s lives

- the invitation was given to the Hebrew people of Jesus’s time, and because they did not accept it, they did not change their lives

- now in our own day, the invitation is given to us

- and it should change us

+ If we study Jesus’s story with that in mind, namely what it should do for us,

- we see that we might have to alter our way of thinking about some things in our lives

- it may be that we are not as open to the Lord as we should be

- it may be that the Lord is insisting that we come to his way of thinking, as he did with the Hebrew people of his day

- in fact, we are called to it in such a way that we may have to make a radical change

- that fact is symbolized in the wedding garment of the Gospel story which was probably given at the door of the celebration, and so there was no excuse not to put it on

- it means that we have to deliberately place upon ourselves the characteristics of the Kingdom of Jesus

- and in the process, change radically

+ The problem is, of course, that we don’t like to change, and we find all kinds of ways to stay away from it, no matter what area we are talking about

- but if our desire is real, and finally manage to change,

- then we will experience the great promise given to Israel in the reading from Ezekiel: “You shall be my people, and I will be your God”

+ Jesus has given us the invitation to his Kingdom

- in a sense, we have formally accepted the invitation: we are here

- we have put on the wedding garment

- now, we have to make it real

- and probably change some things

- it is not easy, and ultimately, why Jesus closed his story with the ominous words:

Many are invited; but few are chosen.

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Song: "Need a Favor" -- Jelly Roll

REAL PRAYER

The Gospel

LUKE 11:1-4

Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples." He said to them, "When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread and forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us, and do not subject us to the final test."

Gospelthink: I teach you how to pray.

"I only talk to God when I need a favor, and I only pray when I ain’t got a prayer. So, who the heck am I to expect a Savior if I only talk to God when I need a favor. But God I need a favor! I know Amazing Grace, but I ain’t been livin’ them words. Swear I spend most Sundays drunk than I have in church. Hard cover King James only been savin’ dust on the nightstand, and I don’t know what to say the time I fold my hands. I only talk to God when I need a favor." [Lyrics adjusted]

Scripture scholars tell us that this shorter former of the Our Father in Luke's Gospel is closest to what Jesus actually taught. And it should be noted that in the prayer, petition is certainly part of it, or in terms of the song from Jelly Roll: "God, I need a favor!"

But it must be noted that both Jesus and the song point out that petition is only part of prayer. Jesus teaches other parts of the prayer such as praise of God and forgiveness. And in the song, the person is forgetting about the other elements of prayer. He admits that he cannot expect a "Savior if I only talk to God when I need a favor."

Believing that God will answer our prayers is certainly part of a Christian's belief. And so the Christian must confidently ask God for help. But the Christian must also understand that in asking for a favor, she/he will recognize that God knows more than we do, and thus, may not give exactly what we ask for, but the Lord will always answer in some way.

The point of the song, however, is that we must be aware that this prayer of petition or asking for a favor is not the only kind of prayer that should be offered to God our creator. In our prayer pattern, there should be some prayer of thanksgiving and praise for the very gift of our lives and all the good things that we experience. And a prayer of forgiveness should be in order, as we acknowledge the fact that as people with free will, we do things that hurt ourselves and others.

But the song points out something further. If a Christian offers a prayer, thus expressing a belief in God, then the Christians' actions will be the actions of a truly committed Christian. As the song suggests, such a Christian will read the Scriptures and will be in control of the alcohol she/he consumes. In general, that is to say, the follower of Jesus will truly be a follower of Jesus.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, we who believe in you will always talk to you directly in prayer, and much of the time we will be asking for something. Help us to confidently continue to do that, but at the same time, understand every element of true prayer. Be with us, we pray.

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: Praying the prayer of petition is good, but prayer is much more than asking for something.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. What does the song "Need a Favor" teach young people?
2. In your opinion, do most people pray to their Higher Power? Yes or no and why?
3. What is the most important kind of prayer, as we think of prayer in terms of petition, thanksgiving, forgiveness or praise of our God?
4. Do you agree with the Church teaching that God will answer all of our prayers? Yes or no and why?
5. Give an example of a prayer of thanksgiving.
6. Give an example of a prayer asking for forgiveness.
7. In general, why should Christians pray?