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August 5

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Tuesday, August 5

MATTHEW 14:22-36

The Lord’s Presence

Prayerthoughts

a. The Lord spent time in prayer. Do I pray enough in my life?

b. In life, our “boat,” that is, our lives are being tossed about and it seems that the things are “against us.” There are many situations that are difficult to deal with. In general, how well have I dealt with those difficult situations?

c. The apostles were terrified. Jesus’s presence may be a frightening happening when I do not understand how he is present in the situation. Have I allowed some situations of my life to be so overwhelming that I have given up on the Lord?

d. Peter wants “proof” that it is the Lord. Is my faith strong enough to accept the Lord into my life without proof that He exists?

e. “How strong the wind was” translated into modern language may mean “how overwhelming things are in my life.” Have I tuly turned to the Lord in those times?

f. They brought to Jesus all who were sick. Am I as concerned as I should be about people close to me who are ill? Should I show more concern by a phone call or the like?

g. My prayerthoughts…

Today I will write a prayer thanking the Lord for His presence in my life.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

REACHING OUT TO JESUS

+ Today’s Gospel is perfect for a personal meditation

- since it presents not only a story from the Gospels, but considering Peter in particular, it is a practical allegory to what Christians may be doing in their lives

+ Peter is a tremendous example of a modern American Christian

- he has witnessed this miracle of Jesus walking toward them in the midst of the waves

- like his fellow disciples, he is fearful

- but he hears Jesus’ voice and he understands that Jesus is there

- the American Christian—you and I—are people who have heard the Lord in one form or another

- and we have accepted the Lord, at least in a shallow sort of way, sort of like Aaron and Miriam who accepted the Lord but still were very human

- incidentally the leprosy that Miriam contracted was probably not the leprosy that was the fatal kind, and was probably healed

+ Then, with Peter, we want to experience the glory, we want what we want

- saying—since we have accepted you, Lord, let me have my way

- let me experience the joy of living, the pleasure of life, the power of being in charge, the things that I want

- in Peter’s language: “Command me to come to you.” That is, let me walk on the water also,

- let me have the experience that will give me a thrill, let me have my way

+ Peter after walking for a while, begins to sink because of the strength of the wind

- with us, when we take over, thinking more of what we want than any other factor, chaos happens—the world begins to influence us too much

- and what must happen?

- Peter does it—he reaches out to Jesus

- we must reach to the values that Jesus makes so clear in the Gospels

- and basically it means: we cannot rely on ourselves and what we want

- we cannot pursue our own agenda as Peter did, but we must turn to the agenda that Jesus gives in the Gospels

- we must really trust the Lord to help us in the things that happen in our lives

+ The ending of the Gospel story is important

- if we reach out to the Lord, he will immediately stretch out his hand to us

- but we have to reach first

- it may be very true to say that if we don’t do that—really reach to Jesus—then the chaos in our world will only get worse.

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Movie: "A Man Called Otto" -- final session

THE FUNDAMENTAL LAW

The Gospel

MARK 12:32-34

The scribe said to [Jesus], “Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, ‘He is One and there is no other than he.’ And ‘to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself’ is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices." And when Jesus saw that [he] answered with understanding, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Gospelthink: You are not far from the Kingdom of God if you follow the fundamental law of love of God and neighbor.

In the movie "A Man Called Otto," Otto had become a disgruntled, unhappy, angry man, and showed it in many ways. He was most of all angry at himself although he could not understand it. He should have understood it because he felt that he had to take his own life in order to overcome the pain of losing his wife Sonja. He finally had to face the fact that his wife was gone, and at the same time begin to "feel again" as he interacted with the different people in the place where he lived. They taught him that other people were important and slowly he began to accept the fact that his life was indeed worthwhile. He saw that he needed other people to improve his own life.

The insight of the scribe in the Gospel was that love of God and love of neighbor were even more important than "church" as the Hebrew people understood it. Throughout his life on earth, Jesus called people to such a love. It might indeed be called the "fundamental law of Jesus."

The standard Christian teaching is that if we follow that fundamental law, then the whole world will benefit because the world will be at peace with one another. The law will bring about a personal healing in the sense that once we understand how important other people are, it will do something to us. Otto in the movie "A Man Called Otto" was in pain after he lost his wife, thus making him bitter toward everyone. But when he began to understand that the people around him truly were important with their particular situations, he finally began to see that life was indeed worth something.

Unfortunately, such love does not fill our Christian minds the way that Jesus wanted. As can be seen in the movies that are produced in our world, when the possibility of our own survival is at risk, many of us tend to think only of ourselves. The prejudice, the favoritism for a privileged few, using panic for one's own profit all show a fundamental desire that too many have--we want to protect ourselves no matter what, even if we hurt others in the process.

Jesus wants us to be interested in ourselves. Otherwise he would never have told us to love others as we love ourselves. But loving God and others must have the priority. The Christian doctrine of love is written with the thought that even though we must work at self-preservation, our guide as we live must be the love that goes beyond ourselves. Jesus told us as much by his own death.

Personal conversion is possible in our world as can easily be seen with the progress that Otto made in the movie named after him. We must always be aware that any personal conversion will come about only when we have understood the love of God and others.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, you gave us your fundamental law of love. We all know it, and indeed we can all see the benefits of the law for humankind. But often we lose sight of the law because we are so concerned about our own situations. Help us help ourselves by understanding your law of love. Be with us, we pray.

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: Conversion is possible only when we recognize the importance of others.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(session: approximately 63 minutes)
1. What scene during this session of the movie is most striking? Why?
2. In general, do most Christians follow the law of love that Jesus taught?
3. In general, what is the best way to show others that we care?
4. Every Christian should learn maturity as they grow. When do most people show their desire for more maturity?
5. What are the elements of true conversion?
6. Love of God is not seen in the movie in a direct way. Judging from Otto's life in the movie, do you think that there was prayer in his life? Yes or no and why?
7. Is it possible for someone to live a good life and show no acceptance of God?
8. What is the principal virtue that the movie "A Man Called Otto" teaches?