TGIMM2012 2

August 8

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Saturday, August 8

MATTHEW 17:14-20

Faith

Prayerthoughts

a. Kneeling is a sign of respect. Do I respect everyone the way I should?

b. The Lord mentioning the suffering that the young man had. There is much suffering around me. Do I show sufficient concern (and help if I can) for those suffering around me and in my world?

c. Jesus once again speaks of a lack of faith, even though the man had faith enough to come to Jesus. Two points here: my faith—is it as strong as it should be? And, coming to the Lord: do I approach the Lord in prayer with every one of my problems?

d. Jesus cured by casting the demon out of the boy. There are many demons that have been part of my life for which I should be repentant. Consider the demons that have been part of my life and the demons that are part of our world. What can I do to cast them out of my life and (if possible) of the world?

e. Again, the Lord refers to my faith, and that if I had faith, I would be able to do amazing things. In what areas of my life should I show more faith in God?

f. My prayerthoughts…

Today I will read Habakkuk 1:12–2:4 and write an important thought from it.

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Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

ANSWERS FROM GOD

+ Both readings contain significant answers from God

- 1^st: Habakkuk complains about the evil

- a striking image: we are like fish that the evil can treat any way it wants

- God’s answer: know that this will not continue

- contrasting the rash man with no integrity and the just man who will live no matter what

- in the Gospel: Jesus answers the disciples who ask why they couldn’t do the healing

- that answer deals with trust and faith in God

- with faith, everything is possible

+ There are a couple conclusions from the readings:

1 – The Lord does answer

- both situations have answers from God

- God always answer prayers and answers them with good

- God is truly present in our every situation

- working for us, working with us

- and the conclusion for us: we must keep asking the Lord to hear us

2 – The just person will win

- the just will eventually have the reward

- it may take place as late as after our deaths

- but the just person will win

- such a person will have the clear conscience that will make him feel good about life

- the natural conclusion: we must work to be just, that is, to have a clear conscience in whatever we do

3 – With faith, everything is possible

- faith defined as trusting that as long as I work with God, things will work out

- miracles will happen, eventually

- and fitting right into this: we have to learn to trust in God more

- to do our part in bettering the world and our small worlds,

- but leaving everything ultimately up to God

+ God answers us and as long as we truly have faith in God, our lives will work out well.

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MEDIA PRESENTATION

Movie: "Star Wars: Episode II—Attack of the Clones" -- final session

A FULFILLED LIFE

In the final session of the movie, intent on stopping the evil of Count Dooku, the heroes Obi-Wan Kenobi, Padme Amidala and Anakin Skywalker were captured and led into a coliseum-type enclosure to be killed by ferocious animals. There seemingly was no escape. Even though Obi-Wan and Anakin had the powers connected with being Jedi Knights, it seemed that their enchanted lives were about to come to an end. They were willing to die for the cause of right.

Although Jesus had the greatest respect for life here on earth, especially seen in his care for the sick and ill, he counseled a certain detachment from life. As great as this life is, there may come a time when a person has to give up this life for the sake of something greater. “Whoever loses his life for my sake,” Jesus says, “will find it.” Life here on this earth, Jesus says, is expendable when one is seeking a greater good. In Jesus’s understanding, what might be called a “fulfilled life” must be the goal of a person here on earth. That fulfilled life is awaiting the believer in the eternal life with God.

The heroes of the movie “Star Wars: Episode II—Attack Of The Clones” were willing to give up their lives for the fulfilled life of achieving what was right, namely defending the world against evil. Their earthly lives were important to them, but they were not as important as the ideal of working against evil.

Our lives on this earth are important. We labor intently to keep those lives healthy and happy, and indeed we should. But Jesus points out, and we have many examples that direct us, even from the movies, that our lives here are expendable. It is the fulfilled life that we should seek, the life that comes from denying oneself, taking up the cross of the renunciation of too much pleasure, and following the directives of Jesus Christ. Such a life is what we have to work for, and if we have to give up our earthly lives in the process, so be it. Eternal life awaits us, an eternal life of happiness.

THOUGHT

What is your understanding of a “fulfilled life”?

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, your Son pointed out to us that our lives here on earth must be improved, and that our goal and guide is not so much what this life can give us, but the fulfilled life of heaven. Help us be willing to purify ourselves, so that we can help our lives here on earth and to live forever with you in heaven. Be with us, we pray.

Questions, comments? Let me know. Email Fr. Mike