Luke 5:4b-11

Jesus said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Simon said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.” When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them. They came and filled both boats so that they were in danger of sinking. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.

Gospelthink: Jesus calls all of us to be his followers, even to the point of giving everything to him. Obviously, I cannot give away everything, but have I shown by my actions that I am a follower of Jesus?

After Peter Parker, known as Spider-Man, was framed for a murder he did not commit, Peter, his girlfriend MJ Watson, best friend Ned Leeds and Peter's Aunt May are interrogated. Eventually, Peter's charges are dropped, but the group grapples with strong negative publicity. After a number of negative things happen to them, they decide to ask Dr. Stephen Strange for help that would make everyone forget that Peter was Spider-Man. Strange obliges, but during the spell, Peter realizes his friendship with MJ, Ned and May, and interrupts the spell. Strange's spell is corrupted and his spell works only partially. It accomplishes its goal, but brings other people from the multiuniverse who prove to be a challenge for Spider-Man. In fact, all the specific enemies of Spider-Man return.

Since Jesus was a human being, maybe even the perfect human being, he knew the value of friendship. He knew the importance of having people close enough to him who could feel the same joys and sorrows that he did. Peter and the apostles gradually fulfilled such a role. When Jesus saw them, he no doubt realized that they would prove to be good friends to him, even if at times there would be some misunderstandings. But, in the end, Peter and the disciples would see how much of a privilege it was to be acknowledged as Jesus's friends.

The theme of friendship runs throughout the movie "Spider-Man: No Way Home." It is clear at the beginning of the movie when Peter's insistence of having his friends remember who he was "corrupted" the spell which caused the problems. MJ, Ned and May were special to Peter and he knew that he wanted them to be part of his universe. Then, at the close of the film, the friendship of him and Peter-Two and Peter-Three from the multiuniverse was the means that Spider-Man could save the world.

Perhaps there are two lessons here for the Christian. One is the spiritual one that insures that Jesus will be a friend of ours, one of the teachings that comes from the Christian Gospels. Jesus not only called Peter and the disciples, but through them, he has called us to be his followers and therefore his friends. Secondly, Jesus teaches us how to be friends by showing his close disciples what a friend really is. If we choose to be friends, we will accept our friends as they are, even as they choose to accept us.

Then, too, maybe there is a lesson for the Christian from the movie itself. In the movie at its close, in order to rid the world of countless people from the multiuniverse, Peter had to request Dr. Strange to erase even his close friends' memories from a knowledge of him. One gets the feeling that having experienced real friendship, one could "fight evil" in a personal way forever. Here, we see our need for friendship in order to live better in life. Just as Jesus's human friendship with his Apostles could help him through the experience of his Passion and Death.

Friendship is indeed a privilege in the human realm of things. We must value it, and work at being better at it.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, we believe that your Son has chosen us as true friends just as He chose His disciples in His human lifetime. Give us the grace to study the friendship He shows us, and make it an example for our friendships with others. Be with us, we pray.

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GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: We all need real friendship.
 
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(session: approximately 69 minutes)
1. What scene during this session of the movie was most striking to you? Why?
2. In your opinion, what are the characteristics of a good friend?
3. Given that we are friends of Jesus, what effect should that have in our lives?
4. What special "obligations" do we take on when we choose someone else to be our "best friend"?
5. There are people in our world, and some we may know, who seem lonely because they have no friends. What are some ways that I can help them if I want?
6. The meditation says that it is a "privilege" to have friends. In what ways is this a true statement?

©2007 Capuchin Province of Mid-America
Fr. Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America