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December 1
[media presentation below] GospelThink Sunday, December 1, First Sunday in Advent LUKE 21:25-28,34-36 The End Prayerthoughts a. Am I fearful of the end of the world? Yes or no and why? b. Jesus wants me to realize that the end of the world means eternal redemption for me. How do I understand “redemption”? c. Have the “anxieties of daily life” drowned out my love of God? d. I should not be “surprised” that I will die, because everyone will experience it. But what is it about death that makes me fearful and what can I do about it now? e. Jesus wants me to be vigilant “at all times.” What does that mean for me given my busy life? f. In my life right now, what is the percentage of time that I will spend on “Christmas shopping” compared to the percentage of time in prayer? g. What adjustments in my life right now should I make in order to make this season of Advent a little more meaningful? h. My prayerthoughts… Today, I will write a prayer asking for the grace for a happy death.
Some Thoughts on the Liturgy ADVENT AND CONSUMERISM + A couple of years ago, I was in Kansas City for the lighting of the Plaza lights ceremony that always happens around Thanksgiving time - there were a number of things that made me feel good about the experience - people gathered in a spirit of unity and community who were genuinely happy - rather impressive to have forty-some miles of lights all go on at the same time - but I came away with an empty feeling—and as I tried to piece together why, I came up with the question: what was all of this for, what was really happening here? - of course, the answer is that the turning on of the Plaza lights represents the first day of shopping for the Christmas holidays - I felt that in many ways, it was near-adoration of the money that is spent at Christmas time - and the commercialism and consumerism made me feel empty + In light of that, and as the Church begins the new Church year with the “fire and brimstone” words of Jesus in Luke’s Gospel, it makes good meditation material - we want people to spend money for our economy at Christmas time and at the same time, we hear Jesus say: Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap. - now that could lead to some serious consideration, even if we don’t want to do it + Pope John Paul II reflected on consumerism a number of years ago in one of his letters: - he accused the world and especially the first world—us—of blind submission to consumerism - he said it was not only crass materialism, but it showed a radical dissatisfaction with life itself - because the more one possesses, the more one wants - and when that happens—becoming so preoccupied with things - then deeper aspirations remain unsatisfied and perhaps are even stifled (Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, 28) + “Stifled” might be the exact word we have to consider - many people have stifled this religious time of year, namely Advent—a time of preparation, deeper spiritual involvement bringing us to the celebration of the Birth of Jesus - and substituted that preparation time by commercial gift giving and card sending, making those things ends in themselves - one good way to keep our minds focused is using the Advent wreath with prayers (described in the handout) - there is nothing wrong with material goods - but they become wrong when they stifle what is really important + This opening liturgy of the church year is meant to put our minds immediately into a proper focus for the whole year - our challenge is to take the words of Jesus, and let them be a mirror - to look and listen to them, and see how our lives are doing right now - and so we should listen to the Lord’s directives in that light: - that we do not become drowsy from having too much - this is part of the Gospel (cycle C) - consumerism has a tendency to rule our lives here in America - and having too much is exactly what could be happening to us - that the day doesn’t catch us off guard - that is the day of the return of the Lord at the second coming or the day of our deaths, which ever comes first - that we begin each day with a “thank you” for letting us have another day of life here, and a promise that if it is our last, we will be prepared for the Lord’s coming - that we pray to escape the tribulations - sincere prayer that we have peace in our lives and in our families - prayer that is real - that is, taking the specific time for it, as you are now, as well as time out for some thought directed to God during the day - and working for the peace that we want to have in the outside world, to be present in our own little worlds - that we pray to stand before the Lord - that that is our first priority in life - to appear before the Lord the way he wants us to be - a good question: what is the comparison of our time spent in shopping for presents or setting up for the season of commercial Christmas and our time spent in prayer and meditation during this Advent season? + There is a famous bumper sticker about this time of year: “The one who dies with the most toys, wins.” - it is meant to be a statement that we laugh at - the problem is that some people may believe it.

MEDIA PRESENTATION Movie: "Spider-Man: No Way Home" -- beginning session THE VALUE OF FRIENDSHIP

The Gospel

LUKE 5:4b-11

Luke 5:4-11

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' 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?