LUKE 8:35-39

People came out to see what had happened and, when they approached Jesus, they discovered the man from whom the demons had come out sitting at his feet. He was clothed and in his right mind, and they were seized with fear. Those who witnessed it told them how the possessed man had been saved. The entire population of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them because they were seized with great fear. So he got into a boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had come out begged to remain with him, but he sent him away, saying, “Return home and recount what God has done for you.” The man went off and proclaimed throughout the whole town what Jesus had done for him. 

Gospelthink: I cured people so they could lead a normal life at home. In my locale now, am I proclaiming the Lord's presence by the way I live.

In the final session of the movie "The Lion King," after living a life with no worry, as his friends Timon and Pumbaa inspired with their philosophy of "Hakuna Matata," Simba had a moment of conversion. With his future wife Nala's help, he finally realized who he was, coming to the conclusion of "You can either run from it or learn from it." Accepting the responsibility of what he did and what he had to do, Simba went back to the leadership he had neglected.

There are many instances in Jesus's public ministry in which people finally accepted what they had done in the past, admitted that they were wrong, and began their lives again. We are not sure what the problem was for the "man possessed" in Luke's Gospel, but we are sure that from the moment he met Jesus, he changed his ways, and began to proclaim the presence of God in his life. Like Simba in the movie "The Lion King," who chose to accept responsibility for what he had done, the man in the Gospel at Jesus's insistence, began with his own family.

It is important to see that the moment of conversion for the man in the Gospel was when with Jesus's help, he finally achieved his "right mind." The absence of a person's "right mind" can be described in various ways, of course, but perhaps one of the best ways is to study Simba and those who initially saved him. Their philosophy of not worrying about anything, "Hakuna Matata," meant no restraints and "doing what I want to do." The moment Simba understood that he was behaving in a selfish manner and that perhaps he could do something about it was the moment of conversion.

Young and old should learn from Simba. There are many things in our past that we should not have done. It may be years before we understand that our actions were wrong. But no matter when we understand, people of integrity will accept responsibility for what they have done. At the same time, they will listen to the accompanying call to do something about it.

We call this "learning from the past." It may mean accepting in a more mature way the directions of Christian living or a deeper relationship with parents or a better way of treating friends, or being part of a chaste love relationship or even a more concentrated look at studies. But it will mean action, action to do the right thing, even if it costs giving up a "good time."

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, you want us to be responsible people, people who realize that we must change some of our selfish behavior patterns if we are to become what you want us to be. Give us the grace to make that change . Be with us, we pray. 

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GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: We are called to be responsible people which means learning from the past..
 
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(session: approximately 55 minutes)
1. What scene during this session of the movie is most striking? Why?
2. What does the movie "The Lion King" teach young people?
3. Give your own definition of "conversion."
4. It is significant that Jesus does not allow the man who was cured to follow him directly, but he tells him to go home and "proclaim" the Gospel. What is the meaning of this for the twenty-first Christian family?
5. As you study "the past," what most should people learn?
6. What is the best example of "selfishness" that you see in the world around you?
7. The meditation mentions a number of things that young people can do to improve better maturity. In your opinion, what can high school student do to show more maturity?   

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