arrival2

December 31
[media presentation below] TGIMMDecember31.html GospelThink Tuesday, December 31, Christmas Weekday JOHN 1:1-18 Jesus Became One of Us. Prayerthoughts a. As John the evangelist says, Jesus is God. Therefore, I should be following Jesus and what he said in my life. What kind of a “Jesus” do I show by what I do, say or think? b. There are moments of darkness in my life. At the present time, what are they, and what should I be doing about them? c. I would never say that I do not know the Lord, but there are times I act as though that is the case. In my life, what am I most sorry for? d. There are many in this world that do not accept Jesus. I should be praying for them if they are involved in evil. e. I know that the Lord became one of us. What should this do to my life at the present time? f. My prayerthoughts… Today, I will read 1 Corinthians 13 and write an important thought from it.
Some Thoughts on the Liturgy BECOMING ONE WHO KNOWS WHO JESUS REALLY IS + I believe that one of the strongest statements in Scripture is given to us here at the beautiful beginning of John’s Gospel: “He was in the world, and through him the world was made, yet the world did not know who he was.” - one of John’s favorite themes is contained in that statement, as we heard yesterday in the first letter of John—the world is not good, the world is looked at as opposed to the believers who are the ones who did accept him, the ones who do know him + The natural question from that Scripture for the person interested in the spiritual life has to be whether we know Jesus or not—the world did not know who he was; supposedly, the believers do - we want to place ourselves among the believers - and that is true, especially for people who come to a weekday Mass - but the Scripture, as usual, offers a challenge - could we be “better believers” - could we be better in knowing Jesus - could we be better in our spiritual lives - obviously, we can + In the religious world outside - whether Catholic, Protestant, Islamic, Jewish, or whatever religion, there are a number of people who “talk religion” and that’s all - in the Christian world, for example, many go to Church; they say prayers, they want to be better people - but they don’t want to know the real Jesus Christ - because they don’t really want what Jesus wants—it is much too demanding - they may understand that Christianity is a full-time situation - and they don’t want to give it that full-time status - there is no such thing as a “part-time Christian”, of course - even though many act that way + Those Christians who want Christianity to be full-time want to know the real Jesus Christ, and they realize that they will probably have to change - they understand that Jesus Christ and his principles simply cannot come into a situation and do nothing - they will want to read more Scripture or something spiritual - they will want to spend more time in prayer + As we listen to John remind us that we who believe really possess the truth in the first reading, - and then say that there are people who have not known him - we have to include the possibility of ourselves, - which should make us want to do better in our spiritual lives.

MEDIA PRESENTATION Movie: "Arrival" -- final session IF YOU COULD SEE YOUR WHOLE LIFE...

The Gospel

LUKE 21:5-8

Luke 21:5-8

While some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, Jesus said, "All that you see here--the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down. Then they asked him, "Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen? He answered, "See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name saying. "I am he," and "The time has come." Do not follow them.

Gospelthink: You do not know the future, nor should you worry about it. Am I showing by my life right now that I have chosen the Lord for my future?

Dr. Louise Banks began to learn that the aliens who had landed on earth's soil were not interested in hostile intervention. They were primarily interested in giving to the world a chance to help earth's understanding by allowing them to know the future. They themselves would be in need of humanity's help in a number of years. Dr. Banks slowly learned the intention of the extraterrestrials, and as she figured out the language, discovered some future facts that would help the world. At the same time, she learned of a future that would not be pleasant for her own personal life.

In Jesus' day, the talk of the Parousia or the end of the world was strong. People felt that if they knew when the end would come, they would be better for it. So when Jesus spoke of the falling of the Temple, they thought automatically of the end of the world. They thought that it would be to their advantage to know when such an evident would happen.

Dr. Louise Banks In the movie "Arrival," asks an important question about the future that is in a sense the theme of the whole movie. She wondered whether knowledge of the future was such a good thing. It is important in the movie because the aliens were capable of giving a knowledge of the future for those who mastered their language. Dr. Louise Banks found that out as she began to understand the language. It was a good knowledge because it helped her prevent a global war, but at the same time, it allowed her to see something that she did not want to happen at all.

Would it be good for us to know the future? Given the circumstances of Dr. Louise Banks and her place in history, it might be good for us to know what the future holds, but in reality would knowing the future be good? Would we be better prepared, or would we arrange things so that we always obtained what we wanted. The chances are that we simply would become more selfish by knowing what might happen.

The Christian actually sees part of the future with his/her knowledge of Christianity. The Lord has told us that there will be an end of the world, a Second Coming as we know it. Knowledge that it will happen is more important than when it will happen, Jesus says. With such a knowledge, we understand that we must prepare ourselves better.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, You knew that we are always interested in the future. The only knowledge of the future that You gave us was that there will be an end of the world. Give us the grace to always prepare for it by leading truly good lives. Be with us, we pray.

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GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: There may be advantages to knowing the future.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(session: approximately 52 minutes)
1. What scene during this session is most striking and why?
2. Answer Dr. Banks question: "If you could see your whole life from start to finish, would you change things?" Yes or no and why?
3. Scene analysis: Dr. Donnelly's answer was that he didn't know and that perhaps he would say what he felt. In the future, we know that he would break up with Dr. Banks. Are we always careful when we think of "forever" commitments? Yes or no and why?
4. Analysis: of course we have no idea when the end of the world will come. Do you think that the "end is near" as many religions say? Yes or no and why?
5. It is significant that the topic of the movie is "communication." Why is "communication" so important for us as we live our lives?
6. The meditation suggests that a knowledge of the future should help us prepare more for a better life. In your opinion, if we knew the future, would that be the result? Yes or no and why?
7. In your opinion, do most Christians look at the end of the world as a help to make them be better? Yes or no and why?
8. What does the movie "Arrival" teach young people?

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