TGIMMwhen

February 11

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Tuesday, February 11

MARK 7:1-13

The religious leaders did not understand religion.

Prayerthoughts
a. The Jewish people of Jesus’ time tried to “purify” themselves and what they were involved in with external activity. Do I try to purify my thoughts and activities by keeping them holy?

b. The “tradition of the elders” were some unwritten laws of the Jewish religion that had a binding force sometimes equivalent to the Mosaic Law. Do I show a proper respect for the traditions of other religions?

c. The Lord brings up the topic of hypocrisy. Do I find myself being hypocritical by saying pious things, but not doing them?

d. I praise the Lord in my words, but have I turned my heart to the Lord completely in all of my actions?

e. Jesus accuses the Pharisees of disregarding God’s commandment and following human precepts. Do I find myself obeying Church law, for example, going to Church, but neglecting what the Lord wants me to follow, for example, being forgiving and so forth?

f. God’s commandment is always the most important law to follow. What do I consider the three most important of God’s commandments, and do I follow them completely? (This is the task of the meditation.)

g. Jesus gives an example of how we “say” that we are following God’s law, but actually following what we want God’s law to be. Am I following my will instead of God’s?

h. My prayerthoughts…

Today, I will answer letter f above in written form.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

WORSHIP FOR THE RIGHT REASON

+ The beautiful and poetic story of creation continues in the book of Genesis

- the last three days of creation according to the author

- God is in charge of creation and indeed everything is good

- from that magnificent beginning, the human mind will want to honor and obey God

- but as human beings did that, and as they tried to follow what God was to specifically give to Moses later on

- certain human traditions and laws settled in

- human traditions that actually took away from the main idea of honor and respect to God

+ Jesus points out that that is exactly what had happened to the Pharisees and experts in the law

- they had started to pay attention to their own traditions more than what the law stood for

- and they did not honor God as a result

- even to the point of finding loopholes in the law for their own benefit—e.g., the law of korban

- and the Lord using some of the strongest language of Scripture—lip service only to God, their heart is far from God, only empty reverence is shown, disregard of God’s commandments, clinging to human tradition, nullifying God’s word

+ It is a fact that one of the possible sins of people who frequent church, especially those who come to church often—namely us—

- is the sin of hypocrisy

- by the very fact that we are doing more than others,

- you and I have to carefully study why we are doing this

- look carefully at the strong words of Jesus Christ, the Guide that you and I have chosen to follow in life: the possibility of lip service, empty reverence

- that is, being here for the wrong reasons

- we are here to worship God through Jesus—period—

- and as we worship God through Jesus, we listen to what Jesus says to us

- and we really try to do it

- and if it’s real, it won’t be empty, it won’t be merely words or lip service

- it is something that takes over every ounce of our being

- and will be evident in the way we conduct our words, actions and even thoughts.

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Song: "When We Were Young" -- Adele

WHEN WE WERE YOUNG

The Gospel

MATTHEW 23:37-39

[Jesus said:] “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how many times I yearned to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her young under her wings, but you were unwilling! Behold, your house will be abandoned, desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”

Gospelthink: I tell you to acknowledge me as your Lord. Am I living out the word of the Lord daily?

"Everybody loves the things you do, from the way you talk to the way you move. Everybody here is watching you 'cause you feel like home. You're like a dream come true. But if by chance you're here alone, can I have a moment before I go? 'Cause I've been by myself all night long, hoping you're someone I used to know. You look like a movie, you sound like a song: this reminds me of when we were young. Nobody told me that you'd be here. And I swear you moved overseas. That's what you said, when you left me. A part of me keeps holding on just in case it hasn't gone. I guess I still care. Do you still care?"

Anyone familiar with the Gospels knows of Jesus' running battle with the Scribes and Pharisees, the religious leaders of his time. In one passage, Jesus addresses "Jerusalem" meaning the religious leadership of Jerusalem in general. He accuses them basically of "living in the past," pointing out to them that they were unwilling to open up to him, and thus causing problems for their present and especially their future. He spoke of their house being "abandoned" and "desolate."

"Living in the past" is a problem for any one in our world, no matter in what situation we may find ourselves, but especially it is a problem in romantic endeavors. In Adele's song "When We Were Young," she sings of a lady in the relationship who remembers a love experience when the lady and a boyfriend were involved. She liked the experience and when she sees him by accident, she recalls their time together, saying that she has not forgotten the experience. In fact, as she says, she still cares. One is led to believe that her past with him continues to affect the way she feels now and will feel in the future.

It is true that some "living in the past" is good in the sense of reliving wonderful times as an incentive for the present and future, but most of the time, remaining in the past is harmful to a person. In such cases, people tend to dwell in that past, and neglect to face the present situations or the possible outcomes in the future.

You and I have a past, a past with good and bad events, but whatever has happened in the past must remain in the past. Our lives must accept the present situation in which we find ourselves, so that we can live it as best we can. In that way, we will understand the importance of the past, but not be governed by it. Thus our future will be one that is worthwhile. If the religious leaders of Jesus' time had realized that fact, their lives in the present and future would have been better.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, we all have a past with which we are familiar and which often dominates our present and future thinking. Give us the grace to study the present in which we live, and help us choose to follow Your direction with Your Son's lead. Be with us, we pray.

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: When someone holds on to the past too long, it can only cause disappointment in the future.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. Project: The presenter may want to give a class on the fall of Jerusalem and the reasons why.
2. Text analysis: "You will not see me again...." In your opinion, what is the meaning of the sentence?
3. Text analysis: "You feel like home." What is the meaning of the sentence?
4. Text analysis: "You look like a movie; you sound like a song." What is the meaning of the sentence?
5. Analysis: Should former serious boyfriends/girlfriends keep in touch with each other? Yes or no and why?
6 . What is your understanding of the phrase "living in the past"?
7. In particular, what is the principal reason why "living in the past" is not good for those who had serious relationships?
8. Describe an incident in which living in the past harms the present?
9. If someone wants to live "as best as they can," what primarily must such a person do?
10. Describe a "worthwhile future."
11. What does the song "When We Were Young" teach young people today?