mood

February 12

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Thursday, February 12

MARK 7:24-30

I deliberately tested the lady whose daughter was sick because I wanted to know her faith.

Prayerthoughts
a. The Lord did not want to be seen. There are times in my life when I should not be seen
and just give myself to prayer. What is my prayer time during the day?

b. The girl had an “unclean spirit.” We are not certain about the meaning of the term, but we know that there was some affliction in the girl’s life. There are a number of people that I run into day after day who are afflicted with something. Do I try to pay attention to their needs?

c. The person was not Jewish. There are a number of people who are not believers in my faith as I believe. Am I open to their understanding of God?

d. Jesus seems to insult the lady, as a means to test her faith. Is my faith in Jesus a guiding factor in everything that I do?

e. It is obvious that the lady had faith and accepted the insult, but did not lose her belief, and Jesus rewarded her for it. When I am insulted, I should respond with no thought of revenge. Has revenge

played a part in the way I behave?

f. My prayerthoughts…

Today, I will read 1 Kings 11:4-13 and write an important thought from it.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

THE PRAYER OF PETITION

+ Throughout the ages when a group of people believed in some type of God, they would usually pray in some sense to that God

- even Solomon when he turned away from the one true God of Israel for which he was punished

- even he still prayed to Gods—the false Gods of the pagan neighbors of Israel

+ I look at the Gospel to be an important one for the understanding of the prayer of petition as we pray to our God

- Jesus makes it clear throughout the Gospels that we should be asking God for help, no matter what the circumstances

- here the Gospel is a study of a particular circumstance

- what do you do when it not only seems like God is not answering;

- but it actually seems as if God is deliberately ignoring your request

- such is the feeling of many of us in the prayer of petition when we are asking and it seems as though God is not listening

+ What do you do?

- studying this woman of the Gospel

- first of all, she accepts the Lord’s words—she doesn’t contradict him at all—saying to us that if we feel that we are not heard, then another answer may be given to us, and we have to be willing to accept that

- but the lady tells us also—you keep pointing out to the Lord your faith in him

- “Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s scraps.”

- and Jesus says: “For saying this”—that is, for your persistence in asking, then your request is granted

+ The prayer of petition is an important element of our spiritual lives

- we should ask of God because we know that God will always answer.

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Song: "Mood" -- 24KGoldn featuring Iann Dior

THROWING A MOOD

The Gospel

MARK 10:41-45

When the ten heard this [after James and John had asked for a special place in Jesus's Kingdom], they became indignant at James and John. Jesus summoned them and said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Gospelthink: My Apostles were very human as they dealt with each other, and therefore were prone to moods. May I learn from the Lord's words to them about being a servant.

"Why you always in a mood? Foolin' around, acting' brand new. I ain’t tryna tell you what to do, but try to play it cool. I ain’t playin by your rules: everything look better with a view. I could never get attached. When I start to feel, I unattach, somehow I always end up feeling bad. I’m not your dad. I just want your company. We play games of love to avoid the depression. We been here before and I won’t be your victim." [Explicit lyrics adjusted.]

The Gospel passage might describe an attitude of moodiness on the part of the Apostles other than James and John. They had heard Jesus talk to the two apostles about his "glory" or his Kingdom and James and John had asked to have a special place in it. The other apostles must have wanted that special place as well. They became jealous of James and John and no doubt caused a "mood" among the Twelve. Such a "mood" translated into words like "I'm not as important as they are," or "He likes them better than me." It is a mood that could destroy a relationship.

And so, Jesus addresses all of his Apostles, basically making known to them, that theymust get out of the moodiness and selfishness. In fact, one of the virtues that Jesus wanted them to learn was to be a servant which means no moods or self-gratification.

24KGoldn and Iann Dior's song simply named "Mood" speaks of a relationship of people who are moody, but does not close with any reconciliation. It merely states that both of the people of the relationship are in a mood and they end up merely playing a game called "love." Such is the outcome of a "mood." It solves nothing and destroys the relationship because of its selfishness.

Such a mood becomes a selfish attitude of living. The person in the mood "takes it out" on the other as well as anyone else in that person's path. It makes a person sullen and feeling sorry for oneself. It destroys relationships and often leads one to despair and revenge.

It is common for humankind because our human natures want to lord it over others in one way or another. Jesus addresses it well by calling us to recognize that if we are sincere in our approach to a Christian life, we will not be people who are moody.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, we often find ourselves shunned or hurt by others, and too often we "throw a mood." Help us recognize that our moodiness in no way helps us, and give us the grace to truly understand how to be servants to others. Be with us, we pray.

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: Moods deqoy sincere relationships.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1.What does the song "Mood" teach us?
2. Does it surprise you to see that Jesus's Apostles were so human as to be jealous and moody?
3. In the song, what is the meaning of "I am not your Dad"?
4. What is your definition of being "moody"?
5. What is your definition of "becoming a servant"?
6. In the song, what must be done to get the person out of the mood?
7. How should you treat a friend who is in a "mood"?
8. How does becoming a servant help the person who is in a "mood"?