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February 14

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Saturday, February 14

MARK 8:1-10

I fed the many people that were listening to me. It is a symbol of my presence to you in the Sacrament of the Eucharist.

Prayerthoughts
a. Once again, Jesus feels pity for the crowd and talks to them to make them feel better. In my life, in general, do I look at others with a desire to help them if they need it?

b. The disciples questioned the Lord’s decision to feed them. As I read the Gospels, do I try to understand completely what the Lord is saying to me?

c. Jesus uses what they have. It is a significant action for my spiritual life. At this time of my life, the Lord will use whatever I can do to be better if I want. Am I open to the Lord’s wishes?

d. Jesus uses words that He will use when He institutes the Eucharist for us. Do I try to receive the Lord in the Eucharist often, and then thank Him for His gift?

e. It is significant that all were satisfied. Am I satisfied with what is given to me? Do I thank the Lord and those who give me what I need?

f. There was food left over. The Lord always gives us more than enough to help us in our lives. Do I thank the Lord enough in my prayer?

g. My prayerthoughts….

Today, I will read 1 Kings 12:26-32;13:33-34 and write an important thought from it.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

BEING SATISFIED WITH WHAT WE HAVE

+ The liturgy gives us a picture of an evil king in the first reading

- Jeroboam was a selfish man

- he was not able to find satisfaction with what he had, namely what the previous kings had given to Israel

- because he wanted more than he had

- and as a result, as 1 Kings says, “This was a sin on the part of the house of Jeroboam for which it was to be cut off and destroyed from the earth.”

- he could not be satisfied with what he had

+ I believe that idea of being satisfied with what we have is a good thought to consider

- in Mark’s Gospel, there are two times when Jesus gives food to the people because he felt pity for them

- one here, feeding 4000 people, and another feeding 5000 people

- in both instances after the people had eaten, Mark comments that they were satisfied

- satisfied because their hunger had been taken care of

- that is, they didn’t want more

+ One of the problems with our human natures is the desire to have more

- that is, we often are not satisfied with what we have

- anything that will give us more than we have, easier than we have it, better than we have now, is of great interest to us

- in a sense, that is just fine because technology and bettering things is a way to grow for our world

- but when it leads to selfishness that can never be satisfied, then it is not so good

+ The people whom Jesus fed were satisfied with what they had

- there was no need to have anything else

- because their hunger was taken care of

+ It’s interesting that the Church always interprets these stories of feeding great numbers of people in Eucharistic terms

- the words that are used are the words of the institution of the Eucharist which is the food that always satisfies since it is the body and blood of Jesus himself

-there is no need for anything else

+ You and I are called to be satisfied with what we have in the sense that selfishness and always wanting more can destroy any well-being that we have.

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Song: "On My Mind" -- Ellie Goulding

TRUE UNDERSTANDING OF ANOTHER

The Gospel

LUKE 24:25-33a

Jesus said to the two disciples, "Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he reinterpreted to them what referred to him in all the scriptures. As they approached the village to which they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on farther. But they urged him, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them. And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?" So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem.

Gospelthink: I explained to the two disciples who were fleeing Jerusalem why I had come into the world. Have I sufficiently thanked the Lord for his gift of redemption?

"It’s a little dirty how the whole thing started; I don’t even know what you really intended. Thought that you were cute and you could make me jealous. Next thing that I know you were talking deep like it was mad love to you. You wanted my heart, but I just liked your tattoos. And now I don’t understand it: you don’t mess with love, you mess with the truth; and I know I shouldn’t say it, but my heart don’t understand why I got you on my mind. You didn’t love me, no, not really. Wait, I could have really liked you. I’ll bet that’s why I keep thinking about you. You got yourself in a dangerous zone 'cause we both have the fear, fear of being alone."

Ellie Goulding's song "On My Mind" speaks of a specific relationship that is happening as the couple begins to know each other. It started with simple attraction, and then all of a sudden on the man's part, it became a little more intense. As a consequence, they are not sure where the relationship is going. It may be real, but it may only be "messing with love." There is a need for understanding in the song. "My heart don't understand" the lady in the relationship sings.

What are the ingredients of "understanding"? Wikipedia quotes Thomas Edison who believed that the concept of understanding comes from the two words under and stand. When people acknowledge that they stand below someone, they make themselves receptive to obtain and retain information from that person, thereby allowing for understanding to occur. Standing under someone makes one humble enough to know the importance of the other person.

The two disciples who were on their way to a town called Emmaus after they had heard of Jesus' Resurrection did not understand Jesus and his mission. Jesus, joining their journey although they did not know it was him, caused them to "stand under" who he was, thereby opening their minds to what the Scriptures had foretold. They finally recognized and understood who he was.

Understanding another whether one is speaking of just a friend or romantic love as in Ellie Goulding's song is an essential ingredient of true love of another. It can be defined as a desire to recognize the other person with the accompanying desire to help if need be. If a person truly "understands" another, that person will recognize the other as important and not just an "object," and further, such a person will want to help the other be what the other person really wants.

Jesus knew the importance of truly understanding another. He wanted his disciples to have such an understanding of him. Listening to Ellie Goulding's song tells us that in order to understand any romantic love, one must truly "understand" the other in the relationship. They both lead us to see the importance of understanding any person in our relationships.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, Your Son led His disciples to a better understanding of who he was. Studying his example, we can see the importance of the true understanding of other people. Give us the grace to accomplish such a understanding of others. Be with us, we pray.

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: We must have an understanding of another before we can truly love her/him.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. In the Gospel, Jesus informed his disciples what the Scriptures had foretold about him. What do you think is the most important thing that Jesus did? Why?
2. The disciples discovered Jesus in the "breaking of bread," what we have come to understand as the Eucharist in our Church. Why is the Eucharist such an important part of our religion?
3. The disciples returned to Jerusalem, a symbol of their "return" to the understanding of what Jesus wanted. In your opinion, how can the institutional Church improve in its mission?
4. Text analysis: "You mess with the truth." In context of the song, what is the meaning of the sentence?
5. Analysis: The couple are not in love now because they do not understand each other. What are the signs that we understand another?
6. Analysis: Why is the "fear of being alone" a dangerous zone?
7. In a relationship, when can one tell that the couple is "messing with love"?
8. What is your understanding of "humility"?
9. What is most important in a person's understanding of another?
10. What does the song "On My Mind" teach young people?