news2

February 15

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Sunday, February 15, Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

MATTHEW 5:17-37

Some of the Law of Jesus

Prayerthoughts

a. The law of Jesus fulfills the Ten Commandments given to Moses. Therefore I should know the Commandments and what they mean in light of Jesus’s words.

b. We should recognize the law of Jesus to be of paramount importance. What are the words of Jesus that I should pay more attention to?

c. Most scholars would say that the law of Jesus was primarily the law of love. How do I rate my life right now in terms of love of God and others?

d. Is there anyone in my life right now with whom I am very angry? Is there any way that I can reconcile with that person?

e. Jesus puts the decision to do something on me—“and you recall that your brother [or sister] has anything against you, go first and be reconciled.” I should spend some time thinking of the people like that in my life right now, and how can I say “I’m sorry.”

f. Have I dwelled too long on lustful thoughts? If I am married, am I truly keeping my vow in every way?

g. Jesus demands of us a truthfulness that makes oaths unnecessary. Am I a truthful person, always seeking to find the facts of a situation before I give an opinion?

h. My prayerthoughts…

Today, I will read 1 Corinthians 2:6-10 and write an important thought from it.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

LAW AND LOVE

+ Everyone who reads the Scriptures knows that Jesus had real problems with the Scribes and Pharisees

- during the Sermon on the Mount which is part of today’s Gospel, he says:

Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

- it is helpful to analyze what the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees was

- their idea of what made a person holy and righteous was law

+ Jesus attacked that idea of law throughout his life, and especially here

- yes, it is sinful to commit murder, but that’s not far enough

- it is the anger you have in your hearts, and there is no law about that

- it is wrong to commit adultery, but you have to go further than that

- it is the thinking that goes with your sexual life, and there’s no law concerning that

- yes, you should not take false oaths, but that’s not enough

- it is honest speech that you should have all the time, and there’s no law that says that

- I think such a fact is important for us Americans to hear because of our own love and respect for the law

- love and respect which may be too pronounced

+ Alexander Solzhenitsyn, a Soviet Union writer and critic of his native country who became an American citizen who died in 2008 was talking during one of his speeches about law in the Soviet Union:

- his words reflect that we as Americans have considerable skill at working with the law, and that’s just fine, because a society like his in a communist regime with no law is no good at all,

- but, he says, a society with no other scale but the legal one is not quite worthy of a human either

- law, he says, is too cold and formal to have a beneficial influence on society

- it leads to what he calls moral mediocrity,

- that is, concentration on law alone breeds moral mediocrity

- it could well be that Jesus had this type of thing in mind as he talked of righteousness which must be greater than the scribes and Pharisees

+ One of the documents of the Second Vatican Council talks directly about righteousness, or as they translate it, holiness

- chapter five of the “Constitution on the Church” is entitled “The Universal Call To Holiness”

- and in their words holiness means bringing about “a more human manner of living”

- and they define that human manner of living as learning to love

+ More or less, that was what Jesus had in mind with the Gospel today

- don’t concentrate on the law so much;

- instead concentrate on the love which takes into account much more than any law

- love should govern your life

- love involves no killing and no anger

- love involves no adultery and no illicit sexual thoughts

- love involves not lying under oath and honesty

+ Paul uses a phrase speaking to the Corinthians in the second reading:

God’s wisdom

- God’s wisdom is the wisdom of love which goes far beyond any law

- the only way we can attack the moral mediocrity that is part of our lives is to begin to allow love to act in our own lives, even as we observe the law of God and man.

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Movie: "News of the World" -- final session

LIVING AS A FAMILY

The Gospel

LUKE 2:39-40

When [Mary and Joseph] had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child [Jesus] grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

Gospelthink: I grew up in a normal way with my family. Am I growing in a truly Christian way as I live?

Captain Kidd set out for Kiowa territory to take Cicada to her parents. They are met with many problems as they try to make their way, but gradually they come to Cicada's family home, only to find that her parents have left. In their place is Cicada's aunt and uncle who agree to keep Cicada. Kidd leaves Cicada there, and with thoughts of his own family, namely his wife, he visits his wife's grave, leaving his wedding ring and locket at her grave. The thought of his family moved Kidd to go back to Cicada since she had become his only family now. Kidd agrees to take responsibility for her, and she becomes his adopted daughter, his new family.

The Scriptures are sparse when they talk about how Jesus grew up. No doubt, because he was fully human, his life was the normal life of a son in a family of first century Palestine. The Scriptures simply say that he "grew and became strong." Then, as now, the parents were essential for the young person in order to grow well. The family then becomes very important for people beginning their lives.

Captain Kidd in the movie "News of the World" had lost his wife and therefore his family, noting how lonely it made him feel. Recognizing how he had felt with Cicada as he was trying to get her back to her parents, he naturally thought of his relationship with the young girl. Since he knew that she was the closest person to family now, and understanding how important family was to him, he decided to adopt her as his daughter.

In the culture where we live, families play an important role. This is true not only for the young people as they grow, but for all the members of a family. Consequently, every family must work as a unit to bring about a healthy atmosphere in which the individuals of the family can contribute to a healthy environment for all.

Younger members of a family must be open to the direction of Moms and Dads, helping them in whatever way to give themselves the best possible beginning of their adult lives. Those who are older must continue to be interested in what is best for the family and for the health of the environment in which they live.

Unfortunately, there are many possible negatives that can creep into family life. Family members must be especially observant of any possible problems with their families and be aware that there are many helps for families in distress.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, my family must be important to me as I live my life. No matter at what stage of life I am living at the present time, help me continue to contribute to be a good family member of my family right now. Be with me, we pray.

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: There are obligations in life, especially toward our families.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(session: approximately 55 minutes)
1. What scene during this session of the movie is most striking? Why?
2. What does the movie "News of the World" teach young people?
3. In raising a family, what is most important for young people before the age of 18?
4. Is there anything that a young person can do to help another young person who is experiencing difficulty with their family life?
5. In your opinion, what is the one "rule" that every family should follow?
6. The presenter may want to refer to the songs "Daughters" and "Unsteady" in these meditations.
7. What is the best way for grown children to treat their elderly parents? In particular, should those who are older be placed in nursing homes?
8. What is the greatest negative that can creep into a family, and what can we do about it?