awish

February 16

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Sunday, February 16, Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

LUKE 6:17,20-26

Those Blessed

Prayerthoughts

a. Have I used any wealth I have not only to my advantage but to help others?

b. Am I always satisfying myself, and forgetting that I could forego some self-serving? As I go through my day yesterday for example, was I more interested in satisfying self than others?

c. When people dislike me for whatever reason, am I willing to accept it and not give into feeling sorry for myself?

d. Am I a joyful person, able to accept adversity and problems as I place my hope in God?

e. Is it clear from my lifestyle that I need God to be part of my life, that God is part of my day-to-day living?

f. My prayerthoughts…

Today, I will pray Psalm 1.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

PRACTICAL SPIRITUALITY

+ Some years ago in one of our major Catholic universities, a man known as an Eastern religious holy man versed in the highest form of contemplation and prayer was invited to give some talks on the art of contemplation and centering prayer

- he had just finished one of his presentations

- a businessman, obviously moved by what he heard,

- wanted to know more about what he could do immediately with his life

- the businessman told the presenter that he had always been interested in spirituality and felt that God was not as much a part of his life as he wanted

- the holy man asked if he was married and had a family

- and when the man answered yes, the holy man handed him a card which he evidently had used before, which had 3 questions on it:

- how is your communication with your spouse and children?

- what percentage of your income do you spend helping someone other than yourself?

- how much time do you spend with external media such as movies and television?

- the man read the card several times

- and responded that these were all things that were external

- how can they have anything to do with interior prayer and mysticism

- the holy man’s reply has come down in spiritual circles as the first step in establishing any relationship with God:

- “Any deep relationship with God must first begin in your own little world: if you have not achieved a foundation for a holy life there, you can never grow into a higher presence with God.”

- the holy man was speaking of what might be called practical spirituality

+ Practical spirituality is what Jesus was all about

- during his life, he did not invite people to higher mysticism with God

- he spoke practical words of telling us to work in our own little worlds and achieve a basic spirituality from which one can build

- and so in Luke’s Gospel’s rendition of the Beatitudes, he sets up a basic practical difference, namely between those who are blessed and those who have “woes” leveled at them

- the blessed are the poor or needy who confess a need for God and God’s kingdom which is brought about by Jesus

- the ones who have “woes” leveled are the rich or people who have enough who do not need God and do not want to convert themselves to Jesus because they are content with their lifestyles

+ In his book The Road Less Traveled, author M. Scott Peck claims that that which holds us back from growing closer to God is laziness.

- in debating the wisdom of a proposed course of action, human beings routinely fail to obtain God’s side of the issue

- they fail to consult or listen to God within them, the knowledge of rightness which inherently resides within the minds of everyone

- we make this failure because we are lazy. It is work to hold these internal debates

- they require time and energy just to conduct them

- and if we take them seriously, if we seriously listen to this ‘God within us,’

- we usually find ourselves being urged to take a more difficult path, the path of more effort, rather than less.

- being a psychoanalyst, M. Scott Peck gives examples of people who should be in therapy, but they never take the opportunities they have

- they know that it would take too much of a struggle to work their lives or marriages out

- it would take too much work to try to see the anger that is deep within them

- or it would take too much effort to make themselves whole human beings

- consequently, they cop out or drop out, and are content with their present comfortable selves.

+ The words of that holy man are important as we pursue a practical spirituality:

- “Any deep relationship with God must first begin in your own little world: if you have not achieved a foundation for a holy life there, you can never grow into a higher presence with God.”

- if we want to be holy, it begins with how we work with our own personal worlds around us.

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Song: "Wish You the Best" -- Lewis Capaldi

WISHING THE BEST

The Gospel

LUKE 6:27-28

Jesus said: "To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you; bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you."

Gospelthink: You must learn to love your enemies and forgive them their wrongs toward you.

“I miss knowing what you’re thinking and hearing how your day has been. Do you think you can tell me everything? But leave out every part about him. Right now, you’re probably by the ocean while I’m still out here in the rain. Maybe it’s supposed to be this way. But oh, my love, I wanna say, ‘I miss the green in your eyes’ and when I said we could be friends, guess I lied. I wanna say ‘I wish you never left,’ But instead, I only wish you the best. I wanna say, ‘Without you, everything’s wrong’ and you were everything I need all along. I wanna say ‘I wish that you never left’, but instead, I only wish you the best.”

Marriage was very different in Jesus' day. Therefore, Jesus never spoke about past love relationships the way we think about them. He never had the occasion to give a high school or college course on discovering romantic love and what it means in light of his teachings. Consequently, he did not speak about one of the most common situations that young people must experience as they grow, namely a romantic breakup.

It is generally known that people will not marry the first person that they "love." Granted that there are a few exceptions, but for the most part, the fact means that people will have a “falling out” with people that they once liked, even loved. This is the definition of a breakup. Many times the breakup is hostile and angry, and burdens people for a long time.

Jesus may not have said anything about breakups, but he had much to say about forgiveness. In Luke's Gospel, he even alludes to the fact that one cannot pray properly if such a person cannot first forgive. Such a directive would include people that we had a relationship with at one time.

Lewis Capaldi's song "Wish You the Best" is a statement of what usually happens at a breakup. The man who has experienced the breakup is angry, upset, and lets her feelings known to her once-upon-a-time girfriend. But he seems to understand that that is a wrong approach, and says that he wishes her well. In doing so, he is following the directive of Jesus, namely that no matter what the situation, we must work with a spirit of forgiveness. In a sense, the song is asking forgiveness for the man's jealous behavior, eventually wishing his friend "the best."

Jesus' words that direct us to forgive others are never easy because his words cover every situation of our lives, even when others have hurt us in some way. Young people must be especially aware of his words when they are recovering from romantic breakups; every Christian must be aware of them throughout their lives.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, it is not easy to follow your Son's law of forgiving others. Too often we are hurt, and want to get back at someone. Help us recognize our need to forgive everyone, no matter what the circumstances. Be with us, we pray.

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: We may express our disappointment at the actions of another, but the Christian will always wish the other well.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. What does the song "Wish You the Best" teach young people?
2. Why is it true to say that before any prayer can be offered to God, a person must be able to forgive another?
3. When is forgiveness most necessary in relationships? Why?
4. Do you think that most Christians have totally accepted the idea of forgiveness into their lives? Yes or no and why?
5. Although Jesus did not say anything about "romantic love" in his teachings, if there were one statement that you believe Jesus would say about beginning romantic love, what would it be?
6. Why is "revenge" so disruptive in relationships?
7. What is most difficult about a "romantic breakup"?
8. Is jealousy always bad for a relationship? Yes or no and why?