water

February 18

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Wednesday, February 18, Ash Wednesday

MATTHEW 6:1-6,16-18

Giving, Fasting, Praying

Prayerthoughts

a. I do many things that can be called “righteous deeds.” What is my motivation behind them—that is, why do I do them—to be praised or paid or actually to help someone?

b. “Giving alms” is an automatic in Christian spirituality. Do I give of my time or talent or money on behalf of a good cause with no desire to receive something in return?

c. The Lord wants my “almsgiving” to be secret. As I study my “giving” to others during this week, how many people knew about it?

d. The Lord wants my prayer to be sincere. Do I make a show of my prayer so that others see what I am doing and therefore “praise” me? Am I praying all the time and not just at assigned times like in Church?

e. I must be careful as I study another not to assign an evil intention to what they are doing. I cannot read another’s mind when it comes to their praying or giving or fasting.

f. The Lord wants my fasting (from food, television, internet, etc.) to be in secret. The fasting should remind me to turn to God more in my life. What should I choose to fast from?

g. My prayerthoughts…

Today, I will read 2 Corinthians 5:20–6:2 and write an important thought from it.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

ATTACKING THE WRONG

+ Most adults remember when President John Kennedy was killed in November of 1963

- those of us who were alive then have it engraved in our memories

- during the tragedy, one of the radio broadcasters who was in the motorcade said some words that really struck me as I was listening on the radio

- as he was describing it, suddenly the whole motorcade that was going through Dallas began going toward one of the hospitals there,

- the announcer did not understand what was going on, but his words described the situation very well

- he said referring to the fact that suddenly the route had changed

- something is wrong here, something is terribly wrong

- I always look at that statement from a much more general point of view, and I think it is true in a general way, true for the world in 1963, true for the year 2025 as well, maybe even more so

- something is terribly wrong in our world

+ Further, I think that that which is terribly wrong can be described by one word: selfishness

- Jesus addresses selfishness in the Gospel this Ash Wednesday, telling us that the way to overcome it is by giving to others, prayer, and fasting

- Jesus and the liturgy is telling us: Lent is a time to attack selfishness

+ According to many spiritual commentators of our day, we are involved in a spiritual war of sorts

- at stake in this spiritual war is our very foundation, namely who we are

- there is an intentional, powerful effort present in our world, to change the base of that foundation, to rid it of Godly influence, and to replace that base with a selfish, secular, and materialistic view of man

- and the only way we can win the war is to return to an understanding that we must change ourselves to be more Godly in our approach

- we are too selfish, we have given to ourselves too much

- the crime, breakdown of families and divorce, abortion, pornography, and so forth are nothing more than symptoms of the selfishness that is rampant in our world

+ Somehow we must get it across to ourselves that selfishness is a horrible evil, and has caused the people of our world untold damage

- the answer to that selfishness is the true living out of what Jesus has told us

- we must be people who eventually see what Jesus is saying to us

- we now have one more time, one more Lent during which Jesus tells us to attack our selfishness by giving to others, by praying more, and by refraining from satisfying ourselves too much

- we pray for the grace to listen to the Lord.

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Song: "Water Under the Bridge" -- Adele

NOT WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE

The Gospel

MATTHEW 6:7-8

Jesus said: "In praying do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him."

Gospelthink: You pray in order to make yourselves better, not God. Do I need to correct my view of why I pray?

"If you’re gonna let me down, then let me down gently." The lady in the relationship has good reason to believe that the man is going to let her down because he does not seem to be responding to her: “It’s so cold out here in your wilderness. I want you to be my keeper, but not if you are so reckless." She does not want to say that their love is just water under the bridge, and she begs him, "Say it ain’t so."

It is relatively easy to compare the love of people of faith speaking to God the Father in prayer and the romantic love of a couple who are thinking about their relationship. Jesus reminds his followers that when it comes to love as expressed toward God, one should not use a lot of words. Instead, we are led to believe that we are to be very direct in our approach. Since your Father knows what we need before we even ask, one should spend time with direct speech rather than with lengthy prayers.

In Adele's song, "Water Under the Bridge," even though the lady in the relationship seems to want the relationship to continue, she is quite direct in telling him that one does not become "reckless" in the relationship. She tells him directly that she does not want their relationship to be "water under the bridge," begging him to "Say it ain't so." It seems as though she is willing to give up the relationship if the man is not able to say directly to her that their relationship will last.

The situation is common in relationships that are beginning. The couples do not know each other well enough to determine whether one wants the relationship to grow into something more than "casual." And often, rather than being totally honest in their discussions, they spend time merely thinking and wondering where their relationship will last, and are simply afraid to ask.

In people's love relationship with God the Father, Jesus reminds his followers that direct thought and prayer is what matters. Prayers than merely recite words is not real prayer. Likewise in our love relationships with one another, whether we are speaking in a romantic way or otherwise, our communication with the other should be straightforward and honest.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, Your Son reminds us to speak to You directly as we ask for Your help in this life. It is a good example for all of us as we try to communicate with others. Be with us, we pray.

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: We must face all love relationships, romantic and otherwise, with honesty and directness.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. What is your understanding of prayer? (See Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, numbers 2558-2565.)
2. Text analysis: "It's so cold out here in your wilderness." What is the meaning of the sentence?
3. What are some ways that young people become "reckless"?
4. What is best way to assure that love will continue in a relationship?
5. Why is direct communication between man and woman so difficult?
6. Is it true that most beginning relationships are not honest? Yes or no and why?
7. In your opinion, is prayer really important to all Christians? Yes or no and why?
8. What does the song “Water Under the Bridge” teach young people?