TGIMMstereo

February 19

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Wednesday, February 19

MARK 8:22-26

See Clearly

Prayerthoughts

a. “Touching” often is an important part of healing as the people requested of Jesus. Do I “touch” (by my words and actions) others always with respect and care?

b. Jesus led the blind man outside the village, and a little later tells him not to go back to the village. This might be a reference to part of our problems, namely, that we are too influenced by the “crowd.” Do I do things simply because others are doing them?

c. Jesus chooses to heal the blind man in two stages, perhaps saying to us that at times we will

never get completely what we ask for. Do I thank the Lord for the answer to all of my prayers in whatever form the answer comes?

d. “Seeing clearly” is a desire that I should have. Do I always make the decision to see clearly in the way I judge the things of my world?

e. Am I unduly influenced by my personal feelings about things, and therefore not able to see people and events in an objective way?

f. My prayerthoughts…

Today I will write a prayer asking for the grace to see clearly all of my friends and desires.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

FULL ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS

+ The Gospel is more than a healing Gospel

- in Mark the evangelist’s eyes, it is an allegory about understanding Jesus

- in tomorrow’s Gospel, Peter’s profession of faith is the full understanding of Jesus

- up until that time, as here, there is only partial understanding

+ There is good symbolism and good meditation material for the spiritual life in today’s liturgy

- we have to start off with the fact that evil is part of our inheritance

- the parenthetical remark in Genesis is interesting:

“…since the desires of man’s heart are evil from the start…”

- that is, man is evil anyway so destroying him completely really doesn’t solve any problem

- because we are evil, we do not totally understand until we completely accept Jesus, as the blind man today

- rather than total acceptance, most of the time, there is only partial acceptance

- that partial acceptance is an interesting spiritual state

+ I believe that it is a very good statement of where we may be

- we’d like to believe that we have totally accepted Jesus

- but the chances are strong that we have not accepted some of his teachings and actions

- the ones that are difficult

- the ones that we don’t particularly want to consider

- the ones that we don’t even know about because we haven’t studied his life well enough

+ There should be no such thing as partial acceptance of Jesus’ teachings and actions

- because with Jesus, it is either total commitment or not

- it therefore involves knowing more about Jesus

- so that when we accept him totally, we know what and who we are really accepting.

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Song: "Stereo Hearts" -- Gym Class Heroes

YOU'RE CHANGING MY MIND

The Gospel

MARK 15:42-46

[After Jesus died,] when it was already evening, since it was the day of preparation, the day before the sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a distinguished member of the council, who was himself awaiting the k

ingdom of God, came and courageously went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate was amazed that he was already dead. He summoned the centurion and asked him if Jesus had already died. And when he learned of it from the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph. Having bought a linen cloth, he took him down, wrapped him in the linen cloth and laid him in a tomb that had been hewn out of the rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance to the tomb.

Gospelthink: I died for you and for all and Joseph of Arimathea had the courage to bury me. Am I courageous in the way I bring about Christian values?

"My heart’s a stereo. It beats for you, so listen close, hear my thoughts in every note; make me your radio, and turn me up when you feel low. The melody was meant for you; just sing along to my stereo. I apologize for any skipping tracks; it's just the last girl that played me left a couple cracks. Now, I'm over that. If I could only find a note to make you understand, I'd sing it softly in your ear. Just keep it stuck inside your head like your favorite tune, and know my heart's a stereo that only plays for you. Thought love was dead; now, you’re changing my mind."

At the beginning of Jesus' ministry, one can guess that as a member of the Sanhedrin Joseph of Arimathea had been against what Jesus taught, but had changed his mind the more he got to know him. When Jesus died, Joseph "courageously" approached the governor asking permission to bury this person in whom he had come to believe.

Modern love songs speak of change all the time. Many times it is a change that comes after significant pain. The person in Gym Class Heroes' clever song "Stereo Hearts" had such a past relationship, one that had left "a couple cracks" on the "CD" of his life. Now, he's hearing interest from another, and, as he says, "you're changing my mind." He is acknowledging that he is changing, but one senses that he is taking his time in allowing the change to happen.

He is exemplifying a pattern of behavior that can be helpful to every one, whether there is a romantic love involved or not. Change is difficult, especially after similar situations in the past have ended in a painful way. If something has produced pain in the past, we will be cautious about the future. In fact, it is a good principle for worthy living. Before any change can take place, one has to "live for a while," that is, "exist." Only after some time and serious thought will the human being be ready to allow something different.

Joseph of Arimathea in the Gospel studied his situation and changed his mind to follow Jesus. The person in Gym Class Heroes' song was studying his situation as he looked at the possibility of romantic love. They both produce a lesson that teaches us the necessity to spend some time of serious thought before we make significant changes in our behavior patterns.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, as human beings we are often cautious about change because changing behavior is difficult. Help us learn the lesson of cautious change, and in the end, give us the grace to change our behavior and accept your Son completely no matter what our lifestyle. Be with us, we pray.

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: We can change our minds, but it will usually take time.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. There were some members of the inner circle of religious leaders in the Gospel who accepted Jesus, such as Joseph of Arimathea, while most rejected him. In your opinion, what caused the religious leaders to reject Jesus?
2. We do not know anything about Joseph of Arimathea's later life. What can you guess happened to him, given the circumstances of his situation?
3. The group sings of past pain in a poetic way. What causes the most pain in a young love situation?
4. Text analysis: "I apologize for any skipping tracks." What is the meaning of the statement?
5. What are the characteristics of "courage"?
6. It often happens that people rush too quickly into a relationship after some breakup. Why do we do that?
7. After finishing one relationship, how much time should a person spend before beginning another one?
8. The meditation makes the point that any significant change should be made slowly. What are the most important changes a person makes as he/she grows out of adolescence.
9. What does the song "Stereo Hearts" teach young people?