February 21

[media presentaton below]

GospelThink

Saturday, February 21, Saturday after Ash Wednesday

LUKE 5:27-32

I remind you that the salvation of your soul is more important than anything.

Prayerthoughts
a. Jesus has called me to be his follower. How do I rate myself as a follower of Jesus?

b. Levi left everything behind in order to follow the Lord. Do I have too many “things” in my possession? If I have too many things, what should I do with the extra things that I have?

c. The Pharisees had a tendency to judge other people as “sinners.” Sometimes I do the same. Who do I judge to be “sinners” and perhaps I should take the time to pray for them.

d. In my acquaintances right now, who is most in need of the help that I can give? What should I do for them?

e. What sign of repentance do I show in my life?

f. My prayerthoughts….

Today I will read Isaiah 58:9b-14 and write an important thought from it.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS AND A CHANGE OF HEART

+ Jesus says in the Gospel:

- I have not come to call the righteous to repentance, but sinners.

- it is one of Jesus’s basic statements in his teaching

- because the self-righteous-people like the Pharisees and scribes—wouldn’t listen anyway

- important for us who are “religious” to see that Jesus could not accomplish what he wanted with most of the “religious” of his day

+ Perhaps a couple of thoughts on being self-righteous as we strive to improve our spiritual lives during this Lenten season

1 – the possibility that we are part of the self-righteous

- most of us readily admit that we are sinners

- we pray “Lord have mercy” at the beginning of every Mass as well as anyone

- but there is a possibility of something that we will not change our sinful patterns

- some prejudice, perhaps

- some situation or some person that we are refusing to change our opinions about

- there is nothing worse than a person who presents himself/herself as holy

- and fails to recognize some basic correctable fault—they are self-righteous

- and it could be us

2 – a “change of heart” that Jesus calls us to should be analyzed

- Levi is a perfect example for us

- a sinner to be sure—tax collectors were extortionists

- he immediately followed Jesus, left everything

- the first reading tells us that—

- if you…, if you…, if you…, that is, basically, if we change our heart, then the Lord will be with us

- that change of heart consists of:

- truly following Jesus as Levi did

- adopting his thoughts, words and actions

- being open to everyone as Jesus was open to those who needed a doctor, as he said

- all people without exception

- following the basic laws that Jesus and the Church have set up

- as the Isaiah reading points out

- maybe concentrating on the things the reading mentions:

- removing false accusation, malicious speech

- giving to those in need

- keeping holy our Sabbath day, Sunday

- refraining from following our own pursuits

+ There are two things to consider today:

- our own possibility of self-righteousness and just what a real “change of heart” consists of.

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Song: "Shape of You" -- Ed Sheeran

FOLLOW MY LEAD

The Gospel

JOHN 3:14-17

Jesus said, "Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him."

Gospelthink: I came into the world to save it out of love. Love should be my hallmark and those who know me should see that in me.

“Girl, you know I want your love. Your love was homemade for somebody like me. Come on now, follow my lead. I may be crazy, don’t mind me. Say, boy, let’s not talk too much. Come on now, follow my lead. I’m in love with the shape of you.”

The man in the relationship described in Ed Sheeran's song "Shape of You" feels strongly that his relationship with another will work. He is at a bar, and the lady in the relationship comes it. They dance, and he sings his devotion to her, saying to her, "Come on, follow my lead." It gives rise to the discussion about allowing ourselves to be led by another. Is it a good thing? Perhaps, sometimes. In romantic love, as in the song, we want the other person in the relationship to help us grow.

It was with a much more profound love than any romantic love that God loved us. He gave us His Son to help us grow in our relationship with God, saying in effect that His Son is the only guide we need in life in order to possess God. Jesus then becomes our leader, and in terms of the love song by Ed Sheeran, God says to us, "Come on now, follow my lead." Follow the lead that I give you that is, God the Son, Jesus.

There are many things that human beings allow to lead them in life. We may be so much in love that we want the other in the relationship to lead us, as in the song. But we also allow other leaders--leaders that may be described as "possessing more and more material goods," or "enjoying life no matter what" or "having my way in everything that happens." Unfortunately, those leaders serve the guide of selfishness, and we neglect to see what is important in life.

The leadership of Jesus Christ is the opposite of selfishness. The one who "believes in Him" learns the ultimate lesson of love. It is a love that reaches out to others, making other people important to us. It is a love that extends to all, including those that we love in a romantic way.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, You have given us Your Son as guide in our lives, saying that we should make Him our leader. May we truly accept your Son and all that he teaches, so that we may have eternal life with you. Be with us, we pray.

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: Following the lead of another is good for us if the other is someone we can trust.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. What is your understanding of "eternal life"? (See Catechism of the Catholic Church, numbers 266-272.)
2. The saying "John 3:16" is often used by evangelical Christians at different events as a sign they hold up to remind people of the supremacy of Jesus. Do you think that displaying the saying is profitable? Yes or no and why?
3. Text analysis: "Let's not talk too much." Why would couples say this?
4. Text analysis: "Shape of You." Do you believe that physical beauty is too often considered more important than other important elements in a relationship? Yes or no and why?
5. Do you think that "love at first sight" ever happens? Yes or no and why?
6. In your opinion, do most Christians honestly follow the lead of Jesus? Yes or no and why?
7. Is it a true statement that we tend to follow the guide of "selfishness" too much in life? Yes or no and why?
8. Define "selfishness" as you understand it.
9. What does the song "Shape of You" teach young people?

2007 Capuchin Province of Mid-America
Fr. Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America