february8

February 26

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Wednesday, February 26

MARK 9:38-40

Those Not Like Us

Prayerthoughts

a. Jesus is addressed as “teacher.” What has been the most important teaching of Jesus lately in my life?

b. The disciples are manifesting a sense of “exclusivity.” Do I feel the desire to exclude others from my life because of my own selfishness?

c. Although Mark does not mention it, there may be a sense of jealousy on the part of the Apostles. Is jealousy in any form part of my feelings right now?

d. How can I be more “open” to people of different Christian religions?

e. How can I be more “open” to people of different faith traditions?

f. Jesus gives some very practical advice concerning what we should be thinking. Do I find myself too negative toward others?

g. My prayerthoughts…

Today I will read Sirach, chapter 4 and write an important thought from it.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

BEING OPEN-MINDED

+ The Lord gives us a touchy subject for a lot of Catholics in the Gospel today

- Catholics have been accused in the past of not paying very much attention to other religions

- that accusation is often correct

- it seems as though the Lord here in the Gospel is talking about other people not connected with the Apostles who are using Jesus’ name to teach and preach

- similar to a situation in which there would be a number of different religions, as we experience in our country right now

- the Apostles are interested in who is right and who is wrong—and their feeling, of course, that they are right

- Jesus’ answer doesn’t have anything to do with who is right and wrong

- it has everything to do with tolerance and not being closed-minded in our approach to people

+ That is a very good topic for anyone interested in the spiritual life

- we have to watch our own closed-minded ways of thinking

- in The Dogmatic Constitution of the Church, the Second Vatican Council spoke of the “The Community of People”

- the Council stresses that everyone must consider his/her neighbor without exception as another self

+ This closed-mindedness translates to how we treat one another

- especially those who for some reason are different from others

- people who are too smart, or not so smart, or too reserved, or too loud, or too whatever

- we have a tendency to judge others according to the way that we think

- we make quick judgments, and hold to them no matter what

- the Book of Sirach says that Wisdom breathes life on everyone

+ As usual, the readings are extremely practical for us today

- if we are truly Christian, we will be people who will be open-minded

- there are all kinds of opinions in the world, some of which we can easily agree with, and some that we don’t agree with at all

- the important thing for the Christian is not that we agree with everyone because we won’t

- but that we can tolerate their opinion even as we are sure about our own.

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Song: "Thinking Out Loud" -- Ed Sheeran

LOVE EVERY SINGLE DAY

The Gospel

LUKE 9:23-25

Mark 8:34-35

Then [Jesus] said to all, "If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?"

Gospelthink: My formula for the spiritual life: deny oneself, take up the cross daily and follow me. Am I honestly trying to do that?

"When your legs don’t work like they used to before, and I can’t sweep you off of your feet, will your mouth still remember the taste of my love? I will be loving you till we’re 70 and my heart could still fall as hard as 23. And I’m thinking ‘bout how people fall in love in mysterious ways. Well , me—I fall in love with you every single day, and I just wanna tell you I am. I’m thinking out loud that we found love right where we are."

The words of controlling behavior that Jesus gives are always challenging. When he was speaking of the spiritual life, for example, that is, denying ourselves, taking up his cross, and following him, it demands a truly difficult commitment. Denying ourselves of things that we like, taking up the difficult crosses of life and following his words rather than our own is a directive that takes years to accomplish. Achieving the spiritual life is never easy.

Added to the difficulty is the word that Jesus uses to describe how often we must work at accomplishing these things, namely "daily." Even if we could bring about what Jesus sets up as a standard at some point in time, Jesus tells us that we cannot just do it once, and then forget about it. We must commit ourselves to do it every single day. In effect, Jesus is telling us that in order to carry out a commitment to him and our spiritual lives, we must continue the effort it takes--daily. Deep commitments are never easy either.

It is the reason why Ed Sheeran's love song, "Thinking Out Loud" is such a beautiful love song. Not only has the commitment occurred at one particular time, but he says that he will "fall in love every single day." There is no time limit when it comes to love. If we love someone, we will love them "right where they are," that is, every moment, every day.

The song is an excellent statement of the way that husband and wife must give to each other and likewise the way friends must behave in a true friendship. Love may begin with an initial "yes, I will," but it implies that the statement will be made in all ways, daily. It is also the way the love of God works toward us, and the way we must show our love for God.

The way of love implies difficulty because it means giving up things in order to love someone else every day. Ed Sheeran makes it clear for the romantic commitment. It is also the way of our spiritual lives as we love our God.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, your Son has given us the way to pursue our spiritual lives--denying ourselves, taking up our crosses, and following him daily. It is never easy. Help us learn from him so that we can be better spiritually, and in the process, learn the meaning of love itself. Be with us, we pray.

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: After people make a permanent commitment to each other, they must give of themselves every single day.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. What are the principal "crosses" that people must deal with in their lives?
2. Gospel text analysis: "Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it and whoever loses his life for my sake will save it." What is the meaning of Jesus' statement?
3. Gospel text analysis: "What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself"? What is the meaning of Jesus' statement?
4. Text analysis: "People fall in love in mysterious ways." Why is this a true statement?
5. In the song, he has to tell the person that he loves her. Why is it so important to say the words to another?
6. Text analysis: "We found love right where we are." What is the meaning of the sentence?
7. In your opinion, why is achieving a good spiritual life difficult?
8. In your opinion, why are deep commitments never easy?
9. Many married couples do not love the way Ed Sheeran's song advises. What is most important in marriage relationships?
10. Primarily, what must a person give up in order to love another?
11. Primarily, what must a person give up in order to love God?
12. What does the song "Thinking Out Loud" teach young people?