tgimmstand

February 7

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Saturday, February 7

MARK 6:30-34

I taught the Apostles to pray before and after their work in the ministry.

Prayerthoughts
a. After they had come back from teaching, they reported to Jesus all that they had done. Do I turn to the Lord, reporting the things that have happened, asking for guidance?

b. As Jesus wanted his disciples to do, do I take time out of my day for a significant time with the Lord?

c. There were many people in the Lord’s and Apostles’ lives, as there are many people in my own life. Am I as respectful and kind to them as I should be?

d. Do I look on people “with pity”? That is, am I caring enough to ask about their lives when I talk with them?

e. Do I consistently turn to the Lord as my shepherd asking him to help me in the things that I am involved in?

f. Do I listen to the Lord and try to keep learning from him?

g. My prayerthoughts…

Today I will read 1 Kings 3:4-13 and write an important thought from it.

Some Thoughts on Today’s Liturgy

AN UNDERSTANDING HEART

+ The best example of the prayer of petition in the Hebrew Scriptures, in my opinion,

- is given to us today in the first reading that describes Solomon’s early life

- the Lord asks him what he wants to have in his life

- the Lord—and we—expected him to say what had to be uppermost in his mind at that time:

- a long life, riches, or defeat of the enemies that were around him

- but he doesn’t

- allowing for the fact that he was young and wanting to serve the Lord well, he asks:

“Give your servant an understanding heart”

- as I say, the best petition that a human being can request

+ Obviously, with our desire for a deeper spiritual life,

- that must be our petition also: to have an understanding heart

- and what does that consist of?

- many things actually, all of which are discussed in one way or another here in the Scriptures, but today’s liturgy suggests some:

+ 1 – an understanding heart for a person means that that person, in Solomon’s words, is able to judge right from wrong

- when we pray for an understanding heart, we are praying for the gift of being able to look at everything in an objective manner, and then to apply some specific guide or standard to the situation

- the standard that you and I have chosen is the standard of the Gospel: the words and thinking of Jesus Christ

- an understanding heart will know the Scriptures well

+ 2 – from the Gospel, as Mark describes the return of the Apostles after their preaching tour

- an understanding heart is going to see the need for the presence of God in one’s life

- the Lord wants the Apostles to understand that activity—especially the activity of preaching and healing that they were asked to do—is important, but just as important is quiet time with the Lord:

Come away to a deserted place and rest.

- even though they didn’t quite accomplish it, it was a goal that the Lord established

+ 3 – an understanding heart suggests a person who—as Jesus—is moved with pity for those who need help

- and such a person will want to work with the poor in some way, will want to be part of programs that are set up to help people in need

- people who are sheep without a shepherd, as Mark describes them

+ 4 – and finally, an understanding heart will be a person who wants to teach—as Jesus was moved to teach

- who wants to get across the Christian message to the people around us

- to our families, to our community, to the people who see us

- maybe not in a classroom setting as a teacher teaches there

- but with our lives, with the way we act, with the way we talk

+ With Solomon, our prayer is for an understanding heart

- it is a real Christian necessity in the complicated world in which we live.

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Song: "Stand By You" -- Rachel Platton

IF YOUR WINGS ARE BROKEN...

The Gospel

JOHN 11:1-5

Now a man was ill, Lazarus from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. Mary was the one who had anointed the Lord with perfumed oil and dried his feet with her hair; it was her brother Lazarus who was ill. So the sisters sent word to him, saying, “Master, the one you love is ill.” When Jesus heard this he said, “This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.

Gospelthink: I had friends when I was here on earth. There are people that I call friends in my life. Am I as good to them as I should be?

"Hands, put your empty hands in mine. And scars, show me all the scars you hide, and if your wings are broken, please take mine so yours can open too, ‘cause I’m gonna stand by you. Even if we’re breaking down, we can find a way to break through. Even if we can’t find heaven, I’ll walk through hell with you. Love, you’re not alone, ‘cause I’m gonna stand by you."

We can learn a number of lessons from Jesus's association with Martha, Mary and Lazarus, three people who interacted with Jesus during his lifetime. Perhaps the most obvious one is the fact that they were friends. Jesus was very interested in their welfare, even entering into their family squabbles at times, but especially he felt sorrow when Lazarus had died. Jesus was saddened by his friend's death, and true to friendship till the end, worked toward some resolution of his feelings by performing one of his greatest miracles.

Rachel Platten in her song "Stand By You" speaks to feelings and actions among friends, friends who have promised to remain friends forever. In beautiful words, the lady in the relationship tells her friend that she will be that friend no matter what. She will be the wings her friend must have, she will find a way to break through any problems, she will walk through hell itself just to prove that her friend is not alone.

When people determine that they fall into the category of being "true friends," there are certain obligations that follow. Too often we humans say very strong words like "friends forever" or "I will always be with you" or even "till death do us part." And too often the words mean nothing or very little. We grow older, we move away, we find ourselves in different circumstances, and we forget about the friendship.

When we say a friendship is true, it will last no matter what happens in life. Lazarus and his sisters felt that type of friendship from Jesus. Rachel Platten reminds us about the duties of a "true friend" in her song. It is a concept that every one of us should make our own.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, Your Son taught us the value of human friendship. Help us to be more aware of the needs of our friends and give us the grace to show them true friendship. Be with us, we pray.

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: A true friend will always stand up for his/her friend even during the tough moments.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. In your opinion, as you study the Gospel, how do you think Martha, Mary and Lazarus showed friendship to Jesus during his lifetime?
2. Text analysis: "will not end in death." Jesus no doubt means "spiritual death." In other words, the situation will end well, and "life" will result. What is the best way to promote a good "spiritual life"?
3. Text analysis: "If your wings are broken..." What is the meaning of the phrase?
4. What are the various ways that a relationship "breaks down"?
5. In today's world, what are the greatest proofs that one is a friend to another?
6. Project: Go through each phrase of the quoted portion of the song above, stating some examples of what the phrases mean.
7. What are the "obligations" of a true friend?
8. What will be "proof" in later years that one's friendship in the early years of high school and college were "true" friendships?
9. What does the song "Stand By You" teach young people?