without

February 9

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Monday, February 9

MARK 6:53-56

I touched the people I healed.

Prayerthoughts
a. Jesus used what the people had as he worked among them, in this case, traveling by boat. Do I use the things of my time, cars, computers, Internet, etc. in a good way?

b. People recognized Jesus in person. When people look at me, do they see the Christ that I am trying to imitate?

c. The people of Jesus’s time took advantage of his presence. Do I turn to the Lord in the undertakings that I do in my life?

d. Jesus was most concerned about the sick. Among the people that I know, am I concerned about those who are sick, that is do I visit if possible, pray for them, send a card, that is, show them that I care for them?

e. As many as touched his tassel were healed. Do I “touch”, that is, pay attention to, everyone that I come into contact with?

f. My prayerthoughts…

Today, I will read 1 Kings 8:1-7,9-13 and write an important thought from it.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

THE TOUCH THAT HEALS

+ We see in the first reading from 1 Kings the way Solomon considered the Ark of the covenant

- the Ark was the receptacle of the Law of Moses

- the ten commandments and the first five books of the Bible

- Solomon remarks how sacred the place that holds the word of God

- in terms of the Gospel, if the people touched that word, or the Ark, then their lives would be holy

+ The idea of touching is a thought from the Gospel:

“As many as touched [Jesus’s cloak] were healed.”

- healing takes place when people have faith enough simply to approach the Lord

- the thought can be taken further than physical healing, I believe

- no doubt, that is what the evangelist Mark meant—they were healed physically—because of all the sick that were brought to him

- but I think the thought extends further to include the mental area of people’s lives as well

- the worries that people had, etc.

+ It is an important thought for us, as we go about our lives, I believe

- we are people of faith, obviously, or we wouldn’t be here

- and one of the directives of our faith is that we must touch Jesus,

- that is, that we must become closer and closer to him in prayer

- if we are to experience the healing that is necessary for our lives

- it is a healing that involves the physical, certainly, as we work with professionals to heal our ailments

- but especially, we need the mental healing

- we need the Lord’s help to make our thinking to be the type of thinking that a Christian should do—that is true mental healing

- it includes the ability to adopt a good attitude about life, a good attitude about everyone we meet

+ We know that if we touch Jesus, there will be healing

- it will be healing that primarily gives us a different attitude of living.

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Song: "Without Me" -- Halsey

DEALING WITH BLIND LOVE

The Gospel

MATTHEW 5:38-42

Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.”

Gospelthink: My basic foundation of love: give to others no matter what. This is very difficult--am I coming close to it?

“Found you when your heart was broke; I filled your cup until it overflowed, took it so far to keep you close, I was afraid to leave you on your own. I said I’d catch you if you fall, Put you right back on your feet just so you could take advantage of me. Tell me, how’s it feel sittin’ up there? Feeling so high, but too far away to hold me. I’m the one who put you up there. I don’t know why, thinking you could live without me. My love was blind.”

It is rare for modern media that we find agreement between that media and what Jesus said in the Gospel. But if we listen to Halsey's song "Without Me", we will hear agreement with Jesus as he tells us not to retaliate if someone harms us.

The song is the story in song of a friend that the lady in the song helped, but apparently he has forgotten her now that he feels better. Love was blind she sings, and now it has cost her the relationship because he has left. She has allowed herself to be "used" by her boyfriend, and now that he has broken up with her, she is realizing what has truly happened.

It is the case of what Jesus was speaking of during his Sermon on the Mount when he was speaking of retaliation and revenge. He said quite directly: there is to be none. Our tendency is to respond like for like as is found even in Old Testament Scriptures. Jesus knew that, of course, because he knew those Scriptures well. He goes to the extreme, exaggerating as it does. He says that even if the other person deserves it, the Christian law--his law--is that we never "turn our back" on someone.

In the song, there are many ways in which she could respond, of course. She could say words that are not at all indicative of being a good person; she could do actions that hurt him and let others know what he did. But as if listening to directions that Jesus gave, she chooses not to do that. It is obvious from the song that she is a little bit angry. But that is to be expected. Hopefully the anger will dissipate; retaliation leaves a lasting residue.

The person who manages to stay away from retaliation and revenge will usually have a better life. Jesus knew that. It is good for modern media to be aware of it also.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, we are often driven by the way we feel, and when we are hurt, we have the desire to get back at the person who has hurt us. Give us the grace to listen closely to Your Son's words about revenge and retaliation. Be with us, we pray.

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: A break-up with a person that we have helped is even more difficult than any other break-up.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. What does the song "Without Me" teach young people? T
2. Jesus's directive may be the most difficult directive in the Gospel. Thinking globally, what would the world look like if the most powerful countries followed it?
3. Jesus uses exaggeration as he speaks here. In your opinion, why does he speak this way in his sermons?
4. Can you think of any other modern media that is closely aligned to Jesus's way of thinking?
5. What is the best way to work with break-ups? That is in the song, how should the lady work with the problem?
6. What is the most common way of responding in a break-up situation?
7. Generally speaking, do you think that it is true that a person will have a better life if he/she does not turn to revenge in a break-up situation?