January 11

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Saturday, January 11

JOHN 3:22-30

He Must Increase.

Prayerthoughts

a. Jesus followed what John was doing, namely baptizing. Once again during this season I think of my own baptism, and I should be more aware of my promises to be a Christian.

b. In life there is some rivalry especially when someone is doing the exact same thing that I am doing. Do I judge others wrongly who are in the same vocation as I am?

c. The Lord has given me certain talents. Do I appreciate what the Lord has done for me by thanksgiving prayer?

d. I should learn to be a help to others no matter what my role in life is.

e. “He must increase; I must decrease.” It is the classic statement of learning humility. How am I dealing with pride in my life

f. My prayerthoughts….

Today, I will read 1 John, chapter 5

and write an important thought from it.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

HUMILITY IS TRUTH

+ The first reading today is the conclusion of the first letter of John

- reiterating some of the main themes of the letter

- especially the idea of belonging to God and the statement:

“We know that we belong to God, and the whole world is under the power of the Evil One.”

- it is the Johannine community’s classic statement about two groups: those who belong to the world and those who belong to God

- in general, those who belong to the world are those who are completely taken up by worldly pursuits, what Jesus was to be tempted to in the desert: pleasure, power and money

- Jesus, warning us about how these can take over our lives

- “idols” is the word the first letter of John uses

- those who belong to God are those who study and practice the virtues of God, the virtues that Jesus himself was to outline for the Kingdom of God that he preached

+ One of those virtues is presented in the Gospel, not by Jesus, but by the person that Jesus referred to once as someone who is a “great” person, in fact, no person greater than he was born – John the Baptist

- John was at the end of his baptizing days, probably waiting for Jesus to begin his public ministry

- here in the Gospel, he learns that Jesus is baptizing, and therefore beginning his ministry

- and John proclaims that his job is finished

- and he makes a statement of humility:

He must increase; I must decrease.

+ A significant spiritual point is presented here, the idea of humility

- spiritual writers define humility to be truth--

- John really was only the one sent before Jesus, as John proclaims—that is the truth

- we have to have a certain respect for the truth in our lives

- one of the common “sins” of young people is lying, telling lies to one another, telling lies to parents

- something most parents and grandparents simply abhor

- how often do you hear: “do anything, but don’t lie to me”

- unfortunately, adults are into lying as well

- maybe not directly, although that is common enough

- but especially in their attitudes toward others

- they don’t work with the truth, either hiding it or just not carrying through with it

- and so we are called to work with the truth

- ultimately for us who believe, the truth is that we are called to follow Jesus as best we can

- to give up the desires of self-importance, as John did, and accept the fact that Jesus must be a force in our lives

- our meditation today should revolve around whether Jesus is increasing in our lives which is the truth that we as Christians profess

+ Jesus was to proclaim that John was a great man

- he was great because of his honesty and his humility that we see today.

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Song: "The Heart Wants What It Wants" -- Selena Gomez

THE HEART WANTS WHAT IT WANTS

The Gospel

LUKE 22:47-48

LUKE 22:47-48

While Jesus was still speaking, a crowd approached and in front was one of the Twelve, a man named Judas. He went up to Jesus to kiss him. Jesus said to him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"

Gospelthink: Judas my Apostle was a mixed-up man. In what ways do I show that I am betraying the Lord by my actions?

"There’s a million reasons why I should give you up, but the heart wants what it wants. The future that we hold is so unclear, but I’m not alive until you call. The heart wants what it wants. You got me scattered in pieces shining like stars and screaming but then you disappear and make me wait, and every second's like torture, finding a way to let go. No, I can't escape."

Jesus had a great love for his chosen Twelve. They were his companions and his primary students. They were also the means that he used in order to spread his doctrine to those on the earth both during his time when he ministered and after he had risen from the dead. It must have hurt him very deeply when Judas betrayed him, a pain that is suggested in his question to Judas. At the same time, there was no doubt a significant amount of pain in Judas' confused mind. Perhaps he thought that Jesus was not fulfilling what he had promised, and therefore felt that Jesus had abandoned him.

Pain will always result when we love someone who does not love us in return. It is clearly the experience of modern day romantic love, when young people in particular are hoping for happiness with a partner who does not seem to respond. It is the case of the young lady in Selena Gomez' song "The Heart Wants What It Wants." She desperately wants the love of a boyfriend who apparently is not returning her love. The video to the song presents the picture clearly.

The situation of young romantic love easily allows a study of such pain. But it is not the only place where one sees it. Young people feel it in developing personal friendships whether romantic or otherwise. Married people feel it when a spouse does not seem to respond the way he/she should. Seasoned adults often experience the pain from a trusted friend who seems to no longer care.

One of the most difficult parts of human living is understanding that sometimes things will happen that we did not want or plan. It may even have been our fault without even knowing it, making it all the worse. We must learn from the pain, take some time to let the learning sink in, and then move on with life.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, there is pain in life. It is part of our human experience--your Son felt it as we do. Give us the grace to understand any pain, correct our part in it if necessary, but then move on with your help. Be with us, we pray.

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: Pain will always result when we love someone who does not love us in return.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. In the Gospel, Judas led the captors to Jesus, signifying an important role in the actual betrayal of Jesus. In your mind, why was Judas so intent on betraying Jesus?
2 .The kiss in Jesus' time was a sign of endearment. As the meditation says, perhaps this is the reason it was so painful for Jesus. Do you feel that Jesus felt deep pain during his human life? Yes or no and why?
3. As far as you can from your study of the Gospels, describe the character of Judas.
4. Text analysis: "The heart wants what it wants." What is the meaning of the sentence?
5. Analysis: Why do you think the lady in the song allowed herself to experience the pain, the "torture"?
6. Analysis: Why does she think that she cannot "escape"?
7. Do you agree with the meditation that Judas also felt a significant amount of pain? Yes or no and why?
8. Why do we want to hang on to a "love relationship" even though it is clear that it is over?
9. What is the best way to bring about a break up when it is necessary?
10. Obtain a copy of the video and study the pain of the young lady.
11. What is the best way for people to get away from the mental pain of a person who feels that he/she has been rejected by someone?
12. What does the song "The Heart Wants What It Wants" teach young people?