february13

January 12

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Sunday, January 12, Baptism of the Lord

LUKE 3:15-16,21-22

Well-Pleased

Prayerthoughts

a. John the Baptist could have easily succumbed to pride and accepted the praise of others since he was so popular. He merely pointed to Jesus as more important. In my life, am I prideful in the way I “present” myself?

b. Have I given myself completely to the importance of Jesus in my life by reading the Gospels as much as I should?

c. The Lord was in prayer as the voice of God came upon Him. What percentage of the day do I give to prayer?

d. God the Father was “well-pleased” with the Son. In all honesty, what places in general do I feel that the Lord is “well pleased” with me?

e. There are many of my friends who “live their Baptism.” Who in particular are good examples for me, and I should pray for them now, and perhaps send a letter or phone or email of appreciation to them sometime soon.

f. My prayerthoughts….

Today, I will read Isaiah chapter 40 and write an important thought from it.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy[

PRACTICAL BAPTISM

+ There are a couple of saints that I think I have met in my life who will never be formally canonized, but they should be

- two of them lived in Victoria, KS

- some of their relatives are still alive and they are blessed to know these people

- one was in her 90’s and a little hard of hearing, couldn’t walk long distances, risky to go to Church—which she wanted to do in the worse way

- so, we had home Masses for her and took her Communion quite often

- I remember the last home Mass we had for her

- I gave a little homily on whatever

- after Mass, she told her grand-daughter, in a pretty loud voice, as many hard of hearing older people do—and therefore I heard it loud and clear— “I didn’t understand one thing that priest said!”

- the fact is: she didn’t need to

- because she was what I call a practical theologian

+ The other one helped me help someone who really needed help and literally saved that young person’s life, but that’s another story

- her name was Vera

- I remember her as a practical theologian because of what she said to me at one time

- she had been in a horrible accident, and she had to wear one of those braces that in effect molded a steel cage around her head to keep her from moving her neck—my guess is that the medical field has something a little more friendly now

- but she looked awful

- and I felt awful for her

- but her statement to me made me a little bit better that day:

- she said: “This is good. God still wants me to do something with my life.”

- well, she did it

- it is a statement of a practical theologian

+ To me, a practical theologian is one who has put Baptism into practice

- it makes our Baptism something that is a true guide for living well

- we celebrate that thought on this feast of the Baptism of Jesus

- Jesus used the Baptism of John to say to us that every one of us must begin using our Baptism as a guide, just as he, the human Jesus did

+ All Christians are baptized, most of us very young

- we are Christians, and almost immediately, we have to wonder why given the amount of baptized Christians, there are still so many problems in the Christian world, and in our own little world

- if we were better practical theologians, that would change

+ Someone gave me a sermon from the Internet by a Methodist minister a couple of years ago

- the minister stated that the problem with Christians is that they have not fully embraced the call of Christianity

- using strong accusatory language, he said: If ministers and their flocks would worry more about listening to the call of Jesus, and less about money and whose religion is right or wrong, we wouldn’t have the mire and misery that we have now

- he is a little negative, but there is a lot of truth there

+ Listening to the call of Christianity means being practical theologians

- and how do we do that?

- we know the answer to that: we take the time to address the mire and misery in our own homes and in the situations that we can do something about

- we do things like: regulate TV and movies, make sure young people get the Christian education they need, pray more, go to the sacrament of Reconciliation more, volunteer more, and so forth

+ In that sermon I mentioned, the minister closes this way:

“As we address the mire and misery that make up our world, we must accept the call to do something, to become greater than we are right now.” But then he says, “But we won’t do that, and therefore we will never listen to the call and never accomplish what we could.”

- maybe that can be a challenge to us.

MEDIA PRESENTATION-

Movie: "Gravity" -- beginning session

ADAPTING TO CHANGE

The Gospel

LUKE 4:21-30

LUKE 4:21-30

Jesus said to them [in the synagogue at Nazareth], “Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing. And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They also asked, “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?” Jesus said, "No prophet gains acceptance in his native place. Indeed, let me remind you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the heavens remained closed for three and a half years and a great famine spread over the land. It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but to a widow of Zarephath near Sidon. Recall, too, the many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one was cured except Naaman the Syrian. At these words the whole audience in the synagogue was filled with indignation. They rose up and expelled him from the town, leading him to the brow of the hill on which it was built and intending to hurl him over the edge. But he went straight through their midst and walked away.

Gospelthink: The People of Nazareth turned against me because I tried to broaden their idea of faith. In my spiritual life, do I consider carefully the belief of others?

Dr. Ryan Stone, an engineer on her first shuttle mission in the movie "Gravity" was an expert in her field. She had a very good idea of what she had to do in order to repair the piece of equipment on the Hubble Space Telescope. She also had the intense training that every astronaut who works in space receives. Accompanied by a veteran astronaut, Matt Kowalski, they knew what to expect, but they also knew that they were working in space far above the earth. They knew of the possibility of danger in their work, but they never expected the freak accident that sent some debris into their orbit, destroying their ship. It also killed everyone on the mission except them and left them stranded in space. Resigned to their new mission of simply staying alive, Stone and Kowalski adapted to their new task as best they could.

It is clear in the Gospels that Jesus had to be prepared for changes in his approach to establishing the Kingdom that he desired. At the very beginning of his preaching, perhaps hoping to set a foundation for his future in his home town of Nazareth, at first he received abundant praise. But after his first sermon, his own people turned on him, chasing him away and for all practical purposes, Jesus was never to return again to Nazareth. Throughout his attempts to establishing the Kingdom, he met opposition, and had to make significant changes.

In the space program, astronauts were taught to expect the unexpected. The technology was such that even with backup systems to backup systems, their attempts to work in space were full of danger. The movie "Gravity" presents one such unexpected danger with an end-result of possible loss of an entire crew together with their space vehicle. The unexpected became the reality.

One of the necessary parts of human living, because of the very nature of humanity, is the possibility of a change in plans, even plans that have been carefully made. Such changes happen with plans that matter little, and sometimes even with plans that literally change the nature of one's future. Immature people in general will not be ready for such changes, causing anger and resentment. Mature people will be able to adjust to the changes, even to the point of making them part of their "future plan."

Life at any time can become difficult. Likewise, life at any time can become easy. The quality of one's life depends on how one adjusts in both moments of time.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, you have taught us that our lives will change because of the fact that we are human. Help us adjust to everything that happens so that we will always follow your will. Be with us, we pray.

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: Mature people will always be prepared for a last minute change of plans.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(session: approximately 43 minutes)
1. What scene during this session of the movie is most striking? Why?
2. The evangelist Luke presents Jesus' ministry mainly as fulfillment of the Hebrew Scriptures' prophecy. What do you consider most important in Jesus' ministry? Why?
3. What is your definition of a prophet? Who are the modern prophets in our world today?
4. Jesus refers to the widow of Zarephath and Naaman, both non-Jews. This is a problem for the Jewish audience, and so they turn on Jesus. Most commentators agree that we still have a problem with prejudice in our world. Do you agree and why or why not?
5. What is your opinion about the space program in your country at the present time? Is it good or bad, that is, helpful to humankind? Yes or no and why?
6. Project: the presenter may want to outline the space program and the dangers that result, including the tragedies that have occurred.
7. Why are immature people not ready for significant changes in their lives?
8. Scene analysis: Kowalski releases hold of the tether that will kill him in space, but will save Stone. It is an act of martyrdom for another. What is your definition of a "martyr" in today's world?
9. Scene analysis: Not only does Kowalski sacrifice his life for Stone, but gives her instructions of what to do to get into the Chinese space module. Kowalski is not only a "martyr", but can be called a "hero" as well. Who are the "heroes" in our world today?
10. Scene analysis: Problem after problem surfaces as Stone works in the Chinese space station. Close to despair, she continues to work. She will later give into despair, only to come out of it again. Despair is a common problem in our world today. What is the best way to overcome despair?