notime1

January 13

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Monday, January 13

MARK 1:14-20

Repent and Believe

Prayerthoughts

a. “Gospel” means “good news.” Is the Gospel “good news” to me? In what way do I show this in my life?

b. Among Jesus’s first words in the Gospel of Mark are “Repent and believe.” Notice what is first. If we repent first, we will acknowledge that we are sinners, and therefore have a need for a belief system. Do I sufficiently acknowledge my sinfulness every day?

c. In what way is a Christian (therefore, me) a “fisher of men”?

d. Notice the immediacy of the disciples leaving their work. Do I work at trying to follow the Lord, that is, doing the work of God/Church/religion in an immediate manner?

e. In my life, where have I seen my Christian principles coming into conflict with my lifestyle? What have I done about it?

f. My prayerthoughts…

Today, I will read the Letter to the Hebrews, chapter 1,

and write an important thought from it.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

REPENT, THEN BELIEVE

+ The first readings of the weekday liturgies begin a presentation of the Letter to the Hebrews

- we are not sure of the author, although many ideas are that of Paul the Apostle

- but we know that its main theme is that of the priesthood and sacrifice of Jesus, and the importance of Jesus in our lives

- and here in the very beginning of it, we see that: God speaks to us not through any partial way, but through Jesus Christ, his Son

+ The Gospel gives us Jesus’ primary formula for the Christian life:

Repent, and believe in the Gospel.

- it is Jesus’ most important directive for the life that he thinks every one of us ought to live

- Mark’s is the first Gospel, and among the very first words that Jesus speaks is the word “Repent”

-that is significant for our spiritual lives

+ The order of that directive of Jesus is very important, in fact, absolutely imperative: repent first, then believe

- because if we repent first, we get into the habit of recognizing that we have a tendency from our human nature to sin or evil, and we get into the habit of reforming and repenting

- so that when we see that human nature wants something that is not what Jesus wants, we will recognize that we must change some things, and we will believe with conviction

- if we believe first, the chances are that we will simply accept the principles of Jesus in name only without acquiring the habit of repenting

+ I personally believe that this is one of the major problems—if not the major problem—for the believer of today—many Christians have said that they believe, but they haven’t established any pattern of repentance,

- and as a result, they do not think that they have to change

- and they end up with the contradictory phenomenon of saying that they are believers, and at the same time, allow some evil in their lives that they refuse to get rid of

+ Our profession of faith begins with “We believe”

- but it is necessary that we have said before it, “we repent”,

- and we do that with every Mass as we begin Mass with the understanding that we are sinners

- today’s Gospel echoes that, saying that we must believe, but that we must repent first.

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Movie: "No Time to Die" -- beginning session

DESIRING THE POWER

The Gospel

MATTHEW 23:6-12

[Jesus said:] "[The scribes and Pharisees] love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces and the salutation 'Rabbi.' As for you, do not be called 'Rabbi.' You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. Do not be called 'Master'; you have but one master, the Messiah. The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted."

Gospelthink: I warn you that you should be like a servant to others instead of having power over them. Do I treat others as though they were less than I am?

In the movie "No Time to Die," at the request of the MI6 organization, James Bond came out of retirement to meet up against the organization known as Spectre, the "evil" which had tried to conquer the world earlier in James Bond's career. Bond befriended Madeleine whose parents had been killed by Lyutsifer Safin, who was a person seeking the ruin of the world as well. Bond and his friend Madeleine are together when it seems as though Madeleine set up Bond to be killed. Although it was not true, Bond separated from Madeleine. Meanwhile, "M" of MI6 had asked Bond to rescue a scientist by the name of Obruchev from Safin. Obruchev with MI6's permission had developed a weapon by the name of Project Heracles, a bioweapon involving a virus that was lethal to a target and his/her relatives but harmless to others. Bond was to help another 007 in the endeavor.

Anyone who reads the Gospels must encounter Jesus' intense dislike for the attitude of the scribes and Pharisees. Jesus recognized that many of the religious leaders of the Hebrew people were people who said one thing, but did another. His problem with them was their desire for show and ostentatious behavior. Having the respect of others gave them a certain power that they used to their advantage. Consequently, the scribes and Pharisees did anything to gain the power. Judging from Jesus' words and actions toward them, a spiritual person must not behave like they did.

Power is a problem in our world. In the movie "No Time to Die," James Bond is called out of retirement to face an old nemesis Spectre and later an evil person Lyusifer Safin. Spectre had captured one of the scientists hired by Bond's organization who developed a virus that evil people could easily use in order to conquer the world. Safin overcame them, eventually becoming the largest evil that Band had to face. It is interesting that both the good, MI6, and the evil, Spectre and Safin were looking for the same thing, to control the world by exaggerated power.

Studying the Gospels, Christians experience Jesus' strong feelings against power for power's sake, and the desire for it. But Jesus's feelings toward it notwithstanding, many Christians succumb to its lure. From high schools to political contests to everyday existence, people act out of a desire for power and control. It may not cause people to desire to rule the world, but it can easily lead them to try to dominate their home or school or office. Christians must be aware of the desire to control others. It could be the basis of the all evil in our world.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, in many ways, we are people who desire to be recognized just as the scribes and Pharisees. Help us see that in many instances, the desire for such actions is nothing more than seeking power. Give us the grace to understand what we are doing. Be with us, we pray.

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: In a sick mind, having all the power is a way to save the world.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(session: approximately 77 minutes)
1. What scene during this session is most striking and why?
2. Where in our world today do you see hypocrisy?
3. Where in our world today do you see the most desire for power?
4. Can anyone searching for power really want to help the world?
5. Why do people want to have power?
6. How disruptive for the organization is the desire for power from one of its members?