January 29
[media presentation below]
GospelThink
Sunday, January 29, Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
MATTHEW 5:1-12a
I give you a summary of the moral life for a follower of mine.

Prayerthoughts
a. Jesus addresses the words to the crowds and therefore to me. Do I truly listen to all of the words that the Lord gives me?

b. Poor in spirit: do I allow material things to dominate my life?

c. Mourn: there is pain in my life, but Jesus and what he teaches is the answer to that pain.

d. Meek: this is a direct statement against power and the people who want more power. Do I try to be more important than others?

e. Righteousness: do I really work at prayer and closeness to the Lord, and desire to be a holy person?

f. Mercy: do I reach out to the hurting people around me and help them if I can?

g. Clean of heart: am I honest, sincere, chaste, and do I lie to protect myself?

h. Peacemakers: do I really try to reconcile the factions that divide us?

i. Suffer insult: I should expect criticism for trying to be a good person, but I should be a good person anyway.

j. My prayerthoughts…
 
Today, I will read 1 Corinthians, chapter 1,  and write
an important thought from it.
Some Thoughts on the Liturgy
THE BEATITUDES: MORE THAN LAW
 
          If you were one of the Apostles, and the Lord had said these words exactly as we heard them, we might say something like, “You can’t do this; this is much too radical.” But after we have heard them so many times, we have a tendency not to recognize how radical they really are. We have a tendency to simply listen, and it does not have any real impact on us, like they are just words with hardly any meaning.
 
          I question the religious education which most of us have received in the past. I do not think that it was wrong, but I think the stress may have been wrong. You and I were taught with “law” in mind. The Ten Commandments have been regarded as central to our religion. Much of the Catechism of the Catholic Church is built around them. In fact, the way I studied moral theology—what is right and wrong according to the Church—was based on the Ten Commandments, going through them one by one.
 
          Obviously, there is nothing wrong with the Ten Commandments and what they say, but it is not enough for a Christian’s moral life. Jesus gave us only two commandments, love God and love neighbor, and then he gave us these Beatitudes which are an explanation of what those two commandments mean. Consequently the Beatitudes become the general guidelines of Jesus’ morality, that is, how we should live in the world.
 
          Listen to them again, this time with a little commentary:
* poor in spirit – do not allow material things to dominate our lives;
* mourn – there is pain in life, but Jesus and what he teaches is the answer to that pain;
* meek – a direct statement against power and the people who want more power, who try to lord it over others;
* righteousness – really work at prayer and closeness to the Lord, and desire to be holy people;
* mercy – reach out to the many hurting people around us and help them if we possibly can;
* clean of heart – get rid of all duplicity; be honest, sincere, and do not lie to protect ourselves or others;
* peacemakers – really try to reconcile the factions that are between us;
* suffer insult – expect criticism for being a good person, but be a good person anyway.
These Beatitudes introduce a way of life which goes much further than the Ten Commandments and give us the law of love that should govern everything we do.
 
          The ideals that Jesus points out in those Beatitudes should make us aware of what might be called our fundamental problem, namely, hypocrisy. We have wonderful teaching—these Beatitudes are beautiful words, but too few of us carry through with them completely. The word is “completely.” We tend to be selective in the way we listen to Jesus, believing with all our hearts one part of his moral doctrine, but not allowing it to touch something that we simply do not want to accept. Mark Twain in his book Notebook, remarks: "If Christ were here, there is one thing he would not be—a Christian.” Although his remark is too caustic, it may hit the core of the problem of Christianity—Christians are often not like the person whose name we profess.
 
          The Beatitudes are wonderful meditation material. I suggest that you spend some time this week with what they say and see if you really are a Christian.





MEDIA PRESENTATION
Movie: "The Help" -- final session
COURAGE TO SAY THE TRUTH
The Gospel MATTHEW 16:21
From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.   
Gospelthink: I wanted my disciples to know exactly what would happen to me--I would die and be raised. Jesus speaks of my redemption. Am I as grateful as I should be?
One of the facts of history is that it takes courage to bring about change for the good. When a person undertakes it, he/she can expect rejection, anger and the possibility of death. No one likes to be told that they are wrong, and if they have authority at the time they are told, they will not accept the possibility of change easily. In the movie, "The Help," as Skeeter Phelan interviewed Aibeleen Clark and Minny Jackson about the treatment the black maids received in Jackson, Mississippi, all three understood one thing--they were disturbing the status quo. And such a disturbance could hurt them. Skeeter could be shunned by her friends; Aibeleen and Minny could lose their livelihoods. It took real courage to write about the truth, but they were convinced that it was the right thing to do, no matter what might happen to them. 
What is the right thing to do? What would God want me to do in this situation? These are common enough questions when some difficult decision is about to be made by a dedicated Christian. The questions become more poignant when a person's livelihood depends on it. Jesus knew what the city of Jerusalem would mean for him. He knew that his human life as he had lived it up to that time would be completely changed. But he also knew that it was what was right. If he was to accomplish what he wanted, he had to go to Jerusalem. His was truly a courageous decision, but more than anything else, he knew that if he wanted to be true to himself and his cause, he had to do it.

In a sermon that Aibeleen Clark had listened to earlier in the movie "The Help," the minister had encouraged his black community to show courage, to work for what was right. When she listened to it, Aibeleen did not yet understand that she would have the opportunity to show it in a striking way. Skeeter Phelan, fresh from the university, did not completely understand what she wanted to do in her young life. Minny Jackson and the other black maids were aware that they could change things, but they were afraid to do it. Then Aibeleen with Skeeter's help was brave enough to say what was right. Aibeleen, Skeeter and Minny gradually came to the knowledge of what was the right thing to do. They knew that it would "shake the system" and it might even mean the loss of their jobs, but they refused to back down.

It is almost a cliché to say that we should do what is right. Many people have said it in various situations and in various ways. It remains an important directive for living well. Every one of us should have the courage to say and do what is right. If we do not, our lives will be lacking, and our world will not be as good as it could be.
PRAYER
Good and gracious God, your Son had the courage to carry out what he knew to be right and true. He gives us a tremendous example as we go about our lives which could be so much better if every one did what is right. Give us the grace to imitate him. Be with us, we pray.

+++++
GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: We must have the courage to do what is right.
 
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(session: approximately 68 minutes)
1. What scene during this session of the movie is most striking? Why?
2. In he Gospel, Jesus shows determination to do what he thinks is best for him. In general, what should people be most determined to do as they live in today's world?
3. The human Jesus realized that suffering was going to be part of his life in the very near future. What is the best way to work with the suffering that human beings may have to endure in their lives?
4. As one looks at how he/she should behave in the world, what is the fundamental "right" thing that people should do? Why did you choose the way you did?
5. What is the best way to determine what God wants us to do?
6. What is your definition of courage?
7. In what areas will a true Christian show courage in today's world?
8. In our world today, what are some instances in which a person would lose his/her job if people would do the "right" thing?
9. Who are the most "courageous" people in today's world?
10. Scene analysis: the women shun Celia. What would you do if you were Celia?
11. Scene analysis: Elizabeth slaps Mae Mobley. What is the best discipline for a young child?
12. Scene analysis: The women talk about their sexual actions when they were in high school. Do you think that high school young people are too free with sexuality in their lives today? Yes or no and why?
13. Analysis: Hilly's mother is angry at Hilly because Hilly placed her in a home. What is the best way for children to treat their parents when they are old?
14. Scene analysis: Skeeter talks to her mother about their former maid Constantine. What should her mother have done once she realized that she was wrong?
15. Scene analysis: Minny leaves her abusive husband. What are the possible ways to help a family who has this problem?
16. Scene analysis: Skeeter's mom understands what her daughter has done, telling her that she is proud of her for her courage. Why do more parents not show more appreciation to their grown children?
17. Dialogue analysis: Aibeleen to Hilly: "You are a godless woman." Who are the "godless" people in today's world?
18. Dialogue analysis: Aibeleen says at the end of the movie that in order to love your enemies, you have to first of all know the truth. Why is this a true statement?
19. What does the movie "The Help" teach young people? 

Questions, comments? Let me know. Email Fr. Mike
©2007 Capuchin Province of Mid-America
Fr. Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America