January 6

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Tuesday, January 6, Christmas Weekday

MARK 6:34-44

Food to Satisfy

Prayerthoughts

a. Once again, Jesus feels pity for the crowd and talks to them to make them feel better. In my life, in general, do I look at others with a desire to help them if they need it?

b. The disciples questioned the Lord’s decision to feed them. As I read the Gospels, do I try to understand completely what the Lord is trying to say to me?

c. Jesus uses what they have. It is a significant action for my spiritual life. At this time of my life, the Lord will use whatever I can do to be better if we want. Am I open to the Lord’s wishes?

d. Jesus uses words that he will use when he institutes the Eucharist for us. Do I try to receive the Lord in the Eucharist often, and then thank him for his gift?

e. It is significant that all were satisfied. Am I satisfied with what is given to me? Do I thank the Lord and those who give me what I need?

f. There was food left over. The Lord always gives us more than enough to help us in our lives. Do I thank the Lord enough in my prayer?

g. My prayerthoughts….

Today, I will read 1 John 4:7-10 and write an important thought from it.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

THE FOOD OF THE EUCHARIST

+ The first letter of John looks at love of others this way:

“ In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.”

- love of others is based on God’s love for us

+ God’s love was made manifest by the actions of Jesus when he was one of us

- and today we encounter one of the actions in the Gospel

- namely, pity and the way it is shown is through giving something to eat

When Jesus saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them…Give them some food yourselves.

+ According to most Scripture scholars, when food is mentioned, the Gospels are calling attention to what Jesus did with food at the Last Supper, namely the institution of the Eucharist

- the parallel being: as we need food to stay alive, we need the Eucharist to stay alive spiritually

- and his body and blood is more than enough than we need to live spiritually —there was food left over

+ Perhaps then our meditation should center around our reception of the Lord in the Eucharist this morning

- the chances are that we are too complacent when we come to this Eucharist

- how would we act and behave if Jesus were here in human form rather than Sacramental form

- it is important to see our belief here—there is really no difference: receiving Jesus in the Eucharist is exactly the same as meeting him in person

+ One of the great contradictions in our world is the fact that we who believe that the Lord is truly present in this Eucharist, and receive him

- can cause evil

- but we do—we know that—and our meditation should be perhaps that our reception of the Eucharist today should really make a difference in our lives today.

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Song: "The Way" -- Ariana Grande featuring Mac Miller

THE JOY OF FEELING GOOD

The Gospel

LUKE 10:17-20

The seventy [-two] returned rejoicing, and said, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name.” Jesus said, “I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky. Behold, I have given you the power ‘to tread upon serpents’ and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

Gospelthink: My disciples were joyful when they come back from their preaching. Do I in general show a joyful attitude?

“I love the way you make me feel,” the woman of the relationship sings, and the man sings, “I’m thinking ‘bout her every second, every hour.” She continues, “You give me that kind of something, want it all the time, need it every day. On a scale of one to ten, I’m at a hundred. If you want it, I got it, I’ll never leave you. I got a bad boy I must admit it, you got my heart. I love the way you make me feel.”

Ariana Grande and Mac Miller’s song "The Way" is a song about a love relationship with strong feelings and a relationship that both feel will last. It is one of those truly joyful moments in a relationship, portrayed very well in the official video of the song. Obviously, the feeling of joy is one that we want often in our lives.

Studying the Gospels, we discover the description of joyful feelings quite often. At one time after Jesus had sent his Apostles out on a mission, they came back "rejoicing" because they felt success in their endeavor. Success in an undertaking is always a time to celebrate. It is important to notice how Jesus reacts with the Apostles in their moment of joy. He first celebrates the same joy, but he then takes the occasion to teach. Even as he celebrates their success, Jesus points out to them what should be the ultimate joy, namely that they will have eternal life.

We should take note of the lesson here. There are occasions to rejoice, but we do not want to lose sight of what is true joy. It brings up the whole discussion of emotions in general. Emotions or feelings will always be part of our lives. We obviously want joyful emotions as in the song and as the Apostles felt in the Gospel story. But there are strong negative emotions in our personal world as well. Feelings of disappointment, rejection, hurt and sorrow can easily dictate negative behavior.

The lesson for joyful feelings as well as negative ones is the same. We must always put them in perspective of what our true feeling should be at every moment of our lives, namely, whether we are on track with God or not.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, we are people who have strong feelings about our lives. Sometimes those feelings are quite positive, sometimes just the opposite. Give us the grace to control the feelings that we experience. Be with us, we pray.

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: We have to "work with" our strong feelings.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. In the Gospel. Jesus sent the seventy-two disciples to the towns that he intended to visit in order to prepare for him when he came. In many ways Christians are the "seventy-two" of today. What is the best way to prepare for Jesus' coming in our lives?
2. Analysis: "Satan fall like lightning." The good news of Christianity is that Satan is conquered. In our world today, where do you think that Satan or evil has the most influence?
3. Analysis: "Your names are written in heaven." It is another way of saying that they will have eternal life. Is the thought of "going to heaven" or "eternal life" truly important for the Christian today? Yes or no and why?
4 The song says that we need the good feeling of joyful love every day. We actually do not "need" the feeling, but it makes life better with it. What are the things in life which make us feel most alive?
5. Analysis: "on a scale of 1-10." It is a good scale to talk about the things that should be important for the Christian. The presenter may want to take a number of Christian topics, and ask the question of "On a scale of 1-10," how important is ....."
6. Text analysis: "I will never leave you." These are strong words of commitment. In general, do you think that people who are beginning love promise too much too soon? Yes or no and why?
7. Text analysis: "I got a bad boy." What is the meaning of the phrase?
8. What have been the moments of the greatest joy in your life so far?
9. As you think about "success in an undertaking," what is most necessary in order to bring about success?
10. What are the strongest negative feelings that people experience in the world today?
11. In today's world, what keeps us on track with God most of all? Why?
12. What does the song "The Way" teach young people today?