January 7

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Tuesday, January 7, 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? (This is the task of the meditation.)

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 make a list of the people for whom I am most thankful, and pray for them and perhaps write them a note or email.

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

Movie: "Ben-Hur" -- final session

THE ASTONISHING DOCTRINE

The Gospel

LUKE 23:39-43

[At Jesus’ crucifixion,] one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us.” The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, “Have you no fear of God for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied to him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

Gospelthink: The person you know as the "good thief" was simply expressing a belief in me. Do I show my belief in the way that I live right now?

After Judah Ben-Hur had escaped from the Romans during a naval battle, he was rescued by Sheik Ilderim, a wealthy nomad. The Sheik decided to keep Judah, making him a keeper of his horses. Eventually discovering Judah's skill in racing his horses, the Sheik entered Judah in the Roman races, setting up a match that included Judah's once-upon-a-time friend Messala. In the race, Judah beat Messala, wounding Messala seriously. Judah's wife Esther found him again, introducing him to some ideas of Jesus, who was preaching in the Jerusalem area. Judah became interested in Jesus, following him as he was dragged through the streets of Jerusalem and finally crucified as a common criminal. He was intimately touched by Jesus' teaching of forgiveness and understanding of others. Seeking out Messala who had part of his leg removed due to his accidents during the race, Judah and Messala embrace each other in forgiveness, renewing their friendship and Judah welcomed him back into his family.

Judah Ben-Hur in the movie named after him was a contemporary of Jesus. According to the story, he met Jesus a couple of times during his life and he was taken by Jesus' sincerity, love of others and especially by the forgiveness that he advocated as a central doctrine. He sensed it in his own interaction with him, but especially witnessed it as Jesus forgave Dismas on the cross. Forgiveness was the factor in bringing back his friendship with Messala as well.

In the New Testament Letter to the Ephesians, the author comments that "In Jesus, we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us" (Ephesians 1:7). An essential part of Jesus' doctrine of love, forgiveness became the way that Christians were known throughout the early days of the Church. As the close of the movie acknowledges, "There were many miracles that day [the day of Jesus' death] and in the days that followed. As time passed, forgiveness and understanding had reunited the family to give hope and promise for a better way, to fight the good fight, to finish the race, to keep the faith."

The doctrine of forgiveness of others should also be the central part of any Christian's way of life. It is the only way that the Christian will be able to lead a better way of life, as mentioned in the movie. Unfortunately because it is so difficult, Christians must choose forgiveness over and over again in our complicated lives.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition teaches in its presentation of the Our Father: "This petition ["Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us."] is astonishing. According to the second phrase, our petition will not be heard unless we have first met a strict requirement. Our petition looks to the future, but our response must come first, for the two parts are joined by the single word 'as'" (number 2838).

It is "astonishing." Would that every Christian would understand it!

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, Your Son taught us to forgive one another in every circumstance. Give us the grace to understand exactly what it should mean as we live our complicated lives. Be with us, we pray.

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: Forgiveness and understanding leads to a better way of life.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(session: approximately 58 minutes)
1. What scene during this session is most striking and why?
2. We do not know the name of the repentant thief on the cross, but the movie names him a name as given by some early Church writers, that is Dismas. What is most important for the follower of Jesus as we study Jesus' interaction with the repentant thief?
3 . What is your opinion about criminals being given the "death penalty"? See Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, numbers 2266-2267.
4. In your opinion, have Christians truly learned to forgive one another? Yes or no and why?
5. What sins or faults are the most difficult to forgive and why?
6. What is most striking about the quote from the Catechism, number 2838?
7. Analysis: The Race. What was most striking about the race in your opinion?
8. In your opinion, does the violence of the race negatively affect young people who are watching? Yes or no and why?
9. What does the movie "Ben-Hur" teach young people?