January 8

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Wednesday, January 8, Christmas Weekday

MARK 6:45-52
The Difficult Moments

Prayerthoughts

a. The Lord in a sense “sets up a situation” for his disciples. The Lord gives us situations in our lives. Are we open to realize that everything that happens to us happens for a reason that the Lord has in mind? Think of some difficult situations and think of what the Lord wants of me. (This is the task of the meditation.)

b. The wind was against them. It is a symbol of things not going right. In my life, right now what most of all is not going right, and am I adjusting well?

c. Jesus as God can do anything, of course. He walks on the sea as a sign of encouragement to the disciples. How is the Lord encouraging me right now?

d. The Lord is always present in my life. Perhaps I should thank the Lord more than I do.

e. What are the times in which I have most been afraid? How was the Lord present to me at those times?

f. Their hearts were hardened. There is fault in their lack of understanding. Do I try to see the Lord’s actions every day?

g. My prayerthoughts…

Today, I will carry out letter a.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

FEAR OF THE LORD: GOD IS A FORCE

+ Both readings today mention the idea of fear

- John’s letter saying that there is no fear in love

- Jesus directive to the frightened Apostles: “Do not be afraid.”

+ In the Christian realm of things, fear is defined as one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, “fear of the Lord”, as contained in the famous list of Isaiah the prophet

- our Catechism defines it in light of how important God must be in our lives

- with the conviction that God is truly present, a true force in our lives

+ For God to be a true force in our lives, there are a number of things that are really important for us as Christians:

- from the first reading, and quite obviously from what Jesus has told us in the Gospels, there must be love

- the reading gives us one of the most quoted Scripture passages of the Christian world:

“God is love and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him.”

- what strikes me about this passage is that it is not “whoever remains in God, remains in love….”

- but it is “whoever remains in love, remains in God”

- it is a subtle distinction, but an important one because “love” not only implies “love of God” but “love of others” as well

- the Scripture passage is to “remain in love” first

- love of God and others is what love is all about

- work on that love, and God will be part of us

+ The second reading obviously talks of trust in God

- and it says to us that if God is going to remain a true force in our lives, we simply have to trust in God

- we don’t know how God works, why God works

- true trust says simply that God works

- God works in our lives, directing us one way or another

- God works in the world, even in the midst of horrible pain and evil

- the true Christian is one who doesn’t always understand “why”

- but will always acknowledge that God is in charge, and always will be

+ So, fear of the Lord is presented to us today

- that says that God is an important force in our lives

- a force that can be seen in our love of God and others

- a force that can be seen in our trust that God is directing us and the world.

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Movie: "Dune" -- final session

HOPE WILL EMERGE

The Gospel

JOHN 5:5-9a

JOHN 5:5-9a

One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been ill for a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be well?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; while I am on my way, someone else gets down there before me.” Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your mat and walk.” Immediately the man became well, took up his mat, and walked.

Gospelthink: I searched out the man who was ill. Do I trust that the Lord will be with me when I have difficulties?

The leader of House Atreides, Duke Leto, had a son Paul whose mother was Lady Jessica. Jessica had certain powers which she gave to Paul who himself was able to have dream understanding because of his training and spice inhalation. They escaped the failed coup between his father's house and House Harkonnen. Because of the powers of Lady Jessica and Paul's victory over a Arrakis warrior, they found a home with the native members of the planet Arrakis. Paul and his mother, although Jessica did not want it, joined the Fremen in order to fulfill his father's wish to bring peace to Arrakis.

The blind and disabled in Jerusalem where Jesus was ministering knew about the Sheep Pool. They believed that when the waters bubbled up, it was an angel of the Lord who was present, and the first one to get into the pool would be healed of whatever sickness they had. Most could never reach the Pool in time when the waters were stirred, and so they were doomed to lie in the place forever with no one caring for them. Jesus, always aware of those who were most in need, knew about the Pool as well. And so, in time, he came to the Pool to help and care for the ones who needed it. Without being asked, John the evangelist records that Jesus went directly to a man in need.

Why did Jesus choose that particular man? Perhaps Jesus had read the mind of the man. That man no doubt had given up all hope because of the circumstances of his life, and was prepared to die where he was. The negatives in his life were overpowering, but with Jesus hope emerged, and his life changed for the better.

The lesson is obvious. Even though the negatives are overpowering, hope seems to always emerge. It may take a long time, maybe even a lifetime, but given the Christian doctrine there will always be hope. Jesus rose from the dead, the ultimate example, to give life to those who believed in him.

Paul, the son of Lady Jessica in the movie "Dune" realized he was someone special because of the circumstances of his life. So, he knew that even with all the negatives and evil happenings all around him, he would somehow come out of it all. It was a lesson that his companions began to understand. And it was the thread of hope that the House Atreides needed to save their lives. And eventually, we are led to believe to the whole world.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, there are so many negatives that surround even the most positive of circumstances. Help us see that even given the overpowering circumstances of evil, you will always lead us to better things in our lives. Be with us, we pray.

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: Even though the forces of evil are overpowering, the desire for good always emerges.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(session: approximately 72 minutes)
1. What scene from this session of movie is most striking and why?
2. What is your definition of "hope"?
3. Jesus cared for the people who were most hurting, certainly one of most important reasons for his presence in the world. In general, what are the reasons that Jesus came to our earth?
4. In our world today, what are the "overpowering evils"? What can we do about them?
5. Given our Christian beliefs, there will always be hope. Do your think that most Christians believe this? Yes or no and why?
6. The story of the movie Dune" is similar to the story of Jesus and our times with Jesus being the hope for humankind, as Paul was for the people of "Dune." In our world now, what are some examples or real hope?
7. What does the movie "Dune" teach young people?