July 11

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Saturday, July 11

MATTHEW 10:24-33

Remember that I am with you even when you are persecuted.

Prayerthoughts
a. Once again Jesus introduces the idea that evil can enter into our lives. What do I consider evil in this world, and does it have any hold on me?

b. The Lord tells us that we need not be afraid of that evil, that we can proclaim the coming of the Kingdom with no fear. In my own way, am I proclaiming the Kingdom by my thoughts, words and actions?

c. What I must fear, Jesus says, are the things that can destroy body and soul. What are the things in this life that can destroy the soul? Am I close to any of them?

d. The Lord tells me that I need to fear nothing because just as sparrows, he will take care of us. Do I believe with all my heart and soul that the Lord has my back?

e. I have acknowledged the Lord by my life, and therefore I have the confidence of having the Lord as my witness.

f. I should take the time to pray for everyone to acknowledge the Lord in some way in their lives.

g. My prayerthoughts…

Today, I will read Isaiah 6:1-8 and write an important thought from it.

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Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

DO NOT BE AFRAID OF ANYTHING

+ The liturgy of the Church does an interesting thing with the first reading today

- all of next week, the first reading will be from the prophet Isaiah

- and the first reading today anticipates the great prophet Isaiah with the statement of his call from God

- it is Hebrew Scripture’s way of saying that God is truly in charge of our lives as God was in Isaiah’s case

+ Even though God is in charge

- it does not mean that we are going to like everything that happens to us

- God writes straight with crooked lines, and we are often caught up in the crooked lines

- Isaiah had many problems that he had to work with in his ministry

- so many of the things that we like and want are not going to be happen the way we want

+ Jesus anticipated that with his missionary Apostles as he sent them out into the world two by two

- he tells them that there will be people who will intimidate them, that there will be people out to take their lives, that people will want to destroy their bodies and souls

- Jesus tells them not to worry about them

- and gives an often quoted Scripture passage that speaks total trust in God

- God knows what is happening, even in the lives of the smallest sparrows that live and die on the earth

- and he counsels his Apostles: do not be afraid of anything

+ It is such a simple doctrine: God is going to take care of everything

- so allow that to happen, and don’t be anxious about it

- the presumption, as we said yesterday, is that we are doing what we are called to do

- in the context of this Gospel reading, the Apostles were supposed to be doing the preaching of the Kingdom

- and as they were doing that, no matter what happened, they were to realize that God was going to take care of everything

+ The conclusion is the same as yesterday:

- as you and I go about our assigned task, whatever that may be

- including living out our lives with family

- discovering what our future vocation may be

- making money in order to live

- we have to allow God to work

- to adjust to the challenges that God sends and enjoy the gifts that God has given to us

+ Indeed, God means everything that happens for the good

- and if we understand that in our lives, we will understand the Christian message.

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Song: "Beautiful Mistakes" -- Maroon 5 featuring

Megan Thee Stallion

FULFILLING THE PAST

The Gospel

MATTHEW 5:17-18

Jesus said, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place.

Gospelthink: I give you my teaching which fulfills the Law of Moses. Do I consider all the words of Jesus to be the teaching that I must follow?

"It’s beautiful, it’s bittersweet. You’re like a broken home to me; I take a shot of memories and black out like an empty street. I fill my days with the way you walk, and fill my nights with broken dreams. I make up lies inside my head like one day you’ll come back to me. Now I’m not holding on. I’m just depressed that you’re gone. Beautiful mistakes, I wouldn’t take them back. I’m in love with the past."

When Jesus gave his different teachings to us, he was most aware of the Law of Moses which was the primary law that the Israelites were to follow. So, he was particularly aware of what the Law of Moses taught. He knew however that that Law was not enough. In order to bring about the Kingdom that Jesus was preaching, there had to be more. And so, he uses the word "fulfill" as he explains how his teaching differs from that of Moses. Jesus's teaching went further than that of Moses, saying that the present law is now much more important than the one of the past. And so in the Sermon, Jesus gives instance after instance in which he says, "You have heard that it was said...but I say to you."

There are a number of songs that reflect on lifestyles that speak of the past. "Beautiful Mistakes" is one of them. In fact, any song that speaks of a breakup will speak of past actions before the breakup, and those actions were usually very good. In the song, the man in the relationship is remembering how the past was beautiful and the fact that he is in love with those past memories.

But of course, what is necessary is to live in the present moment. In the song, the man is unable to do that. He wanted to have those feelings of the past when the relationship was more as he wanted it to be. Right there might be the problem. He does not want to live in the present because it means that he would have to change, to grow.

Jesus looked at the past laws of how to live, and said that they were what should have been at that time. But what was important was the present moment. It is a pattern that the person developing romantic love must follow. The past was good, and the present should remember the past good things, but they must build on them because we cannot live in the past. In a sense, the relationship must "fulfill" the past.

We can indeed be in "love with the past," as the man sings in the song, but to try to live there is a mistake because it will destroy the present.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, as I live in this present moment, I must be aware of the good past actions that I have done. But help me understand that I must live in the present, and allow the past to be learning moments so I can live better now. Be with us, we pray.

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GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: Our past can teach us many things, but I must live in the present.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. What does the song "Beautiful Mistakes" teach young people?
2. In your opinion, what is the most important law that Jesus taught?
3. In your opinion, how does Jesus's law "fulfill" the Law of Moses?
4. What is the best way to overcome a breakup?
5. Selfishness may be the problem in any breakup. Do you believe that that is a true statement?
6. When is it clear that a person wants to "live in the past"?
7. What are the most important elements of a good relationship?