July 12

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Saturday, July 12

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 visit a church or spend time by myself and pray especially for those who have not chosen a Higher Power.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

DO NOT BE AFRAID OF ANYTHING

+ One of the marvelous stories of the Hebrew Scriptures/Old Testament is the story of Jacob and his sons coming down to Egypt and their encounter with their brother Joseph

- that has been the first reading over the past couple of days

- and a couple of times Joseph makes the statement that all of what has happened was nothing less than God’s hand at work in order to bring about greater good

- in today’s reading: God meant all of this for good to achieve his present end, the survival of many people

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

+ 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

- Jacob’s life was full of problems; Joseph had much to put up with; the Israelite people, now settled in the land of Goshen in Egypt were going to soon be slaves

- 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.

MOVIE PRESENTATION

Movie: "All Saints" -- beginning session

WHAT GOD WANTS AND WHAT I WANT

The Gospel

MARK 1:4-5

John the Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. People of the whole Judean countryside and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins.

Gospelthink: My friend John the Baptist began the announcement of the Kingdom. I live in that Kingdom; do I live well the teachings of the Kingdom?

Based on a true story the movie "All Saints" is filmed at the sight of the church with some local people even making up the congregation. After trading in his corporate sales career to become an Episcopalian priest, Fr. Michael Spurlock's first assignment was to a tiny church outside of Nashville, Tennessee in the small town of Smyrna. It was to be an extremely difficult assignment. His bishop to whom he had promised obedience, ordered him to close the church doors and sell the prime piece of land in order to make up for the money the church had cost the Diocese. Michael and his family set out to follow the bishop's wishes, but they soon attracted a group of Karen refugees from Burma led by Ye Win, one of the few who spoke English. Things began to change as the refugees and Michael and the people of All Saints, some quite reluctant, began to discover the will of God. The question for Michael however was one of pride: was what was happening God's Will or merely his own selfish desire to be a "savior"?

He was popular. That in itself could have led to selfishness, one of the things that he was preaching against. As Mark describes it in his Gospel, the whole Judean countryside and all of Jerusalem were going out to listen to John the Baptist and follow what he said. But he also was doing the right thing. He knew that the people had to be reminded of their sinfulness and that they had to repent in order to receive the Messiah and the Kingdom of God. He understood the trap, however, and would not give into popularity or selfishness. Instead, as he showed by his life, he turned people's attention to Jesus.

One of the temptations that a popular person has is to be enamored with his/her own abilities. It becomes a sin when such a person refuses to consider the possibility that selfishness could happen. Michael Spurlock had a job to do in the movie "All Saints." As things began to work out, he began to see that he could take things another direction. He believed that God had talked to him, and it seemed that his acceptance of what God said was exactly what he should do. He needed others to do it, of course, but they followed him and his dream. And the dream began to become reality.

Selfishness is the destroyer of what God wants, even if the person is convinced that something is God's will. As Michael in the movie, a person must continually check with God by prayer and serious conversation with others, before accepting praise for something that God has done in a person's life. It is no easy task because at every moment the insidious notion of "I did this and no one else" can supersede even the highest intention.

The person who is accomplishing something significant must question whether it is God's Will or merely one's own. John the Baptist and Michael Spurlock were able to accomplish it.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, You are the most important part of a person's life. John the Baptist realized that fact even as he was very popular. Help us understand that selfishness can creep into our lives too easily. Be with us, we pray.

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: When someone is interested in helping others, one's own selfishness can get in the way.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(session: approximately 50 minutes)
1. What scene during this session of the movie is most striking? Why?
2. What is your definition of "repentance"?
3. What is your definition of "pride"?
4. In your opinion, why is John the Baptist important for today's world?
5. In your opinion, what is the best way to face the possible selfishness in your life?
6. Analysis: Do you believe that Michael worked out the possibility of "being selfish" in his life? Yes or no and why?