TGIMMJuly13

July 13

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Sunday, July 13, Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

LUKE 10: 25-37

The Good Samaritan

Prayerthoughts

a. Jesus is giving me His two commandments of love. Is it clear that my love of God is a strong part of my life?

b. As I listen to Jesus say that I must love my neighbor as myself, is there anyone that I am excluding from that love right now? What can I do about it?

c. “Do this and you shall live,” says the Lord. As I live here on earth, should I change anything to truly “live” with the Lord better than I am?

d. The priest and Levite would have been expected to take care of the injured man. In my role of Christian, I am “expected” to care for those who are hurting. Do I show enough concern in my life for the people who really need help?

e. In what area of my life should I develop the virtues of compassion and mercy a little more?

f. The Samaritan went out of his way to care for the injured man. Am I willing to give up what I want to do in order to take care of someone that I could help?

g. The Samaritan gave money to help the man. As I study my giving of money to people who need it, am I trying to give up to 10% of my income to good causes?

h. The scholar refused to even mention the Samaritan by name. Do I find myself judging others who are doing good in a harsh manner?

i. My prayerthoughts…

Today, I will determine a needy charity and

contribute either time or money to it.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

VERTICAL / HORIZONTAL CHRISTIANITY

+ The readings today give us an example of what theologians have called vertical and horizontal Christianity

- vertical Christianity is an understanding of God and our place with respect to God

- the 2^nd reading, Paul to Colossians is an excellent example of primarily vertical Christianity

- horizontal Christianity is a reaching out to others: an understanding that other people are important, putting the doctrine into practice

- the Gospel and 1^st reading are examples of primarily horizontal Christianity

- both of these elements are important in Christianity

- almost any Christian doctrine will have a vertical element and a horizontal element

+ One of the things that becomes relatively clear as we work with both of these concepts is that vertical Christianity is relatively easy and horizontal is difficult

- pursuing vertical Christianity, anyone can learn doctrine if they want and, if we take the time, we can pray

- whether we do it or not is something else, but it is relatively easy

- and much of the time horizontal Christianity is difficult

- because when the needs of others are involved, chances are that we have to give of ourselves and in general, we don’t like to do that

+ Actually, the story of the Good Samaritan in the Gospel has a vertical part and a horizontal part

- the vertical part of the story is that we must show the virtue of compassion to others—this is the doctrine

- the priest and Levite in Jesus’ story had a vertical relationship with God

- they knew the law, they knew when they were required to have compassion for others, which was always their own people

- and they knew that according to that law, they could not perform their functions in the temple if they were contaminated by a dead body

- and since they reasoned that the person lying in the ditch was probably dead, they passed by while maintaining a vertical relationship with God

- the horizontal part of the story is supplied by the Samaritan

- Jesus chose the Samaritan precisely because the Samaritans were hated by the Jewish people

- the Samaritan had every reason not to feel compassion for the enemy, namely the Jewish people, and it was probably a Jewish person lying in the ditch, but he did anyway

- Jesus says to us that we must be the Samaritan, to show horizontal Christianity:

Go and do the same.

- Here is the real problem with all of this: there are many Christians who are into vertical Christianity and not into horizontal Christianity, and yet they call it Christianity

- we have many Catholics who do devotions, pray the rosary, say formal prayers, attend Mass consistently, maybe even daily, know Christian doctrine—vertical Christianity

- and at the same time, they hate others, refuse to talk with them and often carry a grudge against them—not showing horizontal Christianity

- and even justify it by saying “my case is different” or the like

- they may think that they are Christian, but they are not

+ You and I should closely look at Jesus’ presentation of horizontal Christianity in the story of the Good Samaritan

- people who are “neighbor” to others are people who will go out of their way for them as the Samaritan did in Jesus’ story

- that is, we are called to give of ourselves, even to the point of taking away personal comfort if we really are Christian in our thought, word and deed

+ I had a theology professor, a very learned man, who knew theology very well,

- but I remember him because he was a very good man

- he often told us: “Know theology, yes, but more importantly, do theology.”

- you and I worship God through Jesus today

- this is the vertical arm of the Christianity we are called to; the liturgy today reminds us that we must be concerned about the horizontal as well.

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Movie: 'The Adjustment Bureau" -- beginning session

ALL WILL KNOW

The Gospel

JOHN 13:34-35

JOHN 13:34-35

Jesus said, “I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Gospelthink: I give you "my" commandment to love. Do I love everyone as I should?

The movie "The Adjustment Bureau" is a love story in a fantasy setting. From the very beginning of the movie when David Norris met Elise Sellas, one knew that there was a romantic bond between the two of them. Theirs was real love because it was something that occupied their everyday thinking, leading them eventually to being together. The fantasy part of the movie comes into play with the knowledge that there is a group of people known as "The Adjustment Bureau" who do not want them together. The members of the Bureau know the future and they know that David and Elise's love relationship will ruin their chances for a profitable future for both of them, especially for David whose future includes being President of the United States. Throughout the movie, the guiding thought is that the love that David and Elise have for each other will indeed change their future together, but that it will be what they choose and not the Bureau.

The thought of love changing the lifestyle of people is the fundamental thought of Christianity. Jesus meant that his idea of love should change the people who would follow him. When Jesus gave his commandments of love, he told his disciples that such love was how everyone will know that they were his followers. If love is in place, everything else will be different and people will notice. One cannot love and then have nothing happen. Love must change everything.

Romantic love is part of the love that Jesus preaches in the Gospels. It works the same way. If deep romantic love is present between two people, what has been called "soul love," everything will change. Such is the case presented in the movie "The Adjustment Bureau." David and Elise's love of each other was a "soul love." Even though there were periods of time when they were not together, the love they had for each other did not cease. It affected everything they did.

Because most of us choose marriage, most of us will develop such a love for someone else, and we must live it out with our chosen friend in marriage. But the point of this meditation, and the point of the spiritual life is that Jesus' idea of love extends to every Christian. Because of Jesus' law of love, every part of the Christian's life should change. As Jesus told us, the love that we have for God and for each other is a love that will affect everything we do. In Jesus' words, "all will know" that we have chosen a different lifestyle because love should change everything we do in a fundamental way.

It is a sad commentary that much of our Christian history does not reflect such a change.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, you wanted us above all to be people who love, love you and love each other. Your Son continually reminded us of your desire. May we truly work at making that love fundamental in our lives. Be with us, we pray.

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: A person experiencing true romantic love as well as a person governed by a general love of others will view the world in a better way.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(session: approximately 49 minutes)
1. What scene during this session of the movie is most striking? Why?
2. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition treats the Ten Commandments of Moses by showing that all ten commandments are "contained" in the two commandments of Jesus (see numbers 2083-2550). Project: go through each commandment of Moses, and show how it is contained in the two commandments of Jesus.
3. Jesus calls this commandment to love a new commandment because it is modeled on the love that Jesus shows for his disciples. Such a love will culminate in his death for them. In general, do most Christians have this type of love for one another? Yes or no and why?
4. Analysis: "One cannot love and then have nothing happen." In your opinion, what is the meaning of the sentence?
5. If love of God and others changes everything about a person, what would change first in a person's behavior patterns?
6. What is your understanding of "soul love"?
7. The ideal is for every marriage to be a union of "soul-mates." In your opinion, what percentage of marriages are the union of "soul-mates"? Why?
8. One of the characteristics of "soul love" is given in the meditation, namely, that time does not destroy the feeling. What are some other characteristics of "soul love"?
9. Why do approximately fifty percent of our marriages fail?
10. Scene analysis: David loses the election because of an impropriety while he was in college. Why do young people do things in their younger days that could hurt them in the future?
11. Dialogue analysis: "People want maturity" in their candidates. Is the statement always true? Yes or no and why?
12. Analysis: David and Elise obviously are in love right away. Do you believe that true love can happen this quickly? Yes or no and why?
13. Scene analysis: Inspired by Elise, David becomes very honest in his concession speech. In your opinion, are most politicians truly honest? Yes or no and why?
14. Analysis: "The Chairman": The Adjustment Bureau refers to the Chairman, not mentioning his name. The name probably refers to God. Do you think that God plays such an active role in working out our lives? Yes or no and why?
15. Dialogue analysis: "I'll never let anything happen between us." In your opinion, do young people use the words "never," "forever," and the like too often? Yes or no and why?