JOHN 6:37-40

[Jesus said:] "Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me. And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it [on] the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him [on] the last day.”

Gospelthink: I speak to you the most encouraging words that I spoke while I was here on earth: I will not reject anyone who comes to me.  Do I thank the Lord for this promise and truly "come" to the Lord?

The movie "Unbroken" is the true story of Louie Zamperini, an Olympic athlete who enlisted in the US Air Corps and became a bombardier on B-24 Liberator bomber during the Second World War. His life took him through a couple airplane crash landings, almost fifty days in the Pacific Ocean in a safety raft, and finally an unbelievably brutal couple of years in Japanese concentration camps. Throughout it all, the one guide for him was that he was determined not to give up. He learned his determination from early on, mostly from his own personality of just not giving up and then help from his brother in particular. The preparation he gave and received was what was necessary in order to live through what most people would never be able to do.

There is little doubt from the Scriptures what Jesus intended to do with his life. Time and time again he mentioned to his followers, as he phrased it here, that he had a mission to carry out, namely that he should not lose anything of what his Father gave him, but that he would raise it on the last day. If there is one description of his life that truly is accurate, it was that he was determined to carry out the wish of his Father. As John the evangelist remarks, Jesus came from heaven not to do his own will, but the will of the one who sent him.

Thinking of his desire in terms of the movie "Unbroken," we can describe his determination by saying that he was prepared to carry through with his Father's wish no matter what the circumstances. The preparation involved the mystery of God's will in which Jesus and his Father were one in the desire to save humankind. In this sense as Louie Zamperini in the movie there was a preparation time when he learned that art of simply not ever giving up.

Being very determined to accomplish something comes from a person's personality which is formed from the first moment of such a person's thinking process. Louie Zamperini had such a personality that was evident from the days in which he was bullied to the days of training to be a long distance runner. His determination was further developed as he began to live his difficult life, but early on his determination began to show.

One of the virtues of a true leader and consequently a true Christian is the virtue of determination. If we are to accomplish anything with our lives, we must develop a certain resolve that we will try our best to carry through with whatever we are called to do. We will need help along the way to develop this determination more completely, but beginning to show it early in our maturing lives is necessary.  

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, one of the virtues that your Son Jesus showed us constantly was his determination to do your will, no matter what. It is a tremendous lesson for us; help us be determined to carry through with what is right in our lives. Be with us, we pray. 

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GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: A person who possesses the virtue of determination will have it only after years of preparation.
 
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(session: approximately 64 minutes)
1. What scene during this session of the movie was most striking to you? Why?
2. "Seeing the Son" is relatively easy in the Church, but believing in him is the difficult part. What primarily does "believing in Jesus" consist of?
3. Jesus was determined to carry out his mission on earth. There are many parts to this mission. What do you consider Jesus's most important mission while he was here?
4. The thrust of this section of the movie according to the meditation is that Jesus "prepared" early on for his determination by association with his Father. Zamperini also prepared for his own determination by developing his personality even very young. How can you tell that a young person is truly determined?
5. What are some characteristics of a determined person?  
6. What is your opinion about war? Is it necessary at times? Why or why not?
7. Scene analysis: Louie's father whips him, even as there is a "cross" in the background of their Italian Catholic home. What is your opinion concerning corporal punishment for children?
8. Dialogue analysis: Pete's words of encouragement to Louie: "If you can take it, you can make it." Give your interpretation of the saying.
9. Dialogue analysis: Pete's other saying of encouragement: "A moment of pain is worth a lifetime of glory." Give your interpretation of the saying.
10. Analysis: Louie's pilot is praying. In your opinion, what role does "prayer" play when people are engaged in war?
11. Analysis: Mac seems to give up and later dies. Do you think that a positive attitude could have helped him survive? Yes or no and why?
12. Dialogue analysis: Louie's statement of life: why are we here? We are here to live the best we can, have some fun, and then an angel will take us to paradise. What do you think of Louie's analysis?
13. Analysis: Louie's makes a promise with God, saying that he will serve Him all his life if he makes it through the drifting at sea. He did carry it out, but what do you think about the promise? Is it good to "bargain" with God this way? Yes or no and why?

©2007 Capuchin Province of Mid-America
Fr. Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America