TGIMMjack1

July 23

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Wednesday, July 23

MATTHEW 13:1-9
My story of the sower tells you to look at how you are listening to the word of God.

Prayerthoughts
a. Jesus used stories as he preached. What “stories,” that is happening in my life so far has had a significant effect on me and why?

b. The seed sown is a symbol of the word of God. In what ways have I made the Word of God present to me in my spiritual life?

c. Perhaps it is best to consider myself as “part” of each of the categories that Jesus gives. In what way have I sometimes allowed the word of God to be spoken to me, but ignored it?

d. Has the word of God sometimes been present in my life, but because of something that happened which I did not like, I ceased to consider God’s presence? Perhaps I should spend a moment acknowledging how God was present in those difficulties.

e. In the past, have I allowed the “thorns” of life, the evils in my personal world to overpower me? Again, perhaps a moment praising God for the help God has given is in order.

f. My prayer is that I am prepared to allow the word of God to make an impact on my life. At the present time, what is the best way to do that?

g. My prayerthoughts…

Today, I will read Exodus, chapter 16, and write an
important thought from it.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

CALLED TO “PREACH” THE WORD

+ The first reading today continues the story of the Israelites in the desert

- here after they have grumbled—as they did so often in the desert—the Lord listened to them and gave them food

-the Lord gave them the means to live through the time in the desert so that in the promised land they can preach what the Lord wanted

+ In that promised land, they were to be teachers

- and beginning with chapter 13 of Matthew’s Gospel,

- Jesus becomes a teacher again—as he has been in the discourses of Matthew’s Gospel, the Sermon on the Mount, chapters 5-7, and the missionary discourse in chapter 10

- this time with parables, in fact, at this point of his Gospel, 7 wonderful, easy to learn from—stories

+ Those stories begin with this one in the Gospel, the so-called parable of the sower

- we will hear the explanation by Matthew’s Jesus on Friday

- here we are given the story as Jesus told it

- scholars say that these short stories are as close to Jesus’ actual words as we get in the Scriptures

- there are four different ways of listening to the word of God, Jesus says—people who simply ignore it, those who listen but it doesn’t have an effect, those who truly listen, but eventually forget it, and finally those who truly listen

+ Our meditation might center around our call to preach the word of God during troublesome times

- and the fact that the Word of God is sometimes ignored in one way or another

- you and I are preachers of the word, in a sense, exposing spiritual thoughts/words into the common situations in which we find ourselves

- that is the practical side of the spiritual life,

- we are called to destroy the evil that is around us

- and build up the presence of God by simply living the life of the Christian as best we can

- at the same time, we realize that God’s word that we speak will be ignored by a lot of people, but we preach it anyway.

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Movie: "Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit" -- beginning session

HOLDING NO SECRETS

The Gospel

MARK 4:33-34

MARK 4:33-34

With many such parables [Jesus] spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it. Without parables he did not speak to them, but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.

Gospelthink: I used stories in my sermons but I explained them to my disciples. As I read the stories of Jesus, do I try to apply them to myself?

The movie "Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit" in many ways is just another spy-thriller, but in some ways it stands above the normal. Jack Ryan is a brilliant economics analyst besides having a military background that has moved him to serve his country without rancor or hatred of others. He is also quite above normal in his love life. As he recovers from his injuries received in defense of his country, during his painful rehab, during the time that he is recruited by Thomas Harper and the CIA, and during the beginning of his new job, his love deepens with his future wife Cathy Muller. The first part of the movie can be considered to be a love story that teaches about the most important elements of true love.

It is interesting to study Jesus' life from the point of view of searching for principles that guide a married life. Jesus did not speak of formal preparation for marriage because there was no such preparation during his time with us. But studying the virtues that he wanted the people of his Kingdom to possess, one in particular often stands out. People who will be close in some relationship must know each other well. Consequently, he and his disciples for example had to have clear knowledge of what Jesus meant in his teaching. The Gospels relate that Jesus explained everything to them.

Such close knowledge of one another is fundamental for marriage in today's world. In the movie "Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit," Cathy Muller, later to be Cathy Ryan, understood the fact very well. One of the qualities that makes the movie so interesting is that Jack Ryan had to understand that even as he learned the skills of a CIA operative, he had also to prepare well for his upcoming marriage. In Cathy's mind, it meant honesty whether the CIA agreed or not. Having secrets that were not shared with each other was not honesty.

It is a valuable lesson for people about to be married. No matter what the circumstances of the situation of the couple, if the marriage is to work, there must be a sharing of secrets between them. In fact, if there is anything that can tear a marriage apart later, the fact that they did not communicate everything to the other may very well be the primary reason for the failure.

Jesus knew the importance of being open to people who were close to him; it is a lesson that anyone who aspires to a close relationship should realize.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, in your goodness you have taught us how important it is to be close to special people in our lives. Give us the grace to not only understand your lesson as we turn to You in prayer, but help us to be more open to those who are especially close to us. Be with us, we pray.

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: If there is true love between couples about to be married, they will keep no secrets from each other.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(session: approximately 49 minutes)
1. What scene during this session of the movie is most striking? Why?
2. The spiritual lesson to be taken from the Gospel passage is that Christians should be close to Jesus as they try to imitate him in their daily lives. Do you believe that most Christians try to be "close" to Jesus in the way they think, act and speak? Yes or no and why?
3. Why do you think that Jesus spoke with parables or stories to most people?
4. Besides the sharing of secrets, what are some other important principles for married people?
5. In your opinion, what is the best way to prepare for an upcoming marriage?
6. In your opinion, are there ever any exceptions to "complete sharing" with a person you will marry? Yes or no and why?
7. Give your own definition of "honesty."
8. What are some other causes of marriage failure?
9. Character analysis: Jack Ryan at the very beginning of the movie. What do his actions show his character to be?
10. Analysis: What effect has 9/11 had on our world today?
11. Character analysis: Viktor Cherevin. What do you think is his fundamental problem?
12. Scene analysis: Ryan fights the person who tried to kill him. He finally kills him, but it has a profound effect on him. What can be done to help someone who has killed another?
13. Analysis: Cathy thinks that Jack is possibly having an affair. At this point in their relationship, what should happen if there was an affair and why?
14. Analysis: In married life, after there has been an affair, should the person who had it tell his/her spouse? Yes or no and why?
15. Scene analysis: Ryan meets Cherevin. Why does Cherevin consider Ryan "dangerous"?