TGIMMcaptain am2

July 28
[media presentation below] GospelThink Tuesday, July 28 MATTHEW 13:36-43 Weeds, Part 2 Prayerthoughts a. We might want the explanation of Scripture scholars concerning some of Jesus’s saying and stories. Perhaps we could invest in a commentary, for example, New Collegeville Bible Commentary or read all the footnotes for each passage located in the Bible. b. I am part of the good seed that has been sown. Given my circumstances right now, what are the three good things that I do. How can I do them better? c. What are the three evils in this world that I encounter? What can I do about them? d. There are good and bad people in our world. Do I judge people? Perhaps I should add a prayer for them when I find myself judging them. e. We often want the Lord to take the evil out of the world. I have to believe that the Lord knows why he has allowed them in the world. Again, I should take the time to pray for them in my daily prayer. f. The Lord gives his definition of eternal damnation—burning. We should listen carefully, and then deliberately choose to follow the Lord’s directives in our lives. g. My prayerthoughts… Today, I will read Jeremiah 14:17-22 and write an important thought from it.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy AN OPPORTUNITY TO STUDY OURSELVES + The reading of Jeremiah is called one of his poems of lament - Israel is going through bad times - Jeremiah recognizes that there has been sin for which he expresses sorrow - and he acknowledges that it is God alone that can save them + “God alone can save us” is the theme of a truly spiritual person: God and God alone is the source of salvation - as Jesus explains the parable of the weeds, the person who will be saved will be the person who has turned to God alone + The parable of the weeds is a scare tactic in story form - saying basically: look at your behavior and what it has led you to - the Kingdom as Jesus describes it is a mixture of saints and followers of the evil one - and although this parable doesn’t bring it out, - it’s quite possible that one can influence the other + Our meditation suggests a couple of areas: 1 – we should look at our own involvement with the evil one - it is often good for us to look at the “bad part” of the different examples that are offered to us, and not just the good - perhaps there are tendencies toward evil in our lives that we have not noticed, and we should call ourselves to accountability 2 – we can’t judge who is a follower of the evil one - we can’t get into another’s mind - we know that there are good and bad among us, and we have a tendency to judge who is the bad without concentrating on what we should be concentrating on—ourselves 3 – we have to spend time on remaining part of the good seed of the Kingdom - taking the time to make the Lord present to us in prayer and spiritual reading + The parable of the weeds is meant to make us carefully look at where we are right now - in the category of the good or bad - to listen carefully to the Lord talk about the fiery furnace, - but also to understand that we can enjoy the eternal good.

MEDIA PRESENTATION Movie: "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" -- final session THE PRICE OF FREEDOM

The Gospel

MATTHEW 26:36-39

Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to feel sorrow and distress. Then he said to them, “My soul is sorrowful even to death. Remain here and keep watch with me.” He advanced a little and fell prostrate in prayer, saying, “My father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will.”

Gospelthink: As a human, I knew that the suffering was something that I did not want. When I suffer, do I try to remember the Lord's example?

Caught in the intrigue of Senator Alexander Pierce who had built himself into a position of power, Captain America and the two people he could trust, Natasha Romanoff and Sam Wilson, had to battle the evil. They discovered that a group called HYDRA had infiltrated the S.H.I.E.L.D. organization and therefore no one in the original group could be trusted. In a striking speech to everyone who occupied the Triskelion, S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, Captain America speaks of the basic desires of every human being. He tells everyone that freedom and salvation from enslavement will be their's, but there must be sacrifice in the process. "I know I'm asking a lot," he says, "but the price of freedom is high. It always has been. And it's a price I'm willing to pay. If I'm the only one, then so be it, but I'm willing to bet I'm not."

Perhaps the most difficult words for Christians are the words that place their trust completely in the hands of God. They were first spoken by the human Jesus as he knew what would happen to him during his passion and death, "Not as I will, but as you will." If we believe in God and all of God's power, the words promise to our God that we will allow God to work, even if it means the ultimate sacrifice of our deaths.

Steve Rogers, that is, Captain America, knew that he could not take down a group of traitors who had infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D., even with his superhuman powers. He challenged his fellow agents to pay the price of freedom, whatever it might be. He knew that people committed to a just cause would follow through with their commitment, even to the point of death.

Most of us will not have to pay the price of freedom that so many of the good people paid in the movie "Captain America: The Winter Soldier," namely, the ultimate sacrifice of death. But even if Christians had to pay such a sacrifice, if their commitment to the Christian way of life were true, they would make it. Salvation from enslavement by evil always demands some sacrifice, whether large or small.

Sacrifice is not easy, especially since most of us live with abundance. We like what we have, the different "toys" that we have, the "stuff" that makes life so enjoyable. But if we are committed Christians, we may be called on to make some sacrifices, especially if our abundant world introduces the possibility of evil.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, our humanness enjoys the freedom that we have. But from your Son Jesus we also are aware that sometimes you demand a sacrifice from us. Enable us to make the difficult choices that you may demand of us. Be with us, we pray.

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GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: Real freedom or salvation from enslavement always involves sacrifice to prevent an evil.