TGIMMcaptain am2

July 28
[media presentation below] GospelThink Monday, July 28 MATTHEW 13:31-35 The Kingdom Prayerthoughts a. We understand the Kingdom of God to be what Jesus wanted the world to become, culminating in eternal life with God. In my world right now, where is God’s presence most evident? b. In Jesus’ comparison here, the Kingdom began very small, that is with Jesus and his Apostles. From my knowledge of Jesus’ teachings, what are the most important teachings for me? c. The Kingdom of God is meant to extend to everyone without exception. Do I find myself “excluding” certain people from my consideration of God’s people? Perhaps I should take the time to pray for those whom I have forgotten. d. The Kingdom of God was to develop throughout the world as yeast goes throughout the product. Am I promoting God’s Kingdom in my own small world? e. Do I spend time with Jesus’s parables, that is, stories, thinking about how they apply to my life today? f. My prayerthoughts… Today, I will read the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) and apply it to my life today.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy THREE STORIES + The liturgy presents three stories for our consideration today - one from the book of Exodus - the other two from Jesus - all three of them can be applied to our spiritual lives + First, from the book of Exodus - the story of Moses making the Israelites drink the golden calf ground into the water - a couple of lessons there - how easy for the Israelites to sin - Aaron blaming the Israelites - Moses approaching the Lord to ask for forgiveness + Then, from Jesus, two parables using first a man, then a woman - the first concerning the mustard seed gives us Jesus’ mind concerning one of the elements of the Kingdom -it was to begin small with his preaching and then grow large - and for us, the nearest application is our Church - it has indeed grown very large - perhaps too large - we have all the rewards, but all the problems of big business - it is important to remember our roots and exactly what the Kingdom of God is all about + Jesus’ second parable in this liturgy deals with the way the kingdom in Jesus’ mind must be able to permeate all of life and influence it - that is, the teaching of Jesus must take hold - the teaching of Jesus in his words and actions was never meant to be an isolated action, never to be taken by itself + Three stories in today’s liturgy, all meant to teach us something: - how easy it is to sin and asking forgiveness, remember why the Kingdom started, and Jesus’ teaching must be the real guide for us as we claim to be Christian.

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

The Gospel

MATTHEW 26:36-39

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.