tgimmjune15

June 15

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Monday, June 15

MATTHEW 5:38-42

I say to you: do not be a person that fosters revenge.

Prayerthoughts
a. Jesus tells me to offer no resistance to someone who is evil. Looked at on a personal level, that means that I should bear no hostility toward others no matter what the situation may be. Do I find that I am doing that at the present time? That is, do I have a tendency to hold a grudge and/or give into revenge?

b. The Lord goes to exaggeration again to bring home his point. He wants us to be people who will not allow the evil of others to make us respond negatively. How do I respond to people who do not like me or completely disagree with me?

c. The Lord tells us to "give" to anyone who asks me for anything. Am I generous with my time and energy for others?

d. Obviously, our world is not a world that follows what the Lord says with regard to revenge, etc. Have I allowed my thinking to be influenced by the world in a negative way.

e. My prayerthoughts...

Today, I will read 1 Kings 21:1-16 and write an important thought from it.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

“OFFER NO RESISTANCE”

+ In our world, there can be little doubt that evil is often in control

- we see it in the first reading with Jezebel

- we not only see it in the domineering attitude of leaders who will do anything they want

- we see it also in the evil of leaders who allow their people to starve while there is food available

- we see the whole drug scene and especially what that does to our young people

- we see it in the greed that drives the extremely wealthy and in the greed of people who want to be wealthy

+ What do we do to overcome that evil?

- incredibly, Jesus says “nothing” in the Sermon on the Mount

Offer no resistance to one who is evil.

- the statement is the basis of the argument for non-resistance to evil on a global scale from the writings and teachings of people like the Mahatma Gandhi, a non-Christian, and Martin Luther King Jr.

- and any course in moral theology must consider it

- I believe that it is important to see that this whole discussion has a bearing on our personal spiritual growth

+ Primarily, this subject of “offering no resistance to evil” must be considered with the thought of revenge, getting back at other people

- revenge is a hotly contested ethical issue in philosophy

- every major religious system contains some method for the mediation of disputes and for the limitation of vengeance by imputing a sense of cosmic justice to replace the often faulty justice systems of our world

+ With regard to revenge, we have tremendous influence coming from American media

- in fact, one can say that we are taught revenge by the media

- the Christian must see revenge to be wrong because Jesus says it is wrong

- we may have to do something to those who have wronged us like involve the law, or the like

- but our motivation as Christians can never be “I’ll get you because you got me”

+ This directive of Jesus may be ignored by most of his followers

- we want to retaliate, and usually will

- do you see it in the spiritual life?

- I think we can see it in what might be called professional jealousy

- any time you have the possibility of “comparison”, you can have the possibility of “getting back at another” because they are better

- it happens with studies, in ministry a lot, and even in “holiness”

+ These moral principles that Jesus gives in the Sermon on the Mount are difficult, especially this one and the next one, love of enemies

- but we must learn to begin any thought of getting back at another with Jesus’s statement to offer no resistance

- and really try to apply it in our circumstances.

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Movie: "Hugo" -- final session

A BROKEN MACHINE

The Gospel

LUKE 23:50-53

Now there was a virtuous and righteous man named Joseph who, though he was a member of the council, had not consented to their plan of action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea and was awaiting the kingdom of God. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. After he had taken the body down, he wrapped it in a linen cloth and laid him in a rock-hewn tomb in which no one had yet been buried.

Gospelthink: Joseph of Arimathea was convinced of what I taught, and therefore did something about it. Do I show my conviction in Jesus by my actions?

Realizing that his purpose at that time of his life was to "fix" the great film artist Georges Melies, Hugo Cabret in the final session of the movie named after him, set out to do exactly that. But he discovered that it was not an easy task. He soon saw, as George's wife pointed out to him, that there were many things in life that he was too young to understand. The one thing that he did understand though was that someone needed help and he could give it. As Georges Melies said after Hugo's help, "I am standing before you because of one very brave young man who saw a broken machine and against all odds, he fixed it. It was the kindest magic trick that ever I have seen." Hugo knew what he could do, and even though young and inexperienced, was able to accomplish it.

There were no doubt many people who encountered Jesus during his lifetime who did some soul-searching concerning their lifestyles. It is one of the characteristics of a prophet to make people think about what they are doing, and then make some adjustments if need be. The Pharisee Joseph of Arimathea naturally encountered Jesus during his life because they were running in the same circle, namely, people dedicated to religion. Whereas most of his fellow Pharisees could not agree with Jesus, Joseph did, and desiring to do something about his own lifestyle, he changed his thinking to accept Jesus and what he stood for. His action of burying Jesus took courage and conviction.

Young Hugo Cabret was too young to understand the ins and outs of adult thinking, and especially what the past can do to the way people live in the present. But, in typical thinking for him who loved to fix things, he could see that he might be able to repair some situations, even though he was young and naive. Understanding the personality of Georges Melies, he saw beyond the great film-maker's mental pain, proceeding to repair the person behind the pain. He saw how difficult it would be, but spurred on by the love of his own father, he was able to accomplish it. As he did with mechanical things, he was able to "fix" Melies.

Studying both Joseph of Arimathea and Hugo Cabret, and placing their actions within the context of living in a better way, we can hear what God calls us to in life. A person who wants to bring about a better world, whether we are inspired by Jesus, or by a loved one from our past, will sense the pain of this world. Such a person will likewise want to do something about it if possible. He/she will view the situation, no matter how difficult, as something broken that can be "fixed," and set out to do it. Maybe the complete end will not be accomplished, but something will be done. And, if everyone acted in such a way, we would end up with a much better world.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, in many ways our human natures need some repair work. So often we are not what we should be. Your Son has guided us and given us direction. Help us see what we can do for ourselves and others, and give us the courage to try to help where we can. Be with us, we pray.

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: We can repair difficult situations if we have the desire to do it.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(session: approximately 60 minutes)
1. What scene during this session of the movie is most striking? Why?
2. In your own words, define "a virtuous and righteous man."
3. Why was it a courageous act to do what Joseph of Arimathea did?
4. Who are some modern day prophets, that is, people who make us think about our lifestyles and call us to change?
5. In your opinion, what is the most important thing to learn from the past?
6. In general, what are some ways that a young person can help an older person who is suffering from mental pain?
7. Where do you see the "most pain" in our world? What can you do about it?
8. Scene analysis: one of the "love scenarios" of the movie is the one between the Station Inspector and the flower lady. What can be learned from their love interaction?
9. Dialogue analysis: Hugo--"If you lose your purpose, it's like you're broken." Why is this a true statement?
10. Analysis: Melies says that he lost faith in films when World War I began. Why would the war cause this?
11. Analysis: Melies thinks that there is nothing left of his life's work, saying that "Happy endings only happens in the movies." Given our Christian belief, why is there never a time when we should feel despair?
12. Dialogue analysis: Hugo to the policeman--"I don't understand why my father died, why I'm alone. This is my only chance." And pointing to the policeman's leg, he tells him that he should understand that. What is the meaning of Hugo's statement?
13. Dialogue analysis: Melies--"Come and dream with me" as he shows the movies he produced. What is your feeling about viewing movies that are only fantasy?
14. What does the movie "Hugo" teach young people?