TGIMMconcussion2

June 18

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Thursday, June 18

MATTHEW 6:7-15
I teach you what you have come to call the “Our Father.”

Prayerthoughts
a. There are no doubt many prayers that I “read” or “recite by heart” and I do not pay attention to the words that I should—what might be called “babble.” I should review the formal prayers that I pray and determine to pay attention to the words that I use.

b. Our God knows what we need. When we pray to God, we are the ones that change, not God. Our prayer in every instance is something that should help us understand that God is working for us.

c. Our prayer should include praise of God. For what things should I praise God most of all?

d. I pray that my place on earth be made into the kingdom in heaven. What should I do in my life to make it more in tune with the heavenly kingdom?

e. I pray for what I need daily. What are the daily needs that I must have? Do I thank God enough for them?

f. I pray the word “forgive.” The Lord even reminds me at the end of the prayer. Who should I forgive most at this time of my life?

g. I pray that my life may be free from evil. What are the evils that surround me most that I should avoid?

h. My prayerthoughts…

Today, I will read Sirach 48:1-14 and write an important thought from it.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

JESUS TEACHES US HOW TO PRAY

+ A portion of the Book of Sirach is suddenly inserted in the Liturgy as the first reading

- it is placed there to sing the praises of Elijah and Elisha whom the first readings over the past couple of days have been speaking of

- both of them were strong prophets in Israel

- whose primary claim to fame was to follow Yahweh completely

- their speech to God and on behalf of God was real

- it was not fake or put on, or simply babble as a number of specifically pagan prayers were

+ Jesus probably didn’t have Elijah and Elisha in mind as he spoke about prayer, but he wanted the prayer of his followers to be real as well

- he wanted his followers to pray to God for what they wanted with the assurance that God knows what they want and need already

- that is no insignificant statement

- because God knows what we need in our lives, it really doesn’t matter what we say

- we are phrasing our prayer for our sakes, not for God’s

+ And Jesus tells us in the Our Father exactly how we should be thinking as we address God in prayer

- there must be praise of God

- God is more important than we are, and we must humbly and intentionally acknowledge God’s importance up front

- not easy since we want to dictate to God what should be done

- we should petition God for the things that we think we need

- primarily spiritual, that is, for the Kingdom of God to be alive in our hearts

- we say “Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done”—that is, we are open to whatever the Lord gives to us because it is God’s will

- and we understand that God will give us only good things

- such is the first petition

- then, we must ask for daily help for ourselves and deliverance from the evil around us

- we are the ones who lead us into temptation and we know that and so we ask the Lord to keep us from going that way

- with the implicit statement that we will avoid that evil

- as we pray, we must remember the Lord’s directive to love others

- Jesus places the forgiveness idea both in the prayer itself

- and then reiterates it afterwards, as if to bring home the point

+ As he talks about prayer, Jesus reminds us of what is really important in prayer, namely,

- that we pray with meaning

- and with the idea that we really want the Lord’s Kingdom to come into our personal lives

- and only then, do we ask for the things that we think we need.

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Movie: "Concussion" -- final session

WHAT IS THE TRUTH?

The Gospel

JOHN 18:37-38a

Jesus answered [Pilate], "You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice." Pilate said to him, "What is truth?"

Gospelthink: I say the truth to Pilate, namely that I am a King. Have I made the Lord King of my life, as evidenced by my actions?

Dr. Bennet Omalu in the movie "Concussion" gradually discovered that the truth was that the popular sport of professional football could possibly kill the players later on in life. The violent sport could cause a brain injury that could not be discovered by any of our medical skills before the actual death of the player. Immediately the "business" side of the National Football League began to throw roadblocks against his work, and literally Dr. Omalu was ostracized as a pathologist in the town of Pittsburgh where he had settled. Losing his home and reputation, he had to move to another city to find another job. But he never gave in to the pressure to drop his discovery. He knew the truth, and as he said, he had hoped he would be rewarded simply because he told everyone about it. The NFL finally listened to him.

Pontius Pilate's famous question of "What is truth?" was a much deeper question than merely the question of who Jesus was. It was a question that Pilate himself with his life had to struggle with. It is also a question that can be a guide for living well. Jesus knew that if people were interested in the truth, they would listen to what he said. We all must seek the truth in everything we are involved in. If we possess the truth, as Jesus said elsewhere (John 8:32), it will always give us the freedom to do what is right and just.

Dr. Bennet Omalu knew the truth about the medical condition known as CTE ((Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy). He had discovered and shown with proof that too many blows to the brain area of a person's body could cause mental illness. His discovery, of course, caused the National Football League community to speak out against what he discovered. Since they "owned" Sundays, as the movie pointed out, they did not want their franchise to be threatened by anyone, even if it meant the death of some of its players.

Dr. Omalu lost his home and job as a result of his discovery, but the "truth" was his guide. He understood that if people were told the truth, it may help some to live better lives, not unlike Jesus who wanted his truth to be known by all. Dr. Omalu faced the criticism with the help of his wife, by letting the "dead speak," and suffered the consequences.

The application to our lives of the action of Dr. Omalu is easy enough to say, just as the application of Jesus's truth is easy enough to talk about. But to actually put it into practice involves an acceptance of the truth into our living styles. The truth will indeed set us free, but it may in the end cost more than we care to give.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, Your Son has told us the truth, and we accept it completely, although at times we fail. Enable us to have a true love of Jesus's"truth," indeed any truth, so that our lives will be better. Be with us, we pray.

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: No matter what the obstacles, one must be faithful to the truth.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(session: approximately 55 minutes)
1. What scene from this session of movie is most striking and why?
2. Analysis: Who are the people that belong to the truth of Jesus?
3. What is your definition of "truth"?
4. Why does the truth set us free?
5. Is it a true statement that the NFL "owns" Sundays? Yes or no and why?
6. What do you understand by the phrase "letting the dead speak"?
7. In what ways could the truth cost us?
8. Do you think that the NFL would actually order Dr. Omalu to retract his statements about CTE? Yes or no and why?
9. Scene analysis: Why would the FBI enter into the whole question of Dr. Omalu's discovery?
10. Scene analysis: The movie gives the impression that Prema's still-born was because of the pressure that was placed on her. Do you believe this is true? Yes or no and why?
11. Analysis: Should Dr. Omalu have taken the job in Washington, DC? Yes or no and why?
12. Analysis: Do you believe that it is true that 28% of football players will suffer from CTE? Yes or no and why?
13. Will this movie make any impact on football in America? Should it make an impact?
14. Give an argument in support of the game of football in America, even given the possibility of head trauma.
15. What does the movie "Concussion" teach young people?