january16

June 22
[media presentation below] GospelThink Sunday, June 22, The Body and Blood of Jesus LUKE 9:11b-17 Food to Satisfy Prayerthoughts a. What “healing” can I do as I work with those who are around me? b. The disciples questioned the Lord’s decision to feed them. As I read the Gospels, do I try to understand completely what the Lord is trying to say to me? c. Jesus uses what they have. It is a significant action for my spiritual life. At this time of my life, the Lord will use whatever I can do to be better if we want. Am I open to the Lord’s wishes? d. Jesus uses words that he will use when he institutes the Eucharist for us. Do I try to receive the Lord in the Eucharist often, and then thank Him for His gift? e. It is significant that all were satisfied. Am I satisfied with what is given to me? Do I thank the Lord and those who give me what I need? (This is the task of the meditation.) f. There was food left over. The Lord always gives us more than enough to help us in our lives. Do I thank the Lord enough in my prayer? g. My prayerthoughts…. Today, I will make a list of the people for whom I am most thankful, and pray for them and perhaps write them a note or email.
Some Thoughts on the Liturgy THE THEOLOGY OF “JESUS AND WE” + The family lived next door to the Catholic rectory - and the relationship between the pastor and the family was a very good one - the family had a four year old girl who, as her father said, “had learned the art of talking very well” and was always inquisitive - one day the four year old came over to the rectory with a jar of St. Joseph’s children aspirins - gave it to the priest and said, “This is for Jesus because he is sick.” - the priest asked, “How do you know that Jesus is sick?” - and the girl answered, “Daddy said so” - priest couldn’t figure that out, so he called the father - who was very embarrassed about the whole thing and explained it to the priest - the day before at Church he had this conversation with his daughter, during Mass, trying to keep his daughter quiet - she pointed to the tabernacle, and said what is that - that is the place where Jesus lives - can I ask him to come out and play - no, I don’t think Jesus wants to come out and play - you mean, Jesus doesn’t like me? - no, Jesus just doesn’t want to play today - why doesn’t he, can I go ask him? - no, you can’t go ask him - why can’t I go ask him - conversation went on like this for a couple of minutes - finally, quite exasperated about the whole thing, the father said, “Jesus is sick today, he doesn’t want to be disturbed.” - hence, the aspirins that her parents used to help her when she was sick + The doctrine of the Eucharist is difficult to explain to our young people - but it is even more complicated than it first seems - today’s Gospel clears it up a little in a comparative way + In the Gospel today—understood by the early Church in Eucharistic terms—(the same words are used in the institution of the Eucharist) - the Apostles had Jesus to themselves, and are thinking “why share” - and therefore their statement to send the others away - in a sense, it is a statement of what spiritual writers have called the “Jesus and me” theology - “Jesus and me” theology is easy theology - applied to the understanding of the Eucharist, “Jesus and me” theology concentrates on the Eucharist as such, as in the second reading today—Paul’s statement about the institution - it is not a theology that is wrong; it is simply not enough - it becomes wrong when it does not move us to become what we should be—good people interested in love of God and neighbor + Jesus responded to his Apostles—no, do not send them away, keep them here—community is important, telling his Apostles that they will provide for the community by feeding the people - a theology which might be summarized as “Jesus and we” theology - in terms of the Eucharist, the “Jesus and we” theology concentrates on the action of the faith community, of the people who receive the body and blood of Jesus, what I do in my community after I receive the Lord in Communion - in a “Jesus and we” theology, we can never receive the Real Presence of Jesus and at the same time - hate anyone else - refuse to forgive another - ruin another’s reputation - deliberately be divisive in the church or community or family - the fact is that many times people receive the body of Christ in Communion and do not let it affect the body of Christ next to them in the pew or in the neighborhood + The little girl in the opening story did not know what the Eucharist was all about - but she knew that Jesus was a person and a friend - if Jesus becomes a person and a friend to us, - we won’t “keep him” in the tabernacle of our Churches - we will “make him active” in our lives - and maybe even ask him to come out and play with us.
MEDIA PRESENTATION Song: "Royals" -- Lorde WE'LL NEVER BE ROYALS

The Gospel

LUKE 12:16-21

Then Jesus told them a parable. “There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest. He asked himself, ‘What shall I do, for I do not have space to store my harvest?’ And he said, ‘This is what I shall do: I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones. There I shall store all my grain and other goods and I shall say to myself, “Now as for you, you have so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink, be merry!” But God said to him, ‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’ Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich in what matters to God."

Gospelthink: You must curb your desire for more and more wealth. Have I placed riches and money too high in my life?

"I’ve never seen a diamond in the flesh, I cut my teeth on wedding rings in the movies, and I’m not proud of my address in the torn-up town, no post code envy. But every song’s like gold teeth, grey goose, ball gowns, trashin’ the hotel room. We don’t care, we’re driving Cadillacs in our dreams. But everybody's like Cristal, Maybach, diamonds on your time piece. We don’t care, we aren’t caught up in your love affair, and we’ll never be royals. It don’t run in our blood. That kind of lux just ain't for us. We crave a different kind of buzz. Let me be your ruler, you can call me Queen Bee, and I'll rule. Let me live that fantasy."

In Jesus' mind, who was "rich in what matters to God"? He speaks of it in contrast to a person who stores up treasure for himself. Studying Jesus' life, it is not at all difficult to determine what he considers "rich." It has to do with love, love of God and love of others. He called it "his commandment," (John 15:12) and he spent his whole life living and preaching its meaning.

Translating "love" to be "romantic love," Lorde in her song "Royals" says that for the lady in the relationship, love is the "buzz" that she craves, more than the "diamonds in the flesh" that she has never seen. In fact, even though "every song" it seems, speaks of things associated with riches, she and her friends "don't care" because they are not caught up in the "love affair" of material goods that is so important to "royals," that is, those who have it all. She is caught up in being a "queen" for another.

Lorde's lesson is an important one for today's world. Jesus had a very good idea of what the world was like in his story--the people of the world often make their world the "land of more." We often want more of everything. We have a good harvest, and say it would be nice to have an even better one, to force us to build bigger barns. We love to have fun, and we say that it would be better to have "more fun,"--to eat, drink and be merry "more" than we are doing right now. We want more ipods, more ipads, more TV's, more phones, in general more enjoyment.

But what is "more" important? The lady in Lorde's song knew that romantic love was the buzz she wanted in life, and not a love affair with "royal" things. Jesus said that it was what matters for God. Life does not consist of how much we have; it is defined rather by the kind of life we are living.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, your Son told us in striking images that what is important in life does not have anything to do with material things. Give us the grace to use the things of this world, but never to forget that love is more important than material goods. Be with us, we pray.

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GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: Wanting to love is more important than material goods.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. In your opinion, why did Jesus use parables or stories so much in his preaching?
2. Jesus often criticizes the "rich" in the Gospels, as here in his story. In general, why do you think that Jesus had a difficult time with those who are "rich"?
3. What do you think is the main point of Jesus' story? How does it apply to today's world?
4. Analysis: give some examples of "what matters for God" in our world.
5. Text analysis: what is "post code envy"?
6. Text analysis: "We'll never be royals." What is your understanding of the text?
7. The meditation identifies "what matters for God" to be love. In general, do you think that love is a real "force" in today's world? Yes or no and why?
8. In general, why do most people want to be rich?
9. Thinking in today's world, who do you think Jesus had in mind with his story?
10. In general, besides love, what are the things that are more important than material goods?
11. What is the most important thing in your personal room at home? Is it expensive?
12. In our world, do you think that there are any people who "prefer" to have no riches? Yes or no and why?
13. What does the song "Royals" teach young people?