June 27
[media presentation below] GospelThink Saturday, June 27 MATTHEW 8:5-17 Only Say the Word Prayerthoughts a. The centurion was not only a Gentile; he was in the service of the Romans. Yet, even though he may have been rough and harsh at times, he is still concerned about his servant. Do I show enough concern for all others, no matter who they are? b. Jesus is most willing to help everyone. Do I show that same type of willingness? c. Am I convinced that Jesus will be with me always and that he will always send “the word” to help me? d. Jesus was amazed at the centurion’s faith, saying probably in exaggeration, that he had not seen such faith among his own people. What are the ways I can strengthen my faith? e. Jesus alludes to the punishment that will occur for those who say they believed, but actually don’t. What should the thought of “hell” do to my spiritual life? f. Jesus heals. I can’t heal the way that he did, but I can help in some situations. What are some situations right now in my life that I can help a little more. g. One of the “problems” with healing in the Gospels is that it happens most of the time immediately as described here. Am I patient enough to believe that the Lord will answer my prayer eventually? h. My prayerthoughts... Today I will read Lamentations 2:2,10-14,18-19 and write an important thought from it.
Some Thoughts on the Liturgy JESUS’S CALL TO GREATER FAITH + This passage concerning the centurion of Matthew’s Gospel is important for a couple of reasons - one is the statement of humility by the centurion that has made its way into the Latin rite of the Mass - we say it in a slightly different form at Communion every Mass - it is a statement of faith by a Gentile - and secondly, Jesus’s response to the statement was a direct insult to the Hebrew people: In no one in Israel have I found such faith. - and going even further, a scare tactic said to move the Hebrews to greater faith in him The children of the Kingdom will be driven out into the outer darkness. - implicitly, hell + What the Lord wanted the Hebrew people to do - was to turn to God and recognize that he, Jesus, was the person that could lead them to God - like the author of the book of Lamentations of the Old Testament - written during the Babylonian Captivity (five chapters, five different poems) - the author wanted the people to turn to God + The thought for our spiritual lives that comes from the readings should revolve around our own response to Jesus as he calls for greater faith - it calls for a renewed acceptance of Jesus and Jesus’s words in our lives - studying what we can do better - and especially why we aren’t doing as well as we could - for religious, it calls for a greater fidelity in leading our religious lives - stronger efforts at our prayer, stronger efforts in being a true sister or brother to the others in community, stronger efforts in our working around the monastery + The story of Peter’s mother-in-law is another part of the Gospel today - as we study that particular part of the Gospel, we see that - you and I are called by Jesus to respond as Peter’s mother-in-law did - she got up at once and began to wait on him - that should be the description of how we respond to Jesus’s call to a greater faith and fidelity.
MEDIA PRESENTATION Movie: "Top Gun Maverick" -- final session LOVE EVEN WHEN IT IS MOST DIFFICULT

Pete "Maverick" Mitchell was a cocky test pilot who was his own boss even though he belonged to a Navy that was built on obedience to superiors. In one of his "disobedient" moments, Maverick proved that an excellent top gun pilot could carry out a very difficult mission that required the bombing of an enemy building. Even though his superiors did not want to do it, reluctantly, they decided to offer the mission to Maverick and his top gun students. One of them was a son of a friend of Maverick's, namely Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw. Having known the family well, Rooster's mother had requested that Rooster be kept away from a career which would enable him to become a test pilot. Maverick had honored that request, and Rooster obviously did not like it. Counseled by his own mentor, however, Marverick gave Rooster the chance, making him his wingman in the mission. As happens so often in difficult missions, things do not go as planned, and both Maverick and Rooster must learn to love each other in such a way that they become close friends just as Maverick and Rooster's father were.

Simon of Cyrene no doubt knew that condemned people had to carry their own cross to their execution. Therefore being forced to take the cross could have been a problem for him. But he had no choice. He had to force himself to realize that no matter how he felt, he had to adjust to the situation at hand. The evangelist Mark mentions Simon's family who were probably people that the early Christians knew. Later on, no doubt Simon accepted what he did to be something that he was quite proud of. It perhaps was an instance of a man who was forced into understanding love of another human being.

In the movie "Top Gun Maverick," Maverick and Rooster, an old friend's son, were both top test pilots, but because of circumstances were not friendly to each other to begin with. As those circumstances advanced into real situations, eventually Maverick and Rooster, like Simon Cyrene with Jesus, were forced into association with each other. And in the end, it became a true respect and love of each other.

There are two lessons in particular to learn as we study both Simon of Cyrene with his circumstances and Maverick and Rooster's relationship. One, with a Christian foundation as a guiding thought: no matter what the circumstances, the Christian is called to honestly "love" one another. Circumstances are always quite different as we struggle to live out Jesus's directive to love. And many times, those circumstances involve hatred and sometimes, justifiable anger. Even in those exceptional circumstances, "love" is called for, and the Christian must work at bringing it about.

Secondly, even when those involved in the relationship--Simon with Jesus, and in the movie, Maverick with Rooster--are not "Christian," that is, their individual lives are not guided by Christian principles, a good relationship should be s guiding principle. This implies that every relationship, whether it is done because of Christian principles or not, can be improved if people are truly trying to get along. It is the way to true peace in our world involving every or no religion.

"Love of others" is not only a Christian directive; it is the way to a better world.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, there are people in our lives who are "easy" to love, and others who are not so "easy" because of the circumstances of the situation. Help us truly understand your directive to us to love everyone as You want.  Be with us, we pray. 

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GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: Jesus's directive to love one another is a way to live in peace in the world.
      
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(session: approximately 60 minutes)
1. What scene during this session is most striking and why?
2. What can a Christian learn from the Gospel incident of Simon of Cyrene and Jesus?
3. In the movie and the incident of Rooster's mother asking Maverick not to let her son become a test pilot, should Maverick have honored such a request? Yes or no and why?
4. In the Christian understanding of things, we should pray for those who disagree with us or hurt us. In your opinion, do most Christians actually do that?
5. When we are "forced" into a situation where we must associate with someone we dislike, what should be our guiding principles?
6. Do most Christians actually carry out the directive to "love" even those who are most difficult to "love"? Yes or no and why?
7. In general, do people actually try to get along with others? For example, is it a guiding principle in political situations? Yes or no and why? 
8. What does the movie "Top Gun Maverick" teach young people?

2007 Capuchin Province of Mid-America
Fr. Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America