June 5

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Thursday, June 5, Easter Weekday

JOHN 17:20-26

I pray in a particularly intimate way for you and those you influence.

Prayerthoughts
a. “I pray for those who will believe in me through their word.” It is a direct statement that our God wants us to use the grace that God continues to give us. Perhaps I should pray my own prayer of thanksgiving for what God has given me. (This is the task of the meditation.)

b. Jesus wants us to be unified in our approach to God, believing that Jesus truly is the Son of God. Obviously we do, but have there been moments in my life recently in which I have not shown agreement with the Lord’s direction in my behavior?

c. The Lord prays for unity in our approach to our God. Have I shown true unity in the  way I have behaved toward those people who are different believers than I am?

d. The Lord prays that we may have eternal life. It should be the same prayer that we utter for all people with whom I come into contact.

e. The Lord reminds us that the world does not know Him. Have I spent too much time with the “world” and not enough time in prayer with the Lord?

f. The Holy Spirit continues to inspire me to make known the name of the Lord. Are my acquaintances aware of my belief through my actions and words?

g. My prayerthoughts…



Some Thoughts on the Liturgy


JESUS PRAYS FOR US


+ I find it very interesting that Our Lord prays for us specifically in the High Priestly prayer in the Gospel:

I pray not only for these, but for those who will believe in me through their word.

- that is for you and for me


+ And as you search this section of the High Priestly prayer, it is also interesting how he prays for us:

- he prays that we may be one

- unity is very important for Jesus

- because no one is higher or better than anyone else

- we are all united as one family

- often we are far from the unity that the Lord wanted for us

- and the reason is that we destroy the unity because we like to feel better than others or different from them


+ Jesus also prays that you and I will experience what he will soon be experiencing

- praying that our lives will eventually have the eternal life that we long for

- Jesus, the Son of God, asking his Father to receive us into eternal life

- that’s pretty impressive, I believe


+ And finally he prays that you and I will continue to make his Father known throughout the world

- that is, Jesus wants us to spread the message of the fact of God’s presence in everything we do

- the way Paul was doing in the first reading

- Paul is back in Jerusalem and as usual, is still having trouble with the Pharisees and Sadducees

- very cleverly he sets up an argument between those two factions of high priests

- and continues to bear witness to the Lord with his preaching, as the Lord himself instructs him


+ The High Priestly prayer of Jesus enables us to get into the mind of Jesus and see what he prays for

- and when he prays for others, he prays that they—you and I—will be one, that all will experience eternal life, and that we will make the presence of God real in our world.



MEDIA PRESENTATION

Movie: "The Water Man" -- final session
FAITH LEADS TO LOVE



 

The Gospel

JOHN 15:9-12

[Jesus said:] "As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I love you."

Gospelthink: I chose you to learn to love. Am I showing true love to everyone I meet?

Eleven year old Gunner Boone believed that the Water Man who was located in the forest would give immortality to his mother who was dying of cancer. He and his friend Jo whom Gunner had paid to show him the Water Man had gone into the forest in search of him. They discovered that the woods were full of curious things that were happening, mainly because the forest was actually on fire a short distance away, something they did not know. Finally, Gunner discovered the Water Man who was either in Gunner's mind or actually did exist, (The movie leaves us wondering.) Gunner's father, having discovered that his son was missing, found Gunner and Jo and took them back home. Gunner did not find a cure for his mother, but he discovered a deeper love with his family and his friend Jo. 

Part of the appeal of the movie "The Water Man" is that the movie-goer does not know what really happened as Gunner "discovers" the Water Man. Whatever happened, Gunner and Jo came out of the experience as changed young people. As can be seen by the final scene and final prayer offered by Gunner's mother, "love" was present as his mother thanked God for the love which was present at their table.

Theologically, what is happening is captured by the evangelist John in his Gospel. They had bought into the faith of looking for a cure for Gunner's mother, and even though the cure was not forthcoming, there was a cure of sorts for the whole family including Jo. As Jesus taught, once a person has allowed hope to lead to faith, then the faith is expressed in the love that everyone must have for one another.

The application for the movie-goer cannot be missed. Gunner's hope to have a cure was not fulfilled, but the love of Gunner's father for Gunner is renewed. Jo has found a loving family as she grows. Gunner's father and mother are deeper in love than they had been. And Gunner feels the love that is present in the whole family.

During one of the final scenes in the movie, Gunner and his father are together, both asking the question that if you could choose a shorter life with someone you totally loved over a longer life without that someone, what would you choose. Both of them answer the same with Gunner's mother in mind. Love has totally taken over during the time that Gunner's mother has left.

Hope had led to faith, and faith led to love.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, your Son came to our world to bring about the love that is so necessary for us to exist. Sometimes we forget because we go our separate ways and allow our free will to have free rein. Give us the grace to come back to love for You and for one another.  Be with us, we pray. 

 

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: Hope leads to faith and faith leads to love.

 DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(session: approximately 41 minutes)
1. What scene during this session of the movie was most striking to you? Why?
2. Why do we not love one another as Jesus wants us to?
3. What is the best way for a father to communicate with his pre-teen and teenage son?
4. What are the greatest acts of love that God has given to the human race?
5. What is the best way for middle school and high school young people to show love to their parents?
6. What are the signs of someone who has been totally "taken over" by love?
7. What does the movie "The Water Man" teach young people?

 

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

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