March 15 

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Sunday, March 15, Fourth Sunday of Lent

JOHN 9:1-41

Spiritual Openness

Prayerthoughts

a. There may be some people in my own circle of acquaintances who are physically blind? Do I treat them with the respect they deserve?

b. The thought of some people in our world is that people with disabilities are somehow at fault. Do I find myself judging them? I should offer a prayer for them, asking God to continue to be with them.

c. The works of God are made visible through all of us. Are my thoughts, words and actions as “God-like” as they should be?

d. Do I show the necessary desire to do a “good job” in my chosen work?

e. Is it clear by my actions that I have accepted Jesus as the light of my life?

f. The theology of the word “sent” is that Jesus was sent into the world to cure the blindness of people by his teachings. Am I reading the Gospel every day to learn what Jesus’s doctrine is?

g. The name “Son of Man” is the name Jesus used for Himself in the Gospels. Many say that this makes Jesus more human? If so, what does that mean to me?

h. In what ways do I see Jesus at work in the world?

i. Jesus speaks to us in the Scriptures. What Scripture passage is one that I should never forget?

j. I worship Jesus, God, in various ways, probably most noticeable by going to Mass. In what way can I improve my reverence at Mass?

k. My prayerthoughts…


Today I will read Ephesians 5:8-14 and write an important thought from it.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

SPIRITUAL OPENNESS

+ As the Lord ministered during his life, he probably shook up a lot of people

- mainly because you couldn’t just listen to this man

- there had to be some reaction

- he probably caused a number of discussions in the different homes

- discussion among the civil leaders, Roman soldiers

- especially among the Scribes and Pharisees because he was talking about the same things they were—and Jesus was critical of them

- the Gospel gives us an instance of just that

- the Lord involves himself in the life of one man

- and it caused a chain reaction that is very good to study for people who want to develop their spiritual lives like us because it involves parallels for us


+ The reaction of the Pharisees exemplifies a severe spiritual blindness that should not be part of our lives, but too often it is

- the Pharisees refused to see God’s involvement in the life of the blind man

- the parallel in our lives may be phrased this way—

- we sometimes take away the opportunity to have God work in our lives

- we do not give God enough time in prayer or thought

- God usually doesn’t work by coming to us with some gigantic external sign, wake us up, and say, “Listen to what I say”

- God works through the ordinary happenings in life and through the Scripture that we read—

- if we don’t allow serious thinking about God in our lives, God is not going to talk to us—and we could be causing some spiritual blindness toward God


+ The reaction of the parents of the blind man might be called partial spiritual blindness

- they saw God’s involvement with their son, but they were afraid to acknowledge God

- the parallel in our own spiritual development may be this:

- in general, we know what our spiritual lives should be, because we hear about it all the time when we go to Church as we are now

- but we choose not to follow it

- it especially comes in the way we behave toward and think about others

- we know what the Lord wants of us: we just don’t want to do it


+ The reaction of the blind man himself is one that can be called spiritual openness— “I do believe”, he finally said

- it allows for a spiritual re-birth, allowing the light of God through Jesus to be part of who we are

- to infect us—if we can use that word—to get into our thoughts so much that it influences everything we do and say

- what we are in love with will affect everything we do

- it will decide how we get up in the morning, what we do in the evening, how we spend our weekends, what we read, who we will hang around with, what it is that breaks our hearts, what makes us happy, what makes us sad

- everything we do

- everything we do should be infected by our involvement with God

b

+ Perhaps the most famous blind person in our history was also deaf, Helen Keller, and she said once, ““The most pathetic person in the world is someone who has sight, but has no vision.”

- that idea of “vision”, I believe, is one of the best definitions of faith that we have

- a vision is an overall goal that guides everything one does

- if you possess this vision, this faith, you will be able to understand life

- we Christians call that vision the vision of Jesus Christ

- it means that we are open to everything Jesus wants for us


Conclusion

+ Our spiritual lives ought to reflect spiritual openness—what we saw in the blind man

- allowing ourselves to be open to the presence of God

- only then will we be able to grow in a spiritual way.











MEDIA PRESENTATION

Song: "Happy" -- Pharrell Williams

BECAUSE I'M HAPPY



 

The Gospel


MATTHEW 13:15-16

[Jesus said:] "'Gross is the heart of this people, they will hardly hear with their ears, they have closed their eyes, lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and be converted and I heal them.' But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear." 

Gospelthink: I was happy with the people who really listened to what I said. Do I follow the Lord and his directions well?

"It may seem crazy what I’m about to say. I don't care by the way because I’m happy. Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof. Because I’m happy: clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth. Because I’m happy: clap along if you know what happiness is to you. Because I’m happy: clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do. Your love is too high. Can’t nothing bring me down."        

Pharrell sings of an attitude in his song "Happy." It can be described as a positive attitude toward life. There are a number of negatives in our world--fights, wars, disagreements, unhappiness, things that just do not go right--and we can dwell on them and feel badly about life. If we can do something about them, we should, but whether we can or not, much of how we approach life and the negatives depends on "attitude." It may seem "crazy" as Pharrell sings, to act this way, but the positive attitude can actually change us for the better, even in the midst of negatives.

Jesus had a positive attitude toward life, mainly because he knew that our lives could end with the ultimate positive, namely eternal life with God. And so he could tell his Apostles, in contrast to the negative people who do not hear God, that they were "blessed." Many English translations use the word "happy." "Happy" are you, Jesus says, because you are seeing and hearing the word of God.

Interestingly enough, the word of God can translate into what Pharrell is singing. Happy are they who feel open to God, happy are they who search for the truth, happy are they who understand they can always be happy because of the love they have received and give to others. In fact, there is nothing that can bring such a person down because their approach to life is always positive. 
           
Positive thinking is the active ingredient in flourishing businesses. It can also be a guide to living fulfilled lives.  

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, your Son showed a positive attitude toward life. He wanted us to be the same way. Help us always be open to what you want so that we can be truly happy in the way we approach our lives. Be with us, we pray.

 

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: We can show a positive attitude in life if we want.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. In the Gospel, Jesus is quoting from the prophet Isaiah, commenting on the way many of the Hebrew people did not truly listen to God. In general, do you believe that our world really listens to God's direction? Yes or no and why?
2. In the world, who is most in need of "conversion."
3. Give some examples of people who have truly heard and seen the word of God in their lives.   
4. Text analysis: "It may seem crazy what I'm about to say." Why is it "crazy" to be happy?
5 Text analysis: "Feel like a room without a roof." What is the meaning of the phrase?
6. Text analysis: "Happiness is the truth." Why is it "happy" to speak the truth?
7. Text analysis: "Your love is too high." What is the meaning of the statement?
8.  What brings us down more than anything in our lives?
9. The meditation reflects many of the thoughts of the song "Smile" by Uncle Kracker. The presenter may want to refer to that song during the presentation.
10. Give your own definition of a "positive attitude."
11. How do you understand "eternal life." See Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, numbers  988-1001.
12. How do you understand the thought that we should feel "open to God."
13. Why is a positive attitude so important in business?
14. What does the song "Happy" teach young people?    

 

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