March 17

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Monday, March 17, Lent II

LUKE 6:36-38

My Attitude Toward Others

Prayerthoughts

a. In general, am I a merciful person? Are there some specific people to whom I should be more gentle in my approach to them?

b. In general, do I judge others too harshly? Should my thinking of them be “purified” in the sense of being kinder? Think especially of yesterday.

c. Jesus uses arguably the most important word as far as behavior goes: “give”. Do I give freely to others with the thought that they do not need to “pay me back”?

d. Is there one special person to whom I should treat in a better way?

e. How do I grade myself concerning love of others?

f. My prayerthoughts...

Today I will read the Book of Daniel, chapter 9, and write an important thought.

Some Thoughts on the Gospel

GIVE TO OTHERS

+ This is a difficult Gospel

- it is part of what is called the “Sermon on the Plain” in Luke’s Gospel and if one takes the Gospel as the words say, it is so difficult and radical that it is like a different plane of living

- but Jesus is very clear—we can argue what are Jesus’ actual words

- but there is no doubt that Jesus was responsible for these ideas

- if we are going to follow him, we will have to follow his directives

- stop judging others and forgive everyone

- because, as Jesus says,

…the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.

- it involves thinking, the words we say, and doing—Jesus is saying in effect, purify your every intention

+ As we think of Jesus’ words and recognize Daniel’s prayer in the first reading that the Lord is full of compassion and forgiveness, even though they had sinned,

- it is important to see the ultimate reason that the Lord was full of compassion and forgiveness toward the Israelite people

- and what is the basis of the difficult words of Jesus here

- I believe that it is Jesus’ idea of giving

- Jesus says it in the Gospel:

Give and gifts will be given to you.

- God continues to give to us;

- “giving to others” more than any concept captures the reality of Jesus’ moral doctrine

- it is the essential ingredient of love

+ Because giving is such an essential concept of Christianity, it must be what guides the Christian way of life

- it is what you and I as Catholics have heard presented over the past couple of years as stewardship—giving back to God for what God has given to us

+ The next step will automatically follow, namely, that we give back to God

- and the question is: how do we do that?

- we give back to God by our service to other human beings

- leading us again to the absolute Christian importance of giving of ourselves on behalf of others

- Jesus says to give to others, and if we do, we will both truly love them, and give back to God at the same time.

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Song: "Lose You to Love Me" -- Selena Gomez

I NEEDED TO LOSE YOU

The Gospel LUKE 21:25-28

LUKE 21:25-28

Jesus said, “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.”

Gospelthink: Do not be afraid of the final days: you will have eternal life. I should prepare myself for the final days by leading as good a life as I can.

“You promised the world and I fell for it, set fire to my forest and you let it burn, sang off key in my chorus, cause it wasn’t yours. I saw the signs and I ignored it, rose colored glasses all distorted set fire to my purpose and I let it burn. You got off on my hurtin’ when it wasn’t yours. To love, I needed to lose you.”

Jesus knew about signs. Much of his ministry was spent trying to move people to read signs. It was evident when Jesus spoke of the Second Coming. There will be "signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars," Jesus says. "People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken." But Jesus also says that there is no reason to fear since we will rejoice at being saved. He says, "Stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand." That is to say, although there are signs that are negative, we will be able to "read" them correctly and thus enjoy our redemption.

Involvement in a love relationship is a complicated undertaking. Two people are involved and therefore there will not always be agreement, and sometimes they may find themselves at odds with each other too often. If that is the case, it is a "sign" which the couple ought to read. Such was the problem In Selena Gomez' song "Lose You to Love Me." The lady in the relationship says that she "saw the signs" and "ignored" them.

It is important what the ignored signs were. They all had to do with the selfishness of the other party in their relationship. The man in the relationship promised, but did not follow through; he initiated a good relationship at first, but let it dwindle away, blamed her when things were not going well; he was interested in his own pain, and not hers. It is a true statement that she makes: in order to discover love for herself, she had to lose the person that was causing the pain because of his own selfishness.

Jesus wanted his disciples to read the signs of the times, explaining to them that they were quite capable of doing it. In a relationship, if it is to last, both should be knowledgeable of the signs that each gives to the other. They can do it if they do some reflection on their actions and words. If selfishness is a problem with either one, it is time to cease the love relationship. It was the result of the situation of the song.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, when we fall in love, we set up a special relationship with the one loved. Help us do our own individual parts in order to make the relationship a good one. Be with us, we pray.

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: We can read the signs when a relationship is not what it should be.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. What does the song "Lose You to Love Me" teach young people?
2. What part of the "end of the world" gives you the most concern?
3. From your knowledge of Jesus' ministry, what was his principal message?
4. In general, do you feel that couples who are dating communicate enough with each other? Yes or no and why?
5. Give your own definition of "selfishness."
6. Is there another course of action besides a breakup that a couple should enter into in order to solve the problem of selfishness? Yes or no and why?
7. Why do couples often not "read the signs" in a relationship?