March 18

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Tuesday, March 18, Lent II

MATTHEW 23:1-12

Study yourselves and see that you are not hypocritical in the way you behave.

Prayerthoughts
a. The Lord is outspoken and critical about the religious leaders of his time. No doubt there is some criticism that I have of religious and political leaders. Do I argue from facts as Jesus did?

b. In general, I should practice what I preach. Do I say things that people ought to do and not do them myself? Think of your strongest criticisms of others.

c. When I see people who are really hurting, do I try to remedy what I can?

d. Do I expect others to honor me for whatever while merely searching for praise?

e. Am I truly a servant to others? Think of the people you see every day.

f. My prayerthoughts…

Today, I will write a prayer asking to be a humble servant.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

THE HYPOCRISY OF CHURCH-GOERS

+ In today’s Gospel, Jesus sees that the scribes and Pharisees had the problem of hypocrisy—they said good things, worshipped God well, but they didn’t do too well in living their words

- and so Jesus says:

Do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. … All their works are performed to be seen.

+ Hypocrisy is an interesting phenomenon to talk about

- it is an automatic trap or problem area for anyone who gives direction to others:

- priests, ministers, teachers, parents, legislators, anyone showing leadership of others—and automatically, anyone going to Church

- for whatever reason, we are here today, and saying to the world:

- I believe in God through Jesus Christ

- and Jesus in essence says: then some things should happen in your lives

+ We should be very interested in what we say here in Church

- we say strong words during this service: we believe, we will, we do

- do we even listen to the words that we say and supposedly make our own?

- we receive the Lord in this Eucharist—either physically or mentally—

- how can someone receive the Lord and with the same mouth tear down someone else or allow foul language to come out of it?

- we may have allowed religion to be nothing more than something to be seen or performed, and that’s all—Jesus’ thoughts there

+ What’s the antidote to hypocrisy, how do we stay away from it?

- the Gospel gives us that as well

- Jesus says:

The greatest among you must be your servant.

- that’s the way to keep ourselves from the hypocrisy of saying one thing and doing another: work on behalf of others

+ Isaiah the prophet implores his listeners in the first reading to set things right, and then calls the Israelites to be willing to obey the Law

- the Lord basically says in the Gospel to set things right with regard to what you say and do

- if you say it, we have to mean it.

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Song: "Boom Clap" -- Charli XCX

THE GLITTER IN THE DARKNESS

The Gospel

MATTHEW 6:22-23

MATTHEW 6:22-23

[Jesus said:] "The lamp of the body is the eye. If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light; but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness. And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be."

Gospelthink: I tell you that you must be a light for this world. Do I allow too much darkness--sin, bad faults--into my life?

"Boom, Clap, the sound of my heart. The beat goes on and on and you make me feel good. Come on to me now. No silver or no gold could dress me up so good. You’re the glitter in the darkness of my world. Just tell me what to do. I’ll fall right into you, going under, cast a spell, just say the word. I feel your love."

There are many "darknesses" in life, that is, many negatives that can overpower us as we grow and live. They can become so overwhelming that they govern the way we talk and act, and especially the way we think of ourselves. In fact, the reason why many of us need some type of counselor or someone with whom we can be honest, is to help us with the darkness that we feel.

Jesus knew, of course, that sin was the ultimate cause of the darkness in our lives. He expressed it during his Sermon on the Mount in Matthew's Gospel with the image of light actually becoming darkness. Then, he tells us, how great will the darkness be. What is needed is an understanding heart that can discern what makes up our "darkness."

In our love endeavors, whether romantic or otherwise, a good image that could possibly describe true love is that idea of "overcoming darkness." True love will involve people who are able to attack the bitterness that the other may feel. As Charli XCX expresses it in her song "Boom Clap," the other becomes the "glitter in the darkness of my world." In the love relationship, each becomes the means that the other needs to overcome the feeling of the negatives in our lives.

There are many characteristics of true love. One of them will always be the ability of a person who shows love to another to gently erase the feelings of emptiness and being lost that the other person may have. A person who is truly expressing romantic love of another will give such healing for the one loved. A Christian who is trying to love all, as Jesus taught, will always work at making everyone around them feel a little better.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, your Son is the example of perfect love in our human world. He wanted most of all for us to be people whose light was true love of all. Give us the grace to understand our own darkness and help us become people who will help others overcome their darkness. Be with us, we pray.

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: If true love exists, both people in the relationship will help with any darkness either may feel.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. The Pastoral Constitution of the Church in the Modern World from the Second Vatican Council comments as follows: "Man is divided in himself. As a result, the whole life of men, both individual and social, shows itself to be a struggle, and a dramatic one, between good and evil, between light and darkness." (Quoted by the Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, n. 1707.) In your opinion, why is the statement true?
2. Jesus and his gospel proclaimed by him are the light that God offers to his people. In your opinion, what is Jesus' main message in the Gospels and why?
3. In your opinion, what is the meaning of Jesus' statement: "If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light"?
4. Text analysis: "No silver or gold could dress me up so good." What is the meaning of the statement?
5. The song speaks of "feeling good" about a love. Psychologists often point out that lovers can never trust completely their feelings and emotions. Why is the statement true?
6. Text analysis: "The darkness of my world." What are some of the "darknesses" that are part of people's lives?
7. What is the best way to overcome the feeling of darkness?
8. In Jesus' mind, sin causes darkness. What is the most difficult sin that young people must work against? What is the most difficult sin that older people must work against?
9. Name some characteristics of "true love."
10. How do people in romantic love help to overcome the feeling of darkness in their partner's life?
11. In your opinion, do most Christians follow Jesus' directive to "love everyone"? Yes or no and why?
12. What does the song "Boom Clap" teach young people?