March 21

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Saturday, March 21, Lent IV

JOHN 7:40-53

The example of Nicodemus

Prayerthoughts
a. There was a “division” among the people who listened to Jesus concerning him. In my life, there might be a “division” concerning whether I should follow everything that Jesus said. Do I listen to all of Jesus’s directives, especially forgiveness and judgment of others?

b. When I hear criticisms of the Christian religion or other religions, do I show the perpetrators the respect they should have?

c. It takes real courage to speak as Nicodemus spoke. Do I speak up when I should on behalf of someone else?

d. Nicodemus is ridiculed by his own peers. When I am judged falsely by others, what is my reaction?

e. Do I make judgments of others or other situations too quickly without knowing the facts?

f. The people in the Gospel condemn a place, namely Galilee. In my criticism of others, do I condemn people from certain places?

g. My prayerthoughts…

Today I will read Jeremiah 11;18-20 and write an important thought from it.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

THE COURAGE TO SPEAK

+ As we get closer and closer to Holy Week and the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus

- there are many characters that we can study to develop our spiritual lives

- the persons of Judas and Peter

- the scribes and Pharisees and religious leaders

- the Roman officials, especially Pilate

- and from the Gospel today, one of the Pharisees himself, Nicodemus

+ We don’t know much about Nicodemus

- we know from the Gospels that he came to see Jesus by night in order to discuss some religious issues

- and we know from this Gospel that he stood up against some of his fellow Pharisees by arguing in favor of Jesus and his prophetic stance

+ It was not a popular position at all for Nicodemus to be in

- he no doubt wanted to keep his job as one of the religious leaders,

- but he felt that he had to do something on behalf of this person—

- he may not have believed in him completely, but he felt that he should at least be heard, and he was willing to say it outright

- he had to feel like the lamb that was being led to slaughter from the prophet Jeremiah in the first reading

+ We can learn a lot from that stance of Nicodemus

- we do a lot of talking in our lives

- much of it is about other people and how we feel about them

- sometimes we have to speak on behalf of others, even if we don’t agree with them, because everyone deserves a fair chance

- we all know the horrors of prejudice and what it can do, and unfortunately we can all fall into the category of being prejudiced against another in one way or another

- in fact, the truth is something that we should value above all things

- Nicodemus was finding that truth in Jesus Christ—as we all have—and he had to give voice to it in some way

+ It takes real courage to speak up on behalf of others especially when a lot of people are speaking them down

- Nicodemus was quite Christian in his approach to Jesus

- Jesus had shown the importance of all people during his lifetime

- we are called to look at people the same way, and if need be, to defend them when others may not be doing it

+ Courage is an important Christian virtue, especially when it comes to speaking about others.

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Movie: "Marshall" -- beginning session

WHEN SOMEONE ELSE GETS THE CREDIT

The Gospel

LUKE 10:1-9

The Lord appointed seventy (-two) others whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. He said to them, "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. Into whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this household.' If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment. Do not move about from one house to another. Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, 'The kingdom of God is at hand for you.'"

Gospelthink: I sent disciples into the area telling them to preach the Kingdom. As I live from day to day, do I preach the Kingdom in my actions and words?

The movie "Marshall" is a true story early in the life of United States Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. His task early in his life as a NAACP lawyer was to travel the country defending people of color who were wrongly accused of crimes because of racial prejudice. In one particular case, defending a man by the name of Joseph Spell, he was denied by the judge to speak in court as he defended Spell. Marshall had to enlist the help of lawyer Sam Friedman, a friend of Marshall's brother, to be Spell's lead counsel. Marshall guided Friedman at every turn. In many ways Friedman proved himself quite capable, but accepted the direction of Marshall. Friedman accepted the challenge, doing the best that he could even though he did not get the credit.

According to Luke the evangelist, the seventy two disciples were just as important as the Apostles in the early days of Jesus's ministry. They spread the message of Jesus, namely, that the Kingdom of God was at hand, and they cured the sick in the towns. It was due to them that the message of Jesus became known in the surrounding neighborhoods of Galilee. But they are often not thought of, and only the Apostles seem to "get the glory" of doing the work that Jesus gave the disciples to do.

One of the virtues of the Kingdom that Jesus was preaching was the virtue of humility, that is allowing the truth to dominate no matter who gets credit for it. Sam Friedman was such a person. In the movie "Marshall," he had to accept the task of being spokesperson for Thurgood Marshall who could not try the case against Joseph Spell because of Marshall was a black man. At first, Sam was reluctant to take the task, but he became more and more open to help if he could. In fact, he did the best that he could even though it was Marshall who received the credit.

In our dealings with people, one of the "sins" in which we find ourselves is "judging" others because we think that they are inferior to us. Certainly, at the very least, it is very difficult for our human natures to accept no credit when we deserve it. We find ourselves not being humble enough to allow the truth to come out even when we are not recognized for what we have done. The old adage is true: "There is no telling the good that can be good when you do not care who gets the credit."

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, Your Son's Kingdom included the virtue of seeking the truth in every situation, even when we deserve some credit but do not get it. Give us the humility to accept Your Son's direction and work for the truth, even if we do not receive the praise that is due to us. Be with us, we pray.

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: We should do our best even if someone else gets the credit.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(session: approximately 54 minutes)
1. What scene during this session of the movie is most striking and why?
2. In the Gospel account, why do you think Jesus gave his disciples direction not to take extra material with them?
3. What is your understanding of the Kingdom of God?
4. What do you believe was the most important virtue that Thurgood Marshall showed in his young life?
5. Give your own definition of "humility."
6. What is the principal reason why some people cannot tolerate ourselves getting credit when we should?