March 21

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Friday, March 21, Lent II

MATTHEW 21:33-43,45-46

You should look at the possibility of your rejecting my teaching.

Prayerthoughts
a. God has “leased” us the body we have. Do I take care of my body the way I should?

b. God demands that we repay some of what we have produced in the form of money or the like. Have I given a significant amount of my income, say 10% to God, in the form of a Church or some charity or the poor?

c. An important part of Jesus’s parable are the servants that God sends. Spoken to the religious leaders of the times, Jesus was referring to how they treated God’s messengers. How well do I listen to the directives of God as spoken by the religious leaders in my life?

d. In allegorical language, Jesus refers to what will happen to him at the end of his life. Do I spend time in meditation on how Jesus was treated, and how I treat him in the person of others?

e. Jesus refers to hell as the outcome of those who disregard God. Without judging myself too much, have I asked for forgiveness for the times I have disregarded God’s directives?

f. There are “other people” in the world who are truly following God’s Will who are not part of my religious beliefs. Do I treat all religions with the respect that is their due?

g. The chief priests and Pharisees realized that Jesus was speaking about them. Do I understand that Jesus’s words are directed to me as well as others?

h. My prayerthoughts…

Today I will read Genesis, chapter 37, and write an important thought from it.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

SELFISHNESS AND REJECTION

+ There are two stories to consider in the readings today

- the story of Joseph and the story of Jesus concerning the vineyard

- both stories portray selfishness on the part of the perpetrators of crime

- the perpetrators wanted revenge and money—their own way

- in both, the important person—Joseph and the son—are almost killed or killed outright

- Jesus applies the story that he tells (and therefore Joseph’s story in a way)—to the Hebrew nation

- saying to the Hebrew religious leaders that they are the ones who are rejecting what God has in mind

- and in Matthew’s Gospel, the reason why he is condemned and executed

+ There are a couple of things to consider here:

1 – the selfishness of Joseph’s brothers and the selfishness of the tenant farmers of Jesus’ story

- selfishness continues to be the problem with the evil of our world

- clear on an international level with the way people sacrifice principles for profit

- clear on the national level with the same thing and the whole corporate American commercialism and consumerism- but especially on the personal level—our concern for our spiritual life- it brings out the necessity of time for personal reflection- it is good spiritual practice to automatically assume that there is selfishness in our lives and set out to do something about it, to find it, and work on it

2 – the Kingdom is taken away from the people who were the chosen people

- in many ways, we are the new chosen people

- we believe that Jesus redeemed us

- and therefore Christians now are chosen to enjoy God’s Presence forever

- good for us to listen to Jesus as he tells the original chosen people that they are no longer chosen

- because they have rejected him—Jesus, just as Joseph and the son of Jesus’ story were rejected

- you and I could be rejecting Jesus in a small way by jealousy and other judgments and the like

+ Therefore, two areas of our concern today:

- the selfishness we all have

- and the possibility that we are actually turning away from God even as we profess that we are staying close to God.

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Movie: "Marshall" -- beginning session

WHEN SOMEONE ELSE GETS THE CREDIT

The Gospel

LUKE 10:1-9

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' 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?