March 29

  [media presentation below]

GospelThink

Saturday, March 29, Lent III

LUKE 18:9-14

You must understand that sinfulness is part of your history.

Prayerthoughts
a. Are there times in my life when I feel so completely satisfied with what I am doing that I forget about God?

b. In Jesus’ parable, the Pharisee is judging another. I often find myself judging others for whatever reasons. I should determine some people that I judge harshly and say a prayer for them.

c. The Pharisee was doing what the Law required him to do but he was doing it to “brag.” Are there times when I “brag” about my accomplishments?

d. Jesus deliberately chooses a tax collector in the parable because they were extortionists and ritually impure. They were even shunned by the Israelite people. Are there some people in my acquaintance that I shun? How can I be more open to all people in my life?

e. The tax collector recognized that he was a sinner. Do I recognize that I have a tendency to sin in the way I act and think?
 
f. The reason for the parable is the teaching that as children in the Lord’s Kingdom, we should be humble enough to recognize our own sinfulness and thus stay away from  judging others. Have I truly learned that lesson in my life?

g. My prayerthoughts… 

Today I will list some people that I have shunned for whatever reason, and make a resolution to pay more attention to them.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

WHY ARE YOU HERE

+ The theme for our readings today might be supplied by the prophet Hosea in the first reading: “It is love that I desire” nothing else

- and so with that attitude of love, we study the story that Jesus tells today

- fundamentally the tax collector showed love of God

- the Pharisee showed love of self


+ I think the basic question that can be asked of the Pharisee and the tax collector was: why were they there at the synagogue?

- the Pharisee was there to tell God what to do because he, the Pharisee, was so good—an inordinate love of self

- the tax collector was there to listen to God because he, the tax collector, was not so good—love of God

- Jesus obviously tells this story for us, and therefore it becomes very personal—and the question is: why are we here?


+ A number of years ago during a high school religion class, I was trying to teach why we go to church

- and one young man simply wouldn’t buy what I was saying

- and he brought his point home this way

- if the Pope would take away the Sunday obligation to go to Mass, he said, how many would go to church

- it caused quite a discussion, and a very good question

- why do Catholics go to Church on Sunday?


+ Some possible answers?

- we’ll go to hell if we don’t go because it’s a sin

- we’re forced to go

- we’ll disappoint people if we don’t go

- we want to impress people

- we want something from God, and if I’m going to ask God for something, I’d better do something in return

- God’s keeping track

- the stress of all of those statements is a selfish one

- quite similar to the Pharisee: he was going to church so that God would pay attention to him

- Jesus’ analysis of this Pharisee?--he went home not justified

- he accomplished nothing


+ The tax collector went to church because he knew he needed God—he was a sinner

- the stress was on God first

- he was willing to listen to what God had to say about his life, about what he could do better, about what he could do to get away from sinning

- and so he was open to doing something about it in his own life


+ What about that young man’s question?

- if the Pope would take away the obligation of Sunday Mass, how many Catholics would go to church

- or more to the point, and quite personal, would we go to church?

- we probably would, because we are here right now

- but the question brings up the deeper question of why put God in our lives at all?

- if we are convinced that we need God, it will be reflected in our lives

- and we will be showing the love of God that Hosea wanted the Israelites to feel.












 

 

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Movie: "Jesus Revolution" -- beginning session
THE JESUS FREAKS



 

The Gospel

MARK 15:37-39

MARK 15:37-39

Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. The veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. Then the centurion who stood facing him saw how he breathed his last he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” 

Gospelthink: The Gentile Roman centurion recognizes who Jesus is.

The movie "Jesus Revolution" is all about conversion and is a true story based on the Jesus Revolution that took place in the United States between 1968 and 1972. It focuses on three people: Lonnie Frisbee, a hippy who began the movement, Pastor Chuck Smith who finally allowed the "Jesus freaks" into his Church, and Greg Laurie who eventually became a pastor himself. During this session, Lonnie met Pastor Smith, telling him that he will have to make some changes in order to involve the younger generation with Jesus. Pastor Smith did make those changes and his Church, Calvary Chapel, became the center of a revolution. Greg Laurie was a member of the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps class, but then turned to a drug-involved hippy by a girl named Cathe. Cathe was converted to Jesus by Lonnie, and finally convinced Greg to choose the ministry of Jesus.

According to Scripture scholars, this passage in Mark's Gospel is a significant statement of Jesus's divinity. In the evangelist's choice of words, he is suggesting that through his death, Jesus is opening up the sacred place of God's dwelling. God is making it accessible. By immediately following the split veil with the centurion's proclamation of faith in Jesus, the evangelist Mark confirms this understanding. He is suggesting that even the Roman soldier--someone disposed to pollute the Temple with false gods--has come to see the diving image in Jesus's humanity.  In his death, Jesus has opened up the heavens even to the Romans.

Apart from the beautiful theology of Mark's Gospel, we are met with the person of centurion, a pagan and a Gentile recognizing Jesus to be the Son of God. It had to be the moment of conversion for him. Up until that time in his life, he now understood that he had missed what was really important in his life.

One of the learning moments of the true story of the movie "Jesus Revolution" is the conversion of the people who were looking for some type of direction to their lives different from the drug culture that so many had given into. In particular, pastor Chuck Smith and Greg Laurie are singled out in this first session of the movie as people who were converted to the Christian way.

The moment of conversion is a teaching moment for everyone realizing the faith of following the person of Jesus Christ and his ways. Whether we are just beginning the process of recognizing who Jesus is or if we are well into the way of choosing Christianity, we must understand the significance of Jesus in our lives.

As Christians, we are professing the faith that Jesus has indeed opened up the heavens for us who believe. With the centurion, our lives should be professing that this is truly the Son of God, and we are truly his followers.

PRAYER
Good and gracious God, your Son brought about conversion to the people who began to accept the faith he taught. May we be truly converted to the Son of God, and show it by the lives that we lead. Be with us, we pray.

 

+++++


GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: In order to truly understand our calling, we often need a conversion experience.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
(session: approximately 56 minutes)
1. What does this session of the movie teach young people?
2. What does the "love movement" od the 60's and 70's teach us?
3. Why is Jesus's divinity important as we study his humanity?
4. Considering the centurion in the Gospel, what would he have to do once he made this profession of faith?
5. What is your definition of "conversion"?
6. In your opinion, do most Christians act like Christians should?

 

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