March 31

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Monday, March 31, Lent IV

JOHN 4:43-54
The official believed even before he heard that his son was healed.

Prayerthoughts
a. The people of Galilee welcomed Jesus back because they saw what he did elsewhere. Do I accept people for who they are, as part of God’s people, no matter how they act?

b. What are the greatest signs of God's presence in the world?

c. The official believed in what Jesus said even before he knew what happened with his son. What are the best ways to make my faith stronger?

d. The man wanted to know when his son got better. What are the times in my life when I accepted in faith that God was working in my life?

e. The man's whole household became believers in Jesus. Is my belief in Jesus strong enough so that others see and believe with me?

f. My prayerthoughts…

Today I will think of what I did yesterday and study my motivation and attitude.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

BELIEF IN JESUS

+ It is important to study the timing of the belief that the royal official had in today’s Gospel

- after a statement that sounds very much like a rebuke about belief from Jesus:

Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe.

- Jesus simply says to the royal official:

You may go; your son will live.

- and John records: “The man believed what Jesus said to him.”

- the belief in Jesus comes before he hears from others about any healing of his son

- this is in contrast to many of the other healings of Jesus—the person believes or has faith after the healing happens

+ What does this say to us?

- I think it says that we have to really understand what we have said

- we have said—I believe

- that must mean something

+ It means that we are willing to study that belief

- look at it from several angles

- try to understand it a little more so that it will make more and more sense

- that involves spiritual reading, adult faith formation, and reflection time thinking about our faith

+ And it means that we will work with that faith, that belief

- that we will carry the faith into action

- you and I have to go on our way in life with the belief in the back of our mind

- and our actions will show it

+ Isaiah talks of a new heaven and a new earth in his prophecy concerning the future

- that new heaven and a new earth in our personal lives is the result of a belief that is real

- ours should be.

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Movie: "A Man Called Otto" -- beginning session

THE EFFECTS OF PAIN

The Gospel

MARK 5:22-23

One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward. Seeing him he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, saying, "My daughter is at the point of death. Please, come lay your hands on her that she may get well and live."

Gospelthink: People who were desparate came to me.

The main character of the movie "A Man Called Otto" is Otto Anderson, a retired steel worker who recently had lost his wife Sonja to cancer. He was devistated by her death. She had been the glue that kept him and the marriage alive. They had no children because of an accident early in their lives. His personality was one whereby he would do things in a particular way and who generally did not care about others. He became even more eccentric after his wife died, calling the people "idiots" if they did not do what he thought they should do. Otto thought that the only way to work with his feelings was to join Sonja in eternity. Consequently, he tried to commit suicide three different times in three different ways. He never succeeded, but in general remained a distraught person who could only be unhappy most of his life.

The fact of death in family was just as difficult in the time of Jesus, perhaps even more so than it is now. And so, one can understand the feeling of Jairus in the Gospel account as he sought the help of Jesus for his dead daughter. He was beside himself with sorrow, and he approaches Jesus with that thought in mind. If Jesus could not help him, he no doubt would turn to despair.

Today, we have so many ways to "prolong" our lives, and usually death comes to an older person after some years of "preparing" for it in some way. However, if it is unexpected as the result of a disease that we have no cure for, like cancer, it can be as devastating as any sudden death. Such was Otto Anderson's "problem" in the movie named after him. His love and dependence on his wife Sonja was extensive, and when he lost her to cancer, he became completely irretable, unable to function as a worthwhile human being. The beauty of the movie lies in the fact that the people of his life were able to bring him out of his sickness.

The movie clearly shows what happens when the sickness of the loss of someone completely overcomes a person. The person simply gives up on life and easily accepts the possibility of relief of the pain by suicide.

Jesus understood the feelings of Jairus because he was able to "feel with"--show compassion for--his pain. The conclusion of the Gospel story for Jairus was nothing less than the complete return of his daughter. His daughter would eventually die of course, but Jesus's thought at that moment in time with Jairus was that he should have his daughter a little longer, for his sake.

The follower of Jesus should pay attention to the thought of Jesus here. The Christian will not be able to bring the dead back to life, of course, but she/he can at least learn to feel the pain of another, and as far as possible help the person who is hurting. The people in Otto Anderson's life did not bring Sonja back, but they helped Otto in such a way that he could function without her.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, there are many ways in which human beings feel the pains of life. As you know, they have a profound effect on us. Help us be the type of people in life who discover the pain another feels and attempts to do something about it. Be with us, we pray.

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: The death of someone close to us is difficult to deal with, and can lead one to despair.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(session: approximately 63 minutes)
1. What scene during this session of the movie is most striking? Why?
2. How should a Christian act toward a thoroughly negative person if the person does not know the negative person very well?
3. How should a Christian act toward a thoroughly negative person if the person does know the negative person well?
4. What is the best way to prepare for death?
5. What can a person do if his/her best friend threatens to commit suicide?
6. [personal question] Who are the people in my life with whom I should show more compassion?
7. In your opinion, do most Christians show as much compassion as they should?