TGIMMblack

March 4

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Tuesday, March 4

MARK 10:28-31

A True Follower

Prayerthoughts

a. Peter the Apostle was interested in making him and his fellow Apostles “look good” in Jesus’s eyes, professing that they were true followers of Jesus. If someone were to accuse me of not truly following the Lord, what proof do I have that I am?

b. Jesus promises three things for those who sacrifice for the sake of the kingdom of heaven.

First he promises rewards even in this life. As I study my life, what good things have been given to

me? Have I been as thankful as I should be? (This is the task of the meditation.)

c. The Lord also promises “persecutions.” There have been difficult things in my life so far. Have I reacted to them as a Christian should, namely accepting them as the Lord’s will?

d. Thirdly, the Lord promises a true follower of his that he/she will have eternal life. What is my understanding of “eternal life” and why?

e. Jesus refers to what is called the “paradox of the cross,” that is, the last will be first. Since I have been blessed with the gift of Jesus’s redemption, my life should reflect my satisfaction with the Lord.

f. My prayerthoughts…

Today, I will list the good things that have happened to me in my life,

and thank the Lord for each one.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

“SIGNIFICANT” GIVING

+ The book of Sirach contains one of the classic statements concerning stewardship:

- we must give to the Most High as he has given to us

- and the Gospel gives the so-called rewards of stewardship

- Jesus saying to us that if we learn to give, then we will receive a hundred times as much and everlasting life besides

- so the subject of “giving” is an appropriate thought from the liturgy today

+ The “rewards” that Jesus mentions are very interesting to study

- because they are usually described as the rewards of religious life

- people who have given up home and family, etc. will receive much more together with everlasting life (interesting that “persecutions” is also mentioned—namely anyone interested in giving to others will be persecuted for it)

- but the Scriptures were not written with religious life in mind

- they were written with every day people in mind

- as such this passage becomes a bit of an exaggeration by Jesus, which means that everyone is called to real giving

+ Peter and the apostles definitely had given up home and family, etc.

- not everyone who follows Jesus is called to go that far perhaps, but it means that everyone is called to a giving that is comparable to giving up of family and home

- what might be called “significant” giving of time and talent and treasure on behalf of others

- without saying what that significant giving means because it will mean different things for different people

+ Following that thought, I believe that one of the virtues of spiritual living should be “generosity”

- that is, a true giving of self that reaches beyond the initial giving of ourselves to the way of life we have chosen

- it means a true “giving” in the family

- and it has to be a giving without expecting return

- “significant giving” should be a goal of every Christian

+ You and I will be rewarded for our giving, Jesus says,

- but it has to be a real giving of ourselves

- a fitting thought as we begin Lent tomorrow.

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Song: "Black Widow" -- Iggy Azalea featuring Rita Ora

THE "BLACK WIDOW" WAY OF LOVE

The Gospel

MATTHEW 5:40-42

Matthew 5:39-42

[Jesus said:] "When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.”

Gospelthink: I tell you to treat everyone with the utmost respect. Are there some people that I do not treat this way?

"I’m gonna love ya until you hate me. And I’m gonna show ya what’s really crazy. You should’ve known better than to mess with me, honey. I’m gonna love ya like a black widow. You used to be thirsty for me, but now you wanna be set free. This is the web that you weave. So now rest in peace. It's all over with now."

Perhaps the most striking difference between Jesus' doctrine and the way human beings behave is in the area of revenge and hatred. Jesus is very clear, even resorting to exaggeration to get his point across. In his mind and therefore for his followers, "getting back" at someone is not an option. The way of the world is most of the time in direct opposition.

A case in point is a song from Iggy Azalea and Rita Ora, and their song "Black Widow." The person in the song wants to "get back" at a former love partner, and the way she proposes is to be like a black widow spider. The black widow spider is known for its venomous bite, especially the female. What the lady is saying is that the relationship is not only over, but it will be one that the other person will remember for a long time, and it will not be a pleasant memory, just as the bite of a Black Widow is never pleasant.

There is little doubt that one of the most difficult times in a young person's life is when a love relationship fails in some way. It happens when one of the partners decides that he/she wants to have the opportunity to search around a little more, or when one of them begins to sense that the relationship is not what it should be. Rejection, even when someone only thinks it is rejection, is not easy to take. In order to make the human being "feel better," there will be some desire to retaliate, to become the black widow, and to punish the other in some way.

Jesus' principles of living extend to every circumstance, and therefore to the situation of the breakup of a romantic relationship. Revenge and hatred have no place in a Christian's point of view, and therefore cannot be a part of a Christian's life, even in the most difficult of personal situations.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, your Son gave us the difficult doctrine of love of others even in the most difficult of situations. As we work with romantic love situations in our lives, give us the grace to truly understand the Christian way. Be with us, we pray.

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: Revenge and hatred is not the Christian way, even in a breakup of romantic love relationships.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. In the Gospel passage, Jesus is speaking in exaggeration. Why do you think Jesus used exaggeration in his speech?
2. In modern language, what does Jesus want to convey with this passage?
3. Text analysis: "press you into service." Roman soldiers had the right to requisition services and property from the native population. Jesus speaks of not only not being angry because of this law, but actually going further to uphold the law. He is speaking in exaggeration, of course, but shows the importance of giving to others. In general, do you think most Christians agree with such a thought? Yes or no and why?
4. Text analysis: "Love ya until you hate me." What is the meaning of the phrase?
5. Text analysis: "This is the web that you weave." What is the meaning of the sentence?
6. Analysis: "It's all over with now." What are the principal causes that should make a love relationship cease?
7. Give some examples from the world right now of people "getting back" at others.
8. Project: the presenter may want to make a presentation on "black widow" spiders.
9. In your opinion, do people often want to "get back" at a former love partner? Yes or no and why?
10. In your opinion, do young people often "retaliate" against others in high school? In college?
11. In your opinion, is there ever a time when revenge can be a good thing? Yes or no and why?
12. What does the song "Black Widow" teach young people?