March 8

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Saturday, March 8, Saturday after Ash Wednesday

LUKE 5:27-32

I remind you that the salvation of your soul is more important than anything.

Prayerthoughts
a. Jesus has called me to be his follower. How do I rate myself as a follower of Jesus?

b. Levi left everything behind in order to follow the Lord. Do I have too many “things” in my possession? If I have too many things, what should I do with the extra things that I have?

c. The Pharisees had a tendency to judge other people as “sinners.” Sometimes I do the same. Who do I judge to be “sinners” and perhaps I should take the time to pray for them.

d. In my acquaintances right now, who is most in need of the help that I can give? What should I do for them?

e. What sign of repentance do I show in my life?

f. My prayerthoughts….

Today I will thank someone whom I have not thanked recently.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS AND A CHANGE OF HEART

+ Jesus says in the Gospel:

- I have not come to call the righteous to repentance, but sinners.

- it is one of Jesus’ basic statements in his teaching

- because the self-righteous-people like the Pharisees and scribes—wouldn’t listen anyway

- important for us who are “religious” to see that Jesus could not accomplish what he wanted with most of the “religious” of his day

+ Perhaps a couple of thoughts on being self-righteous as we strive to improve our spiritual lives during this Lenten season

1 – the possibility that we are part of the self-righteous

- most of us readily admit that we are sinners

- we pray “Lord have mercy” at the beginning of every Mass as well as anyone

- but there is a possibility of something that we will not change our sinful patterns

- some prejudice, perhaps

- some situation or some person that we are refusing to change our opinions about

- there is nothing worse than a person who presents himself/herself as holy

- and fails to recognize some basic correctable fault—they are self-righteous

- and it could be us

2 – a “change of heart” that Jesus calls us to should be analyzed

- Levi is a perfect example for us

- a sinner to be sure—tax collectors were extortionists

- he immediately followed Jesus, left everything

- the first reading tells us that—

- if you…, if you…, if you…, that is, basically, if we change our heart, then the Lord will be with us

- that change of heart consists of:

- truly following Jesus as Levi did

- adopting his thoughts, words and actions

- being open to everyone as Jesus was open to those who needed a doctor, as he said

- all people without exception

- following the basic laws that Jesus and the Church have set up

- as the Isaiah reading points out

- maybe concentrating on the things the reading mentions:

- removing false accusation, malicious speech

- giving to those in need

- keeping holy our Sabbath day, Sunday

- refraining from following our own pursuits

+ There are two things to consider today:

- our own possibility of self-righteousness and just what a real “change of heart” consists of.

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Movie: "When the Game Stands Tall" -- final session

WE ARE A BROTHERHOOD

The Gospel

MATTHEW 23:6-12

MATTHEW 23:6-12

Jesus said: "[The scribes and Pharisees] love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces and the salutation 'Rabbi.' As for you, do not be called 'Rabbi.' You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. Do not be called 'Master'; you have but one master, the Messiah. The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted."

Gospelthink: I tell you to not be taken with honor, and instead make yourself a servant to all. Do I consider my actions to be honestly serving others?

After their embarrassing loss that ended "The Streak," the players of the De La Salle football team are devastated, so devastated that they lost their next game as well. They were about to play the number 1 high school team in the country in the first nationally televised high school game in history. In preparation for it, Coach Ladouceur took the team to a Veteran's Hospital. It changed their attitudes, and once again made them realize that they were all brothers who were united in doing one thing with and for each other. They managed to forget about their individual egos, and simply play for the team. With their attitude, they win the rest of their games, but more importantly, they realize that their coach has taught them to understand what a brotherhood is, and the close of the movie points it out well.

At one time during this session of the movie "When the Game Stands Tall," the father of Chris Ryan, one of the football team, wanted him to perform well. In fact, Chris had a chance to break the all time record of most touchdowns scored in a season. His father, a much too rabid football fan, makes his son promise that he will do it. Because of his fear of his father, he promises, but he also says to his father "Matthew 23:12." It is the message of Jesus to the religious leaders of his time: "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted."

Translated in Coach Ladouceur's terminology for his team, it meant that one must forget about self and only worry about brotherhood. The coach's whole philosophy was contained in that one word--brotherhood. It is important, the coach would say, that we know it in any game in which we have teammates, it is important that we know it in our relationships with others; it is important that we know it in the way that we look at people in every circumstance of our lives.

We are brothers and sisters. We are one. If we want to accomplish something great in our lives, we will remember that giving up self and accepting others as important is the way to make better people. Jesus reminds us that titles of honor are not that important. What matters is that we are all in this world together, and if we want to make this world any better, we will consider ourselves as servants.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, we like personal praise and honor from others, but help us remember what Your Son taught concerning what is really important--that we must work at giving up our personal egos and we must make ourselves servants of one another. Be with us, we pray.

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: A winning team calls for commitment from each member to give up self to achieve a goal.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(session: approximately 59 minutes)
1. What scene during this session of the movie is most striking? Why?
2. In the Gospel, Jesus says that we should not call anyone "Rabbi," "teacher," "master" or "father." What is the principal message contained here?
3. In your opinion, have most Christians learned the lesson of humility?
4. What should a young person do if a father or mother shows physical abuse to them?
5. In our community, what is the best way to show brotherhood and to be a servant?
6. In our school, what is the best way to show brotherhood and to be a servant?
7. In our family, what is the best way to show brotherhood and to be a servant?
8. Scene analysis: the visit to the VA Hospital. What did Coach Ladouceur want to accomplish by this visit?
9. Scene analysis: in your opinion, what was most impressive about the game with Long Beach Poly?
10. Analysis: In your opinion, how often do people turn down lucrative offers in order to accomplish higher goals?
11. Scene analysis: What is the significance of Chris Ryan's action at the end of the last game of the season?
12. What does the movie "When the Game Stands Tall" teach young people?