May 11

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Monday, May 11, Easter Weekday

JOHN 15:26--16:4a

I am giving you the Spirit who guides you.

Prayerthoughts
a. The Advocate or Holy Spirit has been part of my life. In what area of my life have I seen the Spirit acting the strongest?

b. “You also testify”: the words are spoken to his disciples, but by extension to me. In what way do I “testify” to Jesus?

c. I have not "fallen away" from what the Lord wants, but the chances are that there are some instances in my life where I have not behaved as well as I should. Is that true for me?

d. Jesus tells us that people will be confused when it comes to what He says or means. If I find that I don't understand something, do I seek information from a qualified religious person?

e. My prayerthoughts...

Today, I will read the Acts of the Apostles, chapter 16:11-15, and write an important thought from it.

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Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

OPEN TO LISTEN

+ Both readings speak of being open to listen to the Lord

- in the Act of the Apostles, Paul is on his second missionary journey

- he runs across a woman named Lydia

- and the Lord opened her heart to the message of Paul

- the apostles in the Gospel would eventually be open to listen to the Lord

- Jesus says that the apostles will testify to him—

- that is, they will be open to listen to him

- whereas the people who would persecute them (eventually kill them) were not able to be open to listen

+ Obviously, if we are followers of Jesus, we have to be open to listen to the Lord

- and this liturgy suggests a couple of ways that that might happen:

- 1 - from the Acts of the Apostles, we have to be open to listen to others when they talk of the Lord

- as Lydia and her household were

- if we are willing to study the sincere belief of others, the chances are that we will grow in our faith

- 2 – also from the Acts of the Apostles, our lives have to be in a stance of prayer

- I think that it is significant that Paul and Luke were looking for a place of prayer

- the application for us is that we always should be looking for the opportunity to remain with the Lord

- the Lord must become an active force in our lives

- 3 – from the Gospel, we must realize that the Holy Spirit (the Advocate) is directing the things that are happening in our lives

- and our sincere prayer must be to allow that Spirit to direct the way things should happen

- 4 – also from the Gospel, there must be a certain understanding that suffering must be “listened to” as part of the word of the Lord

- we will not have the personal rejection that the apostles had

- but there is suffering in our lives

- and it is something that must be dealt with and integrated into our lives

- 5 – finally from the Gospel again, the way that we listen is to remember who the Lord was and what he was all about

- that is what we are doing right now and what we do with every celebration of the Mass

- we remember what the Lord has done for us and is doing for us right now

+ Being open to listen to the Lord is part of our calling

- the Lord is speaking to us

- and the believer will always be paying attention to what the Lord says.

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Song: "Whatever It Takes" -- Imagine Dragons

USING OUR TALENTS

The Gospel

JOHN 19:28-30

At his crucifixion, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I thirst.” There was a vessel filled with common wine. So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth. When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, “It is finished.” And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.

Gospelthink: I died for you to give you life. Do I often show my appreciation to the Lord in a prayer of thanksgiving?

"I was born to run; I was born for this. Whip, run me like a racehorse, pull me like a ripcord. Break me down and build me up, I wanna be the slip, word upon your lip, letter that you rip, break me down and build me up. Whatever it takes, ‘cause I love the adrenaline in my veins. I do whatever it takes, ‘cause I love how it feels when I break the chains. Whatever it takes. Always had a fear of being typical."

In John the Evangelist's Gospel, Jesus was in charge of what he did and why he did it. It is evident that John the Evangelist meant to say to the followers of Jesus that even though Jesus was a true man, he was also true God. In John's mind, everything that Jesus did on earth was another proof that Jesus was in charge of anything that happened. Consequently, when Jesus knew that he had accomplished everything that he needed to accomplish here on earth, he could say "It is finished."

We believe, of course, that Jesus redeemed us by his Passion, Death and Resurrection. Theologically, we know that Jesus could have redeemed us in any way that he wanted, but he chose what happened in the course of his life to be the means to do it. It was something that was not at all easy, and something that went far beyond what he needed to do, but he chose to do it while working with the way his Father had designed.

In the song "Whatever It Takes," the group Imagine Dragons say that they will try to do good even if they are thinking differently from others. The man loves the adrenaline in his blood, that is the energy that he has, and he will not think the way that the others will think, that is the "typical" way. He wants to accomplish something and he wants to do it his way.

You and I have certain talents that no one else has in exactly the same way. As Christians, we are called to use those talents the best that we can so that at the end of our lives here on earth, we can say with the Lord that "It is finished." That is, we have accomplished what the Lord wanted us to do. We are therefore called to do whatever it takes to determine the best way to use those talents.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, You have given us certain talents as we live in our world. Give us the grace to develop those talents in such a way that we will always do Your will. Be with us, we pray.

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GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: A leader will do whatever it takes to accomplish something, even if goes beyond what is usually done.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. The use of Scripture was very important to Jesus as he lived here on earth. In your opinion, do most Christians pray with Scripture?
2. In general, what does it take to make our world a better place?
3. From what you know of Scripture give an instance in which Jesus was human, and when he was divine.
4. What is your idea of "redemption"?
5. In your opinion why did Jesus choose to die in order to redeem us?
6.The meditation presumes that people want to do good in their lives. Do you agree with that? Yes or no and why?
7. What do most people want most of all to accomplish while here on earth?
8. What does the song " Whatever It Takes" teach young people?