May 12

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Monday, May 12, Easter Weekday

JOHN 10:1-10

I am your good shepherd.

Prayerthoughts
a. In many ways I am a shepherd to others. That is, others follow me in one way or another. What virtue in my life do I desire to have others follow?

b. The sheep recognize the voice of the shepherd, and follow him/her. Am I paying attention to the voice of the Lord enough, that is, in how the Lord talks to me in the Scriptures?

c. The shepherd walks ahead of the sheep, and therefore is a true guide. Who or what have I allowed to be my guide in the past?

d. Those past guides are strangers and using the symbolism of the Gospel, I should "run away" from them. As I study my past, perhaps I should take some time to think of how I have given into them, and ask for forgiveness. (This is the task of the meditation.)

e. Jesus is our "gate." Am I trying to lead my life in such a way that Jesus can always be the means to make my life better?

f. Jesus wants me to have "life more abundantly." What is the meaning of the Lord's words?

g. My prayerthoughts...

Today, I will carry out letter d.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

JESUS IS BOTH THE SHEEP’S GATE AND THE SHEPHERD

+ The image of the shepherd in John’s Gospel

- is a double image of Jesus to us

1 – the gate, through whom we enter

2 – the shepherd who leads us

+ Both images are important and profitable to study as we develop our spiritual lives

1 – the gate

- we must enter life through Jesus

- meaning: Jesus’ thoughts and words and actions are the means whereby we “attack” the world

- our line of work must be accomplished in light of Jesus’ life

- always with conversation with Jesus

- calling on his Holy Spirit in every decision that we make

- practically, it means:

a) time spent with Jesus’ words, especially in the Gospels

b) time spent with Jesus—period—time spent with Jesus determining whether I am trying to put Jesus’ life and meaning into the way I behave

- and also time weighing the things that happen in our lives, even as we are trying to place Jesus’ life into ours, and determining exactly what Jesus, that is, God, is saying to us as they happen

2 – the shepherd

- probably the most common image given to Jesus, and especially here in chapter 10 of John’s Gospel

- the image has many nuances, but two stand out perhaps

a) we are called to recognize his voice

- that is, for us, to recognize the voice of conscience

- to do the right thing

- honestly trying to carry through with what should be, by following the moral directives of Jesus

- determining what is God’s thought so that I do not interfere with it—following the Apostle Peter in the first reading

b) the shepherd should lead us to unity—“one flock and one shepherd”

- not only working for unity among Christians and among all peoples

- but working for unity among ourselves

- really wanting to be open to one another, not tearing others down, not hurting them in any way

- the opposite of what Jesus stood for may very well be phrased “to work for separation”

+ Chapter 10 of John’s Gospel gives us two wonderful images, both of which are well worth meditating on.

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Song: "Heathens" -- Twenty-One Pilots

CRIMINALS OR TRUE FRIENDS

The Gospel

JOHN 2:23-25

While Jesus was in Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, many began to believe in his name when they saw the signs he was doing. But Jesus would not trust himself to them because he knew them all, and did not need anyone to testify about human nature. He himself understood it well.

Gospelthink: I understand human nature. Therefore I understand you. Do I open up to the Lord in prayer with my deepest thoughts?

The song speaks of the fact that there are people in the world who are mixed up for some reason, and because of that, we must all be careful of people, even those whom we think we know well. "All my friends are heathens;" Twenty One Pilots sings, "Take it slow." They sing of people who were loved and now are criminals. And when it comes to other people, their advice is to watch out.

Perhaps one of the most interesting lines of all of Scripture concerning our human nature is given in John's Gospel: Jesus knew human nature. There were many people who said complimentary things to him because of the abilities that he had, many who thought highly of him, telling him, no doubt how much they admired him. He also probably had quite a following around him besides his Apostles whenever he spoke. They even told him that they believed in him completely.

Jesus listened to them, but he also knew that human emotions are fickle. He knew human nature. He knew that there were people who were out to impress him or make him feel good, and then be completely different when he was not around or with a crowd of people who did not like what he was doing. Unfortunately, as Jesus attested to, human nature is that way.

In Twenty One Pilots interesting song "Heathens" the same message seems to be present. Influenced strongly by the movie that inspired the song, namely "Suicide Squad," people are presented as possibly good or bad depending on the circumstances. "Heathens" probably are the people in the writer's acquaintance, and he does not know how to describe them well. Some are criminals, some may be okay. But human nature being what it is, his advice is to be careful. "Watch out" he says as he describes other people.

Honestly, It may not be bad advice. Yes, it sounds like a rather pessimistic way of looking at other human beings, but as Jesus himself said, human nature has a tendency to be a little inconsistent. So, in terms of Jesus' primary directive to "love," we definitely must be aware that we should consider every person "lovable." And we must always be very careful as we choose our friends.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, Your Son gave us the directive to love one another, and it is something that we always strive to do. But help us be careful as we try to be friends with the people that we love. Be with us, we pray.

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: We do not know the backgrounds of people, and therefore we must be careful of others, even as we want to help them.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. What do you think John the evangelist means when he says that people began to "believe in [Jesus'] name"?
2. Text analysis: "trust himself to them." What is the meaning of the phrase?
3. What most of all must be corrected about human nature? Why?
4. Why is it a true statement that human emotions are "fickle"?
5. Why do our early years have such an effect on our later lives?
6. What do you think is the meaning of the fact that we should choose our friends carefully?
7. Do you think that every one is "lovable"? Yes or no and why?
8. What does the song "Heathens" teach young people?