may 25

May 25
[media presentation below] GospelThink Monday, May 25, Mary, Mother of the Church JOHN 19:25-34 Mary was present at Jesus’s death. Prayerthoughts a. One of the ways of deeper spirituality is to picture myself with Mary and the two other Mary’s beneath the cross of Jesus, trying to think what I would think in that circumstance. b. Catholics, and some other Christians, have a devotion to Mary, the Mother of Jesus, as we should. Have I tried to include the example of Mary in my spiritual thinking enough? c. In particular, in general, have I “suffered” well when I had some sickness or sorrow? d. How should I act in the face of some suffering? e. Of course, the major sorrow that I will have is my own death. What is the best way for me to prepare for that moment? f. The Sabbath day was the Passover, one of the most important feast days in the Jewish calendar. Do I treat my “Sabbath,” usually Sunday, as a “sacred” day? g. They broke the legs of the criminals. Many times cruelty is described “lightly” in the Scriptures. I should never excuse any “cruelty” that I show toward others? h. When the soldier thrust the lance into Jesus, blood and water flowed out. In John the evangelist’s theology, “blood” stood for the Eucharist, and “water” stood for Baptism, that is my redemption came from Jesus. Am I thankful enough for what Jesus has accomplished for me? i. John the evangelist speaks of telling the “truth.” Do I live as if I truly believe? j. My prayerthoughts… Today I will read Genesis 3:9-15 and write an important thought from it. +++++ Some Thoughts on the Liturgy [homily of September 15] MARY, OUR LADY OF SORROWS +The liturgy uses a familiar reference to the Blessed Virgin - Jesus as he suffers thus making Mary Our Lady of Sorrows - is giving Mary to John as Mother, interpreted by the Church as Jesus giving Mary to all of us as Mother + Quite naturally, we are drawn into what in the Church is called “Mariology” or the “Theology of Mary” - which is based on the fact that Mary is the Mother of the Incarnate Word of God + What should it mean for us? - a mother will be someone who both helps a child and acts as a perfect example for the child - two things for us to consider there + First, Mary helps us - the Church has believed from early on that Mary will intercede for us, much the same way that Mary interceded for the wedding couple at Cana in John’s Gospel - on behalf of the couple, asking her Son to relieve their distress, and then one of the ten most important lines in Scripture, I believe: saying to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you” - Mary will help us - saying to us to follow the directives that Jesus gives us - we don’t know how, but our faith tells us that what we ask of God will have Mary’s endorsement + Secondly, Mary serves as a perfect example for us as we live our Christian lives on earth - she recognizes what God wants of her, and in her famous words at the Annunciation, understands that she is called by God —“Let it be done according to God’s word,” – yes, I will do it - and she followed through with her “yes” - once she had said that she would follow what God wanted of her - without knowing what that meant, she followed through being present for her Son in everything - a lesson for all of us when we say “yes” to our faith, no matter what happens + Mary is truly our Mother as well as Our Lady of Sorrows.


MEDIA PRESENTATION

The Gospel

LUKE 2:1-7

LUKE 2:1-7

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Gospelthink: This is the way I began my life on earth--simple and poor. As I live my life, is it clear that I have chosen to live as Jesus did?

Will Sawyer, the wounded veteran was hired by the security company whose job was to insure that the world's largest building The Pearl have the highest security. Unknown to Sawyer, through insider contacts, the building was set on fire by an evil gang in search of the owner's money. Sawyer had brought his family with him for the occasion, his wife and two children, who were truly the love of Sawyer's life. The love of the family was evident throughout the movie, even as they were caught in the fire that eventually would destroy the building. One can argue, as many critics of the movie did, that the accomplishments of Sawyer were too fantastic to be true, but the one thought that dominates all of the action was the fact that this family had a love for each other that was real. It is the guide for the whole movie.

No matter how we study the beginning of the family of Joseph, Mary and Jesus, it is a study of love. Even when circumstances were not the best, love was no doubt the glue that kept the family together. At the very beginning of their family, they had to travel to a different land, choose less than adequate lodging, and build a make-shift home for a new-born child. One can only imagine the problems that surrounded the loving family, and one can easily surmise that the only way the family could remain together was through their love for each other.

One cannot easily define love in a family. About the only thing that can be done is to study the actions that are involved in the family and surmise from them what the love is. Jesus was the human son of Mary and Joseph. It became clear that love was present by the actions which described how the family reacted to one another and to the environment in which they lived.

It was clear from the beginning of the movie "Skyscraper," that the love within the Sawyer family was real and sincere. It was especially evident between the husband and wife, Will and Sarah. They of course did not know anything of the adventure that they would experience, but one is certain from their actions that no matter what their experience might be, their love would remain strong.

The example of love in the Sawyer family may be exaggerated because of the unusual situation of the movie itself. But it is a lesson about family love that every family should study carefully and put its lesson into their own situations.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, your Son began his life on earth in love, giving him the necessary foundation for his later life of ministry. Help us learn the lesson of the Holy Family, and foster true love in our families and lives right now. Be with us, we pray.

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GUIDELINES FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: The most valuable love in our world should be the love of a family.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(session: approximately 52 minutes)
1. What scene during this session of the movie is most striking? Why?
2. What does the movie "Skyscraper" teach young people?
3. There are some difficulties with the information that Luke gives us in the Gospel, but the idea is that the date of Jesus's birth is extremely important. In your opinion, do the people of the world consider Jesus's birth to be an important religious event? Yes or no and why?
4. Obviously, commercialism has taken over the Christmas event. What is the best way to celebrate Christmas in a more religious manner?
5. What is the greatest challenge that young families must face today?
6. What do you consider to be the most significant "love actions" in the Holy Family?
7. In your opinion, do most families show truly significant love? Yes or no and why?
8. What is the most important sign of love in a family? .