may 25

May 25
[media presentation below] GospelThink Sunday, May 25, Sixth Sunday of Easter JOHN 14:23-29 The Holy Spirit Teaches Prayerthoughts a. The Holy Spirit, the Advocate, will teach us everything. Do I pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit in the difficult areas of my life? b. The Holy Spirit reminds us of everything the Lord taught. What are the directives of Jesus that are most difficult for me? c. Perhaps primary among the virtues of the Christian is the whole thought of peace. Am I truly a peaceful person? Does anger overcome me too often? d. The Lord refers to how the world gives peace. What does that mean for me? e. The Lord tells us not to let our hearts be troubled. What troubles me most right now? f. The Lord is looking for the apostles to be happy about his return to the Father. What are my feelings about my own death? g. My prayerthoughts… Today I will read chapter 15 of the Acts of the Apostles and write an important thought from it. Some Thoughts on the Liturgy THE PEACE THAT JESUS GIVES + In the Gospel today, Jesus is teaching his Apostles for the last time before his death - his teaching is full of different themes - and one of them is quite apropos for the world today—the theme of peace, something our world truly desires, but can’t seem to completely bring about - Jesus words are these: “Peace” is my farewell to you, my peace is my gift to you. I do not give it as the world gives peace. - perhaps some thoughts about peace are in order + I have always been impressed with the Mennonite religion and their stand on nonviolence - a couple years ago the General Board of their Church released a statement on violence: - the Board said that one of the most basic issues in the Bible is how one deals with evil, and with violence in particular - their statement: “We believe that God's love is greater than God's wrath. No violence committed against us, or those we love, justifies our committing violence in return. No suffering, not even death, can separate us from the love of God. Jesus calls us not to resist evil with violence, to forgive rather than to seek revenge, and to be peacemakers.” (“’And No One Shall Make Them Afraid’ (Zeph 3:12-13), Mennonite Statement on Violence.”) + On October 2, 2006, a reform of the Mennonite Church known as the Amish of Lancaster County, PA, had occasion to remember their teachings on being peacemakers—some of you may remember it from the news - on that day a non-Mennonite gunman entered a Mennonite schoolhouse and systematically killed five Amish children, wounded a number of others, and then killed himself - the reaction of the Amish community was incredible: - an Amish spokesperson gave this statement: “I don't think there's anybody here that wants to do anything but forgive and not only reach out to those who have suffered a loss but to reach out to the family of the man who committed these acts.” - they indeed reached out to that family: they comforted them only hours after the shooting and extended forgiveness to them - in fact, they set up a charitable fund for the family of the killer + The Amish strive to practice the peace that Jesus gives - and it should be the practice of every Christian - the peace that Jesus gives is completely different from the way the world gives peace - whatever peace would mean, the way the world practices peace would be shown by giving in to no one - “giving in” would mean admitting some kind of weakness, and it can never be the stress of the world + And what would Jesus’ peace involve? - first and foremost, at the very center of Christ’s peace—as it is with every “doctrine” of Jesus—is the doctrine of love and forgiveness - somehow the way Christians work and live must take into consideration the fact that love must happen - the implication is that we will not give into revenge or retaliation, no matter what the wrong, and we will respond with Christian love to those who wrong us + We live in a country who have defined “peace” in a certain way - there is not much we can do about that, even if we are inclined to - but the really important thing for our own spiritual lives is that we do what we can—that is to keep praying for peace, and keep trying to find peace in our day-to-day living + There was a person by the name of Dave Garroway on the morning TV show called “Today” several years ago who always closed the show by holding his hand up, and saying “Peace” - his death was anything but peaceful - he took his own life after several months of severe depression - there is no peace in the world because by ourselves, we cannot bring about peace - we need the help of God, and that calls for love and forgiveness.


MEDIA PRESENTATION Movie: "Skyscraper" -- final session TRUE LOVE IN A FAMILY

The Gospel

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' birth is extremely important. In your opinion, do the people of the world consider Jesus' 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? .