May 30

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Friday, May 30, Easter Weekday

JOHN 16:20-23

Pain and Joy

Prayerthoughts

a. In John’s Gospel, Jesus often talks about “the world,” as opposed to the “spiritual life.” What elements of “the world” have I allowed to hurt my spiritual life in some way?

b. Jesus tells his disciples that there will be pain in their lives, but eventually it will turn to joy. What are the most difficult pains that I have suffered? How were they resolved?

c. The Lord predicts that there will be joy in his disciples’ lives. What are the greatest joys in my life? A prayer of thanksgiving will be in order.

d. Jesus promises that “no one will take your joy away,” meaning ultimately eternal life with God. Is my faith as strong as it should be? In what area can I do better?

e. In my prayer of petition, do I always include the possibility that God could want another answer than the one I want?

f. My prayerthoughts…

Today I will read the Acts of the Apostles, chapter 18 and write an important thought.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

LIVING THE WORD OF GOD

+ In the first reading, Paul is on the so-called Second Missionary journey—

- we don’t know exactly how many there were

- here Paul is in Corinth, with whose people he will have some difficulty later, writing them letters which we know as First and Second Corinthians

- during his time there, he had a vision or an assurance of some type with important words:

- if you are speaking the word of God, do not be afraid, I am with you

- and no one will attack or harm you

- Paul did continue to speak the word of God, of course

+ The vision or assurance was only temporarily correct

- there were 1½ years of quiet

- even after that time, there was peace every now and then

- for example, the whole Gallio incident in Acts, and even one of Paul’s persecutors was turned on by the Gentile crowd—Sosthenes

- it was exactly what Jesus promised in the Gospel

- joy and peace, mixed in with some persecution:

You will grieve, but your grief will become joy.

+ For our reflection as specifically people striving to be more spiritual, we can look at the idea of speaking the word of God:

“Go on speaking…”

- not in the same way Paul did obviously

- but define it differently

- perhaps understanding “speaking” as the idea of living the word of God, that is, living as truly spiritual people

- so that the directive that we would hear is:

- if you are really trying to live the word of God, do not be afraid, I am with you

- and no one will attack or harm you

- true as that is—no person will attack or harm us, especially given our country and way of living

- living the word will bring some time of persecution and some time of peace

- again, not the same type of persecution as Paul received, but

- the “persecution” for us may come in the form of our own human natures—the way we feel, what we want, and not feeling as good about life as we think we should, the desire to give up, give in to despair, etc.

+ The road to a truly spiritual life is not easy

- there will be the problems of human nature,

- but there also will be the joy here and hereafter.

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Song: "Cool for the Summer" -- Demi Lovato

SCARED FOR THE RIGHT REASON

LUKE 12:4-5

[Jesus said:] "I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body but after that can do no more. I shall show you whom to fear. Be afraid of the one who after killing has the power to cast into Gehenna; yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one."

Gospelthink: You must be afraid of people who cause you to do evil things. How do I address the evil that I see around me?

"Tell me what you want, what you like. It's okay. I'm a little curious too. Tell me if it's wrong, if it's right. I don't care. I can keep a secret. Can you? Got my mind on your body, and your body on my mind. Don't tell your mother. Kiss one another, die for each other. We're cool for the summer. Don't be scared ‘cause I'm your body type, just something that we wanna try, ‘cause you and I—we’re cool for the summer."

Jesus spoke about fear often in his speech because he knew that he disturbed some people with his actions, words and ideas. He told them not to fear because he had the words that would help them in the long run. In at least one place in Scripture, however, he tells the disciples that fear is an appropriate thought when they may not be following the law of God. He tells them to fear the one who can send them into hell, namely God.

Demi Lovato sings of a lady in a relationship who wants to enjoy a physical relationship in her song "Cool for the Summer." In the process, she tells her friend that they should not be afraid--"scared"--to pursue the relationship because it would be something that they both would like. From the song, however, it seems that the man in the relationship is hesitating to make this strong a commitment. Perhaps he realizes that he is not quite ready and indeed he should be afraid because it may be too soon.

What we like and what we should have are often too entirely different things. Jesus points out to the people of his time that they must fear the being that can throw them into Gehenna, that is, hell. They must fear the person who can kill the soul, and condemn it forever. It is an important lesson for us as well. The thought goes far beyond what feels good in a romantic relationship. If we are Christian in our thinking, we must be aware that what we should do at times must be a stronger desire than what we want or like.

The temporary pleasure of a moment may be an emotion that we want to experience, but if it is one that "kills the soul" instead of enhancing the relationship, then it must be avoided.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, we our emotional people, and often desire a good feeling in life. Give us the grace to know the difference between what feels good and what we should be doing. Be with us, we pray.

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: Perhaps we should be "scared" about what we want or like because it may not be what we should have.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. What are the most "fearful" things in the world? Why?
2. What is the meaning of the "fear of God" which is part of Christian thought?
3. The lady in the song is "curious" as is the man in the relationship. In young love, people must be curious because they do not know each other. How long does it take to really know another person?
4. Text analysis: "Don't tell your mother." Why not?
5. Text analysis: "Cool for the Summer." What is the meaning of the phrase?
6. Spiritual theologians remind us that God really does not send people to hell, but we do it to ourselves. Do you believe that most Christians understand this? Yes or no and why?
7. Many of the songs of our day talk or hint at a "physical relationship." Does this have any effect on the young people who listen to the songs?
8. What is meaning of the phrase "kill the soul"?
9. What does the song "Cool for the Summer" teach young people today?