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

TRULY FOLLOWING JESUS

+ The closing words of Jesus during this scene in John’s Gospel seem to be out of place in the Scriptures:

- after a significant amount of time of interaction between Jesus and the Apostles

- after a likewise significant amount of time of Jesus instructing the Apostles concerning his kingdom, and the approach to it

- after a friendship that had fostered during that time,

- Jesus says to Peter:

Follow me.

- it would seem that Peter had followed him already

- but as one studies the passage, it becomes clear what John the evangelist and Jesus wanted Peter to understand

+ During Peter’s preparation to lead the Apostles and the new Church, he had denied Jesus

- he had said that he would follow him till the end, and he didn’t

- and so Jesus asks him the three times that most probably correspond to Peter’s denial

- the question itself is important

- not: do you believe that I am the Messiah

- or do you accept the office of chief shepherd even though you will die, a fact reflected in this passage of Scripture as well

- or will you be the example that the early Church will need

- but very simply: do you love, and do you love me

- there are two nuances in the question that should be studied for the Christian:

- 1 – loving implies accepting the doctrine of Jesus and especially what he stood for, namely love, unconditionally

- 2 – and “me” – it also implies a willingness to make Jesus the center of one’s life, which implies a relationship with him in prayer and studying his words

+ Both of these nuances are significant in the following of Jesus

- there must be a real desire on our parts to accept Jesus’ doctrine—unconditionally, that is, especially the difficult parts of it

- doctrines such as love and forgiveness of others, even enemies

- and secondly, there must be an acceptance of Jesus to be the center of our lives, that is, Lord and Savior

- the way Paul did in Rome in the Acts reading

- an acceptance that is shown in a real prayer life and in reading his words in the Gospels

+ Only after we have agreed to accept Jesus’s teachinf and have allowed it to affect our words and actions can we say that we are truly following Jesus as a spiritual person.

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?