TGIMMjack2

November 10
[media presentation below] GospelThink Monday, November 10 LUKE 17:1-6 Sin, Forgiveness and Faith Prayerthoughts a. Jesus says that that which causes sin will inevitably occur. I must remember that I am not a lesser person just because I am tempted to do what is wrong, I should take the time to thank the Lord for my humanity even though I may be tempted. b. Jesus reminds me that I should never be the occasion of a sin for another. I have no doubt caused others to sin in some way—what I said, what I did, or the like. Take the time right now to ask forgiveness for those times. c. As he often does, Jesus uses exaggeration to get across a point. Here the point is that our bad behavior should not influence another, especially those younger than us, in a bad way. In what ways have I been scandalous toward some other people, especially my family? d. When it comes to “rebuking” another, I have to be absolutely certain of my own good behavior in that area. Since I am hardly ever absolutely certain, perhaps I should leave “rebuking” another to someone else, and I should take the time to pray for him/her. e. “Seven” is one of the numbers of Scripture that carries with it the thought of “infinitely many” times. Forgiveness is that important. Jesus using here a phrase that he uses so often—forgive another. Make the resolution right now to forgive the people I meet today, no matter what happens. f. Jesus reminds us that we must be people of faith. We might take the time to make an act of faith right now. g. My prayerthoughts… Today, I will read Wisdom 1:1-7 and write an important thought from it.
Some Thoughts on the Liturgy INTEGRITY OF HEART + The first reading for this week will be taken from the Hebrew Scriptures’ Book of Wisdom - the book was written by an author that we do not know, and was probably written about a hundred years before Jesus came to earth - its purpose was to motivate the Hebrew people to continue to love God even though they had seen suffering - the author uses a phrase at the very beginning of the book that describes what each of us should do: “seek the Lord in integrity of heart” - the phrase can mean a number of things, but in terms of the Gospel today, there are a number of considerations + 1 – A person seeking the Lord in integrity of heart will not scandalize - not only scandals involving children, but scandals in general - Jesus had in mind people who were deliberately leading others away from the Christian message - our possible involvement in scandal is not as evil as that - our involvement would be in the area of our words and actions scandalizing others + 2 – A person seeking the Lord in integrity of heart must include the thought of forgiveness - one of the hallmarks of Christianity - Christian people ought to be people who are able to forgive over and over again - of course, we are all aware of just how difficult this admonition is - we have a tendency to hold grudges - and holding grudges and forgiveness cannot be together + 3 – A person seeking the Lord in integrity of heart will be a person of faith - faith that enables miraculous things to happen - Jesus calls us to let faith be a true guide - faith that in effect says—I believe completely in what Jesus has said - and thus I will follow it with all my heart and soul - this is also not easy because we are basing our whole lives on something that we have not proven, namely something that we simply believe is true - we could be wrong, but we follow the belief system completely + One of the directives we ought to think about is what it means to seek the Lord in integrity of heart.

MEDIA PRESENTATION Movie: "Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit" -- final session PATRIOT OR TERRORIST

The Gospel

MATTHEW 26:50b-53

Then stepping forward they laid hands on Jesus and arrested him. And behold, one of those who accompanied Jesus put his hand to his sword, drew it, and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its sheath, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot call upon my Father and he will not provide me at this moment with more than twelve legions of angels?"

Gospelthink: I dislike violence in every form. Do I find myself being very angry at others with no desire for reconciliation?

Having strengthened himself and his resolve to help his country in whatever way he could, Jack Ryan set out to do his job. As a secret CIA operative, he discovered that there were some difficulties with the way one of the investors in his company was manipulating funds. The investor Viktor Cherevin was actually preparing to bring about the downfall of America's superiority in the financial areas of life. In the process, he was working toward disabling America's financial district and killing thousands of people. Jack Ryan with the active involvement of his soon-to-be wife Cathy, his mentor Thomas Harper and CIA team had to try to stop him.

No matter what the circumstances of war and intrigue leading up to war, there will almost always be killing. Unfortunately, war being the way it is, both the good and bad sides of the conflict will be involved in the effects of war. Killing others is one of them. So the question arises for the follower of Jesus Christ, if we must be involved in a serious struggle involving the possibility of life and death, perhaps the only guide is that we should hurt as few people as possible. Putting the thought into a philosophical format, the principal difference between a patriot and a terrorist is the patriot's desire to pursue love of country without unnecessary killing.

Studying the evil people in the modern movies, it seems that their desire is to hurt as many people as possible. So it is with Viktor Cherevin in the movie "Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit." Even though he says at the end of the movie that he did it all for Russia, one wonders whether he really had to try to kill as many people as he had intended to do. It is difficult for a Christian to justify any killing; it is impossible to justify killing for the sake of killing.

We live in extremely difficult times. One wonders how Christianity can fit into the horrors of a world that involves hatred of other countries and the desire to hurt others before they hurt us. Perhaps we have to simply pray on behalf of the leaders of our world, hoping that they will work at bringing peace, and spend our time concentrating on our own little worlds. Placing the words and thoughts of Jesus Christ as a personal guide, we can study our own involvement with others and realize that in every way, we are called to care and love them, all the time--period. We must fight the prejudice that the world teaches us, listening more to the thought of Jesus than the thought of the world.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, in this wonderful world you created we have chosen to ignore your Son's insights at times. Give us the grace to allow His teachings to touch our individual lives a little more than they do now. Be with us, we pray.

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GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: Perhaps the principal difference between a patriot and a terrorist is the patriot's desire to pursue love of country without unnecessary killing.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. What scene during this session of the movie is most striking? Why?
2. Project: the instructor may want to pursue the whole question of a just war and what it consists of. See Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, 2307-2317.
3. In your opinion, was Jesus a pacifist, someone who avoided armed conflict at all costs? Yes or no and why?
4. Even if Jesus were not a pacifist, how do you think he would acted concerning the World Wars that have occurred?
5. It is very difficult to determine how we should act in the face of armed conflict. Besides the one suggested by the meditation--hurt few people--what are some other specifically "Christian" rules?
6. Some terrorists appeal to their religion in order to justify their actions. Do you agree with most scholars that no modern religion would ever justify outright murder? Yes or no and why?
7. In your opinion, is there ever a situation in which someone could "execute" another with no possibility of a trial?
8. What are some other solutions for peace for the nations of our world besides praying for the leaders?
9. In our own personal worlds, what is the most important way to bring about peace?
10. In your opinion, do the Christians of our world try to follow the directives of Jesus Christ? Yes or no and why?
11. The CIA obviously does not want secrets to be shared between couples about to be married because the marriage may not occur. But it places a strain on the young couple. What if any is a possible solution?
12. Both Viktor and Aleksandr are "church goers" in the movie, and yet are plotting to kill thousands of people. In your opinion, why did they not see any contradiction in what they were doing?
13. Should Harper have involved Cathy Muller in the dangerous plan? Why or why not?
14. Scene analysis: It seemed that the Church was involved in passing information about the future evil mission of Cherevin. Do you believe that Churches are involved in some of the evil of the world? Yes or no and why?
15. Scene analysis: Cherevin kills his assistant because his assistant spoke up to him about his problems. His problems were "vodka, vanity and women." Discuss the principal problem of powerful people.
16. Dialogue analysis: After Jack tells Cathy that he chose the life of the CIA, Cathy tells Jack that she picked him. In your opinion, should Cathy have married Jack Ryan? Yes or no and why?
17. What does the movie "Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit" teach young people?