November 11

    [media presentation below]

GospelThink

Monday, November 11

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 formulate my own prayer asking for forgiveness for what I have done.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

 

THE SPIRITUAL PERSON MUST HAVE THE TRUE MESSAGE

 

+ In the letter to Titus, the author wants to make sure that the leaders of the Christian assemblies were blameless

           - a very good meditation for bishops and priests, of course

                      - but some good directives for the spiritual person as well

                                 - they are what might be called “basic” requirements—if a person is to grow in the spiritual life, he/she must be blameless, etc., a lover of goodness, and a person who holds fast to the true message

                                            - that idea of the true message is one worth dwelling on

                                                       - especially in terms of the Gospel today, what is the true message of Jesus?

+ 1 – The true message will not allow for scandals

           - 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

                                            - giving others permission—so to speak—not to follow the true directives of the spiritual life

+ 2 – The true message 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 especially in a small community, it takes some very determined effort on our parts to be a truly forgiving person in every circumstance

+ 3 – Part of the true message is that we be people 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

+ Paul tells Titus to hold fast to the true message

           - that is our ideal as well.


 

 

 

 

 

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Song: “Espresso” – Sabrina Carpenter

THAT’S ME: ESPRESSO!



 

The Gospel

LUKE 24:32-35

Then they said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning [within us] while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?” So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the eleven and those with them who were saying, “The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!” Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Gospelthink: The disciples on the road away from Jerusalem came back full of confidence in the Lord. 



"Now, he’s thinking ‘bout me every night:I is it that sweet? I guess so.  Say you can’t sleep; I know that’s me: espresso.  I can’t relate to desperation.  My give a cares are on vacation, and I got this one boy and he won’t stop calling. When they act this way, I know I got ‘em. Too bad your ex con’t do it for ya. Walked in and dream came trued it for ya. Soft skin and I perfumed it for ya. I know I Mountain Dew it for ya.  That morning coffee brewed it for ya. One touch and I brand newed it for ya.  That’s me: espresso.”  [lyrics adjusted]

It finally dawned on the disciples on the way to Emmaus who this Jesus was and what they had to do, moving them to action.  They gave up what they were going to do and went back to Jerusalem, symbolically saying that they “turned around” and were accepting Jesus and his way. They became confident that this Jesus was the one to choose as a guide and follow.  Self-confidence is immensely important as one lives his/her lives.  The disciples on the road to Emmaus gained it as they understood their situation on that Resurrection Day.

 

Sabrina Carpenter talks of self-confidence in her song “Espresso.”  She said of the song: “The song is kind of about seeing femininity as your superpower and embacing the confidence of being that lady.”  She actually used another word for “lady,” the “b” word that symbolizes a certain hostility toward those who would disagree with her.

 

According to our dictionary, self-confidence is a positive attitude and belief in oneself and one’s abilities.  It means accepting and trusting oneself and having a sense of control in one’s life.  It enables one to express one’s knowledge and opinion freely and to face life’s challenges and opportunities.

 

Sabrina Carpenter’s song “Espresso” says that, showing her fiancé what she has done for him, altering the English language somewhat by using nouns as verbs.  It means that she is the espresso and therefore the one totally in charge, able to understand herself in a positive way and see herself as one who is on top of what happens.

 

We are probably not as self-confident as to have our friends say that we are the espresso to the world around us, but it is a necessary virtue to have.  The more confident we become of our own abilities, the more we will find ways to make a relationship work.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, You inspired people to be confident as they believed in Your Son.  Give us the grace to see that we must develop self-confidence in such a way as to function as a complete human being, even as we respect others. Be with us, we pray.

 

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme:
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. What does the song "Espresso" teach young people?  

2. What is most striking about the Emmaus story?

3. Why would the lady in the song show “hostility” toward her fiancé?

4. Why is “self-confidence” necessary in a love situation?

5. Granted that we must have confidence in ourselves, but can we be over-confident? Yes or no and why?

6. What happens in a love situation when one of the couple do not have confidence in herself/himself?   

 

©2007 Capuchin Province of Mid-America
Fr. Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America