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November 13

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Wednesday, November 13

LUKE 17:11-19

One of the cured lepers said, “Thank You.”

Prayerthoughts
a. In Jesus’ day, leprosy was a disease for which there was no cure. There are a number of instances like leprosy in our world. How do I treat those who are handicapped in some way?

b. One of my prayers should be the idea of my own sinfulness, saying “Have pity on me.” Do I reflect on my sinfulness enough (but not too much)?

c. Jesus instructs the lepers to show themselves to the priests, which was the law of the Israelites. Do I show sufficient respect for the law of our country and our Church?

d. Maybe the most important word in this story is the word “realize.” Have I made an effort to continually realize the importance of what the Lord has done for me?

e. The central thought for the passage is the thought of thankfulness. Do I spend enough time thanking the Lord for those things that I realize?

f. In the passage, it is a Samaritan, another “religion” who gives thanks. Do I think of other religions as men and women seeking their salvation through their understanding of God?

g. The leper’s faith led him to salvation. Do I show my faith often enough to others?

h. My prayerthoughts…

Today I will write a prayer of thanks to God and thank someone
among my acquaintances.

Some Thoughts on the Ligurgy

CONCERNING OUR SALVATION

+ In both readings, the writers speak of salvation:

- 1^st: we should be as loyal as possible to the government and a good secular life, but at the same time remember that salvation is the important thing

- 2^nd: the cure of the lepers was the occasion of the Samaritan leper’s salvation

- so that the miracle is incidental

- what is important is salvation

+ That salvation has a couple thoughts that come out in the readings and are good to mention and dwell on just a little:

1 – from the first reading, that which brought salvation about was the kindness and generous love of God

- standing to reason then that kindness and love of God should be very much part of our saved lives

- leading to the logical question for us: how much a part of our lives does kindness and true love of God play?

- the love of God is almost an automatic in our spiritual lives; kindness is not, and probably something to be worked on

2 – from the Gospel, that which brought salvation about for the leper was a recognition of God’s action in his life

- obvious conclusion for us: do we spend enough time taking the time to study the Lord’s action in our lives, how he has really loved us, what he has done for us, how things have worked out for us

3 – from the Gospel story, there were nine others who do not recognize God’s action in their lives, but the Samaritan did and there was no judgment of others on his part

- he was concerned about what he had to do—period

- that’s a tremendous lesson in itself: when we do something right and we know that it is right, we shouldn’t be thinking about others in judgment of them

4 – again from the Gospel story, our salvation is tied up with the whole concept of thanksgiving

- what the fact of salvation should lead us to naturally is that we must thank God constantly

He fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him

- allowing thankfulness to become second nature to us

- to live is to thank God

+ You and I are on our way to eternal life

- such is the conclusion to the fact of salvation, and the result of the fact is that we are actively involved in establishing the spiritual life

- it is something to be thankful for, and something that leads us to further desire God’s grace.

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Song: "Something Just Like This" -- The Chainsmokers featuring Coldplay

SOMEBODY WE CAN TURN TO

The Gospel

LUKE 23:39-43

At Jesus’ crucifixion, one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us.” The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, “Have you no fear of God for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied to him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

Gospelthink: Even on the cross, Jesus was thinking of those who repented. Have I sufficiently expressed my sorrow for the sins I have committed?

The lady in the relationship says, “Where d’you wanna go? How much you wanna risk? And the man in the relationship sings: “I’m not looking for somebody with superhuman gifts, some superhero, some fairytale bliss, just something I can turn to, somebody I can kiss. I want something just like this."

What do we turn to in life? What are the rock solid things that we can trust. Sometimes it is a friend such as in the song "Something Just Like This," but as they sing, it has to be something that is real—not just a fairy tale or something that is false or fake. In the world of human relationships, it is often another person. In the spiritual world, it is the whole thought of God and the presence of God in our lives. The man who was crucified with Jesus knew that his life had not been a very good one. He had followed the wrong guide, and so he turned to the one person in his life that was to bring him happiness.

The important thing, perhaps, is that we have that Someone or something that is rock solid, that is something we can turn to, somebody that we can miss. We need the help of others or Other—capital O—to make it in the world that we live in. We are not meant to be alone, although sometimes we have to be alone with ourselves to do some serious thinking.

But the point is a personal one: who or what should we turn to to help us as we go through our lives. Christians have chosen to accept Jesus as the guide, the same one that the condemned man turned to on Calvary's hill. Christians will say that they have turned to Jesus with their words and even actions as they go to Mass, but the question is deeper. Has the Christian made Jesus the person that they honestly turn to as their sole resource in life?

You and I are Christian. We say we follow the Lord. We must look at the intensity of the good thief on Calvary, and ask ourselves whether we have the same strong desire to accept the Lord as he did.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, we have placed our trust in you as our guide. You are the person that we turn to in times of trouble and despair. Give us the grace to always make you the guide that we need in our lives. Be with us, we pray.

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GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: God must be the guide of our lives.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. The presenter may want to explain the "Kingdom of Jesus." (See Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, numbers 543-556).
2. What are the worst crimes that are committed in our world? Is the death penalty for condemned people a good way of preventing them? Yes or no and why?
3. Who or what do most people choose as a guide in their lives?
4. Do you agree with the meditation when it says that we are not meant to be alone? Yes or no and why?
5. Do you think that most Christians have chosen Jesus completely in their lives?
6. In your opinion, what does it mean to have a strong desire to follow Jesus?
7. What does the song "Something Just Like This" teach young people?