November 14

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Thursday, November 14

LUKE 17:20-25
How are you preparing for the end of the world?

Prayerthoughts
a. With the Pharisees, we sometimes wonder when the end of the world will come. The Lord gives no answer because it is not important. What is the most important thing that I do with my life during my time now?

b. The Kingdom is growing within and around us: we are part of the Kingdom right now. In what ways do I sense that the Kingdom is among us?

c. There are times in our world when things are not going well and we long for an answer such as the coming of the end of the world. I must learn to be more positive in my approach even when things are not good, always turning to God in prayer.

d. We believe that the Lord will indeed come either at the end of earth's time or at the end of our lives. If the Lord would come right now, am I properly prepared?

e. The Lord knows that he will suffer greatly and people will reject him. It certainly happened in his lifetime, and he continues to suffer in the peoples who suffer in our world. It is a good time to pray for those in our world who are suffering from persecution and hatred.

f. My prayerthoughts...

Today, I will read the letter to Philemon

and write an important thought from it.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

ACCEPTING OTHERS

+ Human beings, even in Jesus’ time, have a tendency to want to know what the future will bring

- it might not be good for us to know, but that doesn’t diminish the desire

- especially we want to know the future where we are concerned

- and so the Pharisees here—as they listen to Jesus talk of the Kingdom of God, something that concerns them as religious leaders—they want to know when the Kingdom of God will come

- and Jesus’ response is basically critical of the Pharisees

- they did not recognize what Jesus was doing

- and so he has to tell them that he—Jesus—is bringing about that Kingdom here and now

- then Jesus goes on to talk of eschatology, the end times, with some insights that will come out in these daily Gospel readings in the next couple of days

+ I believe a good fact to meditate on for a truly spiritual person from this reading is the fact that the Kingdom of God is already in our midst

- not only true for first century Palestine

- but true for all of us as well right now

- the Lord is alive and well in our world:

- we should both accept it and allow it to do something to us

- and therefore, there are a number of conclusions about the way we should live as spiritual people

+ One of the ways is seen in our attitude toward others, as is so often the case in these readings

- mainly because in Jesus’ doctrine of the Kingdom of God, others are immensely important, no matter how we understand others

- a specific instance is given in the very short Pauline letter to Philemon

- saying to Philemon that as Christians we are called to treat everyone as brothers and sisters

- specifically Onesimus who was Philemon’s slave should be treated as a brother

- a case could even be made here that Paul was attacking the accepted legitimate institution at that time of slavery

- but whether he was or not, the idea of the importance of others is paramount in Paul’s mind

- and as we consider it, paramount in the Kingdom of God

+ Therefore, as followers of Jesus, part of our constant meditation must revolve around how we treat the other people in our lives, especially those close to us

- the Kingdom of God is in our midst and as believers in that Kingdom, our attitude toward others should reflect it.

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Song: "Lose Control” (Teddy Swims)

EARLY ROMANTIC FEELINGS

The Gospel

JOHN 20:16-18

After Jesus had appeared to Mary of Magdala after they had risen from the dead, “Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’ She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, ‘Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

Gospelthink: Jesus tells Mary of Magdala that he must give others his time. Do I take time to greet everyone?

“Something’s got a hold of me lately, no, I don’t know myself anymore, feels like the walls are all closing in and the devil’s knocking at my door. Outta my mind, how many times did I tell you I’m no good at being alone? It’s taking a toll on me, trying my best to keep from tearing the skin off my bones. Don’t you know I lose control when you’re not next to me. I’m falling apart right in front of you. You’re breaking my heart. You make a mess of me.”

There are a couple places in Scripture where Jesus tells someone not to stay physically close to him after a healing encounter. One of them is after his resurrection. Mary Magdalene or Mary of Magdala as John the evangelist calls her, after going to the tomb and finding it empty, ran to tell the apostles Peter and the apostle closest to Jesus. When they left after being baffled by the empty tomb, Mary stayed behind quietly weeping. When Jesus appeared to her, she wanted to stay with him, but Jesus tells her that she should go do the work of announcing his presence.

In the love relationships of today, the idea of “holding on” to the other in the relationship is a must after a permanent commitment is made. But it can be problematic if the love relationship is just beginning. Relationships that are only beginning are meant to be times to discover possible partners. When it becomes a time of “stalking” another, or “hanging on” to the other because of a desire to make it permanent too soon, it can be detrimental to the growth of both parties.

Teddy Swims seems to be singing of the latter case in his song “Lose Control.” The man in the relationship has begun the relationship and he has quickly determined that he wants the relationship to last. But it seems that the other partner is not as determined as he thinks the partner should be. And it seems to have a disastrous effect on him.

Early romantic relationships are difficult, and often really hurtful because feelings are fickle. The caring person must be aware of the feelings of people in early relationships and be willing to help if necessary. And if we are involved in an early romantic relationship, we must remember to respect the feelings of the other partner no matter how we may feel.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, it is a difficult time in our lives when we are beginning to be romantically involved with someone. Give me the grace to understand my feelings and the feelings of those involved in relationships. Be with me, I pray.

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: In an early relationship, we must watch that we do not become too dependent on the other.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. What does the song "Lose Control" teach young people?

2. In John’s Gospel, Mary is the first person to recognize Jesus. In today’s world, do people “recognize” the importance of God in their lives? Yes or no and why?

3. What is the most important indication that a couple should enter a permanent relationship?

4. What should a person do if he/she feels that the other is “holding on” too soon?

5. In your opinion, when should couples begin to date?

6. What is the most important thing to discover in early relationships?

7. In your opinion, what is the most difficult thing to learn as one tries to grow in love relationships?