TGIMMgood

November 15

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Friday, November 15

LUKE 17:26-37
If you lose your life for my sake, you will gain it.

Prayerthoughts
a. Jesus refers to the story of Noah and Lot in the book of Genesis, implying that the people had forgotten God. Do I find myself forgetting God too often throughout the day?

b. Jesus implies that they did not know what was going to happen. In my life, do I make it a priority to try to know what God wants of me?

c. Jesus refers to the suddenness of end of the world (Lot's wife died suddenly). If I knew that my life was ending tomorrow, what should I do today?

d. Is the fact that I am going to die a scary thing for me? In light of my belief, how should I feel?

e. We can get wrapped up in the things of this life without the Lord (“saves” his life) or we can choose to lose our life for the Lord’s sake, that is, give ourselves to the Lord more and more in our living. Do I see evidence in my life that I am choosing correctly?

f. Jesus does not answer the desire of the disciples to know when and where the ending will happen. As vultures, we are merely watching what is happening. I must live my life as though I am always prepared for the ending. Am I doing that well?

g. My prayerthoughts...

Today, I will read the second letter of John and write an
important thought from it.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

ADOPTING THE ATTITUDE OF CHRIST

+ 2^nd and 3^rd John in the Christian Scriptures are both very short letters

- written by the Johannine community to individual churches later in the early Christian era, around 100 AD

- they reflect themes that are contained in the Gospel of John for the most part

- here, apparently a number had left the church community and had given up the teaching of Jesus

- and a little later in the letter (not part of this text), the community denounces those who have left

+ The image of the Christian remaining based in the teaching of Christ is a good one for anyone trying to grow spiritually

- the teaching of Christ is not so much a specific set of teachings

- as it is what Paul called an attitude of Christ

- that is, everything written about Jesus from all points of view—Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, early church compressed into one

- so that the attitude of Christ is not so much some specific statement as it is a measure of acting and thinking that Jesus would do

- therefore, the teaching/attitude of Christ is something that must be worked at

- the reason why pursuing reading the New Testament in a consistent manner is so important

- we have to be influenced, infected, daily by it

+ Part of that attitude is Jesus’ whole approach toward the end times, what we call eschatology

- there are many places in Scripture where Jesus talks of the parousia, the end of the world

- and almost always two ideas will be part of his approach:

- one is preparation, today’s whole thought of Noah and Lot

- the other is the certainty that it will happen

+ One of the best ways to look at the New Testament’s approach to the end of the world, and Jesus’ comments about it through the evangelists

- is to look at our own end of the world, namely our own deaths

- just as we don’t know when the end of the world is, but we know that it is coming for sure,

- so, we don’t know when our deaths will be, but we know that they are coming, and actually have a little better sight of their coming because we know our age and our physical ailments

- and so part of our attitude toward their coming, from the Gospel today is to be prepared because we know that it is imminent

- whether we want it to be or not

+ What that means is that we must be prepared for our own deaths

- and the best preparation is to grow in the attitude of Jesus.

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Song: "Good Time" -- Owl City & Carly Rae Jepsen

IT'S ALWAYS A GOOD TIME

The Gospel

LUKE 15:1-7

The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to him, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." So to them he addressed this parable. What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, 'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance."

Gospelthink: I want you and everyone to be sorry for your sins. Do I ask for forgiveness from the Lord enough?

"Woke up on the right side of the bed. What’s up with this Prince song inside my head? Hands up if you’re down to get down tonight ‘cause it’s always a good time. Slept in all my clothes like I didn’t care, hopped into a cab, take me anywhere. I’m in if you’re down to get down tonight 'cause it’s always a good time. Good morning and good night. I’ll wake up at twilight. It’s gonna be alright. We don’t even have to try: it’s always a good time. Doesn’t matter when: it’s always a good time."

What are the things that make up a good time? What are the things that make us feel good more than anything else? Some people might answer with the pleasure idea—going to a movie or a party or enjoying the company of friends. Some people like the stimulus of learning new things. Some people like quiet time in which nothing is really happening, and they are just relaxing like reading a good book or watching television or spending time praying. There are a number of different answers.

No matter what the answer, according to the song "Good Time" by Owl City and Carly Rae Jepsen, anytime is the occasion for a good time. "It's always a good time," they sing. Jesus seems to agree in the sense that when people can learn to repent, they can have "joy." And if one repents of her/his sinfulness all the time, it stands to reason that such a person can always have a "good time." In other words, in the spiritual realm of things, a "good time" means that we understand the evil of our world, especially the evil that we have done. There is "joy"--feeling good--when we have "repented."

Our understanding of a "good time" in our day-to-day living would do well to have this spiritual element be part of it. There are far too many "good times" that hurt others or hurt ourselves because we think that a "good time" must mean that we satisfy only ourselves, and really do not have to think of anything else. We have a "good time," but it is purely selfish.

If we truly concentrate on developing a life that is concerned about living without sin and the importance of others, our times will indeed be good. We can say that it really "doesn't matter when: it's always a good time."

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, your Son has told us that there will be joy when there is repentance in our lives, and therefore our lives will be happy, and we will experience "good times." Give us the courage to bring about such a life. Be with us, we pray.

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: We can make any situation be a "good time" no matter what the circumstances.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. Jesus' story in the Gospel is exactly what God does for us: he seeks us out. In what ways do you see God searching for us?
2. Text analysis: "A sinner who repents." Describe what this means in day-to-day living.
3. Text analysis: "...righteous people who have no need of repentance." What is the meaning of the phrase?
4. What is your understanding of the word "repentance"?
5. Text analysis: "right side of the bed." What is the meaning of the phrase?
6. What is your understanding of a "good time"?
7. The song seems to say that we have to make anytime be a good time. Do you think that it is possible?
8. Give some examples of a "good time" that are not what you consider to be a good time.
9. The meditation is based on Jesus' understanding of "joy." How would you define "joy"?
10. What is the most common "evil" that you see practically every day?
11. Do you think that people can be "always happy"? Yes or no and why?
12. What does the song "Good Time" teach young people?