November 16

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Saturday, November 16

LUKE 18:1-8
In the prayer of petition, you must be persistent.

Prayerthoughts
a. The ideal of prayer is to "pray always without becoming weary." Am I striving after a prayer life that is both consistent and persistent?

b. Jesus' story concerns a judge who is bad and a widow who is persistent. What can I do about evil in the court system? Should I at least pray for these civil servants?

c. The Lord obviously wants me to pray about a situation, asking the same thing over and over. In my prayer, do I follow that pattern, or conclude that God is not listening?

d. Every prayer that I say to the Lord will be answered. Do I pray with that thought in mind? A prayer of thanksgiving to God would be in order here.

e. Jesus asks the most important question at the end of his story. Persistence in prayer is a matter of faith that God will answer. In general, is my life clearly one of faith?

f. My prayerthoughts...

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

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

SOME THOUGHTS ON THE PRAYER OF PETITION

+ In the Gospel story that Jesus tells, he is saying that the persistent petitioning of the poor woman pays off

- giving rise to some familiar beliefs that we have:

- God answers the prayers of the just

- God answers the prayers of the poor

- God gives what we want, as long as we are persistent

+ But immediately, we have unanswerable questions, the familiar unanswerable questions of people who expect their prayers to be answered

- good people get hurt even when they do pray in a persistent manner: hurricane, earthquake, war

- God does not answer some prayers: we pray for the homeless and they remain homeless, and we pray for the people who are persecuted, and they are still persecuted, we pray for peace, and there is no peace

- two people in exactly the same circumstance, same prayers are said, one is answered, the other is not

- leads to the question: is God answering one and not the other?

- or in general, does God answer our prayers?

+ These are important questions for the believer

- because there are legitimate questions concerning this prayer of petition

- the liturgy today suggests some answers

1 – we have to consider the thought of how God answers prayers

- first of all, we honestly do not know—we do not understand God or how God works—we only know that God only works for the good, but we don’t understand how

- nowhere in the Scriptures does the Lord ever say that we will get exactly what we want

- unfortunately many Scripture texts seem to say that

- it seems as though the people always get what they want in Scripture texts

- as with Jesus’ miracles, Hebrew Scripture stories

- actually, as we study those stories, the concentration is not on the healing or what people want

- the concentration is on their faith

- Jesus says that in the Gospel today—have faith in the fact that “justice is done” for his chosen: in fact, it will be done “speedily”

- that is, God will give what will help the situation

- not necessarily what we think will help the situation

- the prayer of petition is made with the faith that God will give us what is needed and it will be just for us

- that is, it will be good for us

- Jesus knows that that may be a problem, and so he asks his rhetorical question that speaks to how we work with the prayer of petition:

Will [the Son of Man] find faith on earth?

2 – a second thought about the prayer of petition, might follow from the first reading from the third letter of John

- the person who wrote the letter is telling the community who received the letter to help someone else

- and I think that that is significant here

- when we pray the prayer of petition

- that is, when we ask for something, we have to remember that we also must be aware that there are other people who need to be helped

- not only by God, but by us—

- and that should be a priority for us

- even as we ask for things for ourselves, we are aware of others who need help, and we are willing to help them in any way we can

+ The lesson of the prayer of petition coming from our liturgy today is that

- if we are going to ask God for things

- and that should never be taken lightly: we are asking God for help

- we should pray in such a way that we are prepared to let God answer

- even if we don’t understand the answers when they come

- and we should always keep the fact that other people are important for us, and that we should be trying to help them, even as we petition for ourselves.

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Movie: "Snow White and the Huntsman"
 -- beginning session

OBSESSED WITH BEAUTY AND YOUTH

The Gospel

MATTHEW 4:1-4

'; iframeDiv.innerHTML = iframeHTML; var hiddenFrame = iframeDiv.childNodes[0]; parent.window.document.body.appendChild(iframeDiv); } // Overwrite opener window object // This works in IE but fails in FF try { if (top.commonspot && top.commonspot.lightbox) self.opener = top.commonspot.lightbox.getOpenerWindow(); } catch (err){} } if (typeof(onLightboxLoad) == "undefined") { /** * Hook that gets called by lightbox whenever the dialog gets loaded */ onLightboxLoad = function() { try{ var rootDiv = document.getElementById('cs_commondlg') }catch(e){ // $ function is not defined when there is an error. // in that case, just return so we can show the error msg. return; } if (rootDiv) { // Check if we have buttons var outerDiv = document.getElementById('clsPushButtonsDiv'); var tableEle = document.getElementById('clsPushButtonsTable'); var otherBtns = document.getElementsByClassName('clsDialogButton'); if (tableEle || otherBtns.length) { // Remove existing "proxy" buttons first var btnHolder = document.getElementById('clsProxyButtonHolder'); if (btnHolder) { btnHolder.parentNode.removeChild(btnHolder); } // check if cf debug is on var arr = document.getElementsByClassName('cfdebug'); // Append a new

that will contain the "proxy" buttons var dom = document.createElement('div'); dom.id = "clsProxyButtonHolder"; dom.innerHTML = ''; if (arr.length > 0) // stick in after root div and before CF debug table { /* IE has problem with appending node before a script node. to get around it we add a div node around the script tags we have after rootDiv (dlgcommon-foot.cfm) and manipulate its innerHTML however, non-ie browsers has problem with manipulating innerHTML so doing it ol'way */ if (is.ie) { var inHTML = dom.outerHTML + rootDiv.nextSibling.innerHTML; rootDiv.nextSibling.innerHTML = inHTML; } else rootDiv.parentNode.insertBefore(dom, rootDiv.nextSibling); } else rootDiv.parentNode.appendChild(dom); proxySpellChecker($('clsProxySpellCheckCell')); proxyPushButtons($('clsProxyButtonCell')); // Hide the "real" buttons if (outerDiv) outerDiv.style.display='none'; if (tableEle) tableEle.style.display='none'; } } } } proxyPushButtons = function(targetNode) { var cellNode = $('clsProxyButtonCell'); var buttons = $$('#clsPushButtonsTable input[type="submit"]', '#clsPushButtonsTable input[type="button"]'); var moreButtons = document.getElementsByClassName('clsDialogButton', null, 'INPUT'); var addClose = 0; for (var i=0; i around the buttons */ // Use trimmed value for text var buttonText = buttonNode.value.replace(/^\s+|\s+$/g, ''); var newButtonText = buttonText; if (buttonText == 'OK' || buttonText == 'Finish') newButtonText = 'Save'; var proxyContainer = document.createElement('span'); proxyContainer.id = 'proxyButton' + index; if (buttonNode.title) proxyContainer.title = buttonNode.title; proxyContainer.className = buttonNode.className; if ((buttonText == 'Cancel' || buttonText == 'Close') && (buttonNode.className.indexOf('clsPushButton') >= 0 || buttonNode.className.indexOf('clsCancelButton') >= 0 || buttonNode.className.indexOf('clsCloseButton') >= 0)){ proxyContainer.className = 'cls'+buttonText+'Button'; } var proxyBox = document.createElement('input'); if (buttonNode.type == 'submit' && typeof buttonNode.click == 'function'){ proxyBox.setAttribute('type', 'button'); } else{ proxyBox.setAttribute('type', buttonNode.type); } proxyBox.setAttribute('name', buttonNode.name); proxyBox.setAttribute('value', newButtonText); proxyBox.setAttribute('id', buttonText); if (newButtonText=='Cancel' || newButtonText=='Close') { proxyContainer.onclick = function() { if (typeof buttonNode.click == 'function' || typeof buttonNode.click == 'object') { buttonNode.click(); } else top.commonspot.lightbox.closeCurrent(); } } else { proxyContainer.onclick = function() { if (typeof buttonNode.click == 'function' || typeof buttonNode.click == 'object') { buttonNode.click(); } return false; } } proxyBox.onmouseover = function() { this.style.textDecoration = 'underline'; return false; } proxyBox.onmouseout = function() { this.style.textDecoration = 'none'; return false; } proxyContainer.appendChild(proxyBox); return proxyContainer; } /** * Helper method. Return index of an element in an array NOT case-sensitive. * @param _this Required. Array * @param x Required. key * @return index */ arrayIndexOf = function(_this,x) { for(var i=0;i<_this.length;i++) { if (_this[i].toLowerCase()==x.toLowerCase()) return i; } return-1; } if (typeof(onLightboxResize) == "undefined") { /** * Hook that gets called by lightbox whenever the dialog gets resized * @param w (int). Required. Width * @param h (int). Required. Height */ onLightboxResize = function(w, h) { // Remove margins from the dialog's body document.body.style.margin = 0; document.body.style.padding = 0; var rootDiv = document.getElementById('cs_commondlg'); if (rootDiv) { main_table = document.getElementById('MainTable'); if (main_table && main_table.style) { main_table.style.width = (w-35)+'px'; rootDiv.style.width = (w-10)+'px'; main_table.style.height = (h -45) + 'px'; main_table.style.marginTop = 0; rootDiv.style.marginTop = '10px'; rootDiv.style.height = (h -37) + 'px'; } // Add scrollbars to the main box rootDiv.style.overflow = 'auto'; } } } Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry. The tempter approached and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread." He said in reply, "It is written: 'One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.'"  

Gospelthink: Evil wanted me to be selfish, and I overcame that temptation. Am I too selfish in the way I act?

"Snow White and the Huntsman" is the story of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" put into a real life setting of the Middle Ages. Ravenna, Snow White's stepmother, obsessed with youth, beauty and power, would do anything to satisfy her desires. Even if it might mean destroying the beauty of the women of the kingdom and the ruin of people's lives, she set about pursuing what she wanted. Killing her husband, Snow White's father, she imprisoned Snow White in the north tower of the castle. But, through her magic mirror, Ravenna learned that Snow White would eventually overpower her unless she consumed Snow White's heart. If Ravenna accomplished it, according to the mirror, it would not only give her the youth and beauty she desired, but it would give her immortality as well. When Snow White escaped from the tower, Ravenna charged the Huntsman to find her and bring her back. Traveling into the Dark Forest, the Huntsman and eventually Snow White's childhood friend William join Snow White in her fight against the ruthlessness of Ravenna. 

Most Scriptural theologians see much more in the temptations of Jesus than what is actually written in the Gospels. Studying the first temptation for example, commentators usually see the text to mean all temptations to the lusts of the flesh. Jesus was hungry, and the tempter wanted him to give into his desire and use his power for selfish reasons. Included in the "lusts" that people throughout the ages have desired is the longing for perpetual youth and beauty along with the ultimate desire of immortality. Jesus answers the devil by quoting the Hebrew Scriptures, reminding the devil that the word of God must always be the guide to people's actions, and therefore a follower of Jesus cannot have too many self-centered luxuries.

The desire for perpetual youth and physical beauty are among the strongest desires of young people in the twenty-first century. Young people and people wishing to be young spend millions of dollars each year on creams and pills and potions with the sole intention of making themselves look and feel young. It is a desire of both women and men, and many times it is present even among the old. The problem is not so much in our wanting to be young, but the thinking that goes with it. People too easily conclude that they are not beautiful in the first place. Such a conclusion is totally and completely false.

God created only beauty. Such a belief comes from our faith, and makes complete sense for a person who believes in God. Just as the religious author of Genesis could say that everyone and everything created was good (Genesis 1), so the Christian of the twenty-first century must acknowledge that God continues to create the good, no matter whether we think we look young or not.

Jesus' first temptation dealt with the desires of the flesh. As he was guided by God to refute the devil, we must seek the same guidance to understand that we have life, and that in itself makes us beautiful.    

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, you have given us life, and for that we must be forever thankful. Help us see that no matter what our age or condition, you have blessed us, and continue to bless us with your guidance. Be with us, we pray. 

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: The desire for youth and beauty is a driving factor in our world.

DISCUSSION  QUESTIONS:
(session: approximately 60 minutes)
1. What scene during this session is most striking and why?
2. Why do you think that "the Spirit" led Jesus to be tempted?
3. "Forty" is a traditional number used in some Bible stories. It probably signifies a significant amount of time. Is "fasting" a good penance in our lives? Why or why not?
4. How does a person "truly live" by the word of God?
5. The quotation that Jesus gives is from Deuteronomy 8:3. Project: Give the context of this reference. 6. Why is the desire to be perpetually youthful and beautiful such a strong attraction?
7. Do you believe that the word of God is truly a guide for most Christians? Yes or no and why?
8. Project: choose an advertisement for a "beauty aid" from television or a magazine, and analyze it.
9. God did not create the evil in the world, but according to our faith, only allows it because of our free wills. Can the "evil" of the world be thought of as "something good"? Yes or no and why?
10. What is the most precious gift that comes with the "life" that we have been given?
11. Analysis: One of Ravenna's problem with men is that they exploit the beauty of women. Is her accusation true or false and why?
14. Analysis: Snow White prays the Our Father during her captivity. What part does prayer play in very difficult situations?
15. Scene analysis: Snow White follows the birds to the horse in the Dark Forest. What is the significance of the scene?
16. Scene analysis: Ravenna "inhales" youth. What is the principal reason that older people want to be young again?
17. Analysis: Why do people want to have immortality here on earth?
18. Dialogue analysis: The Huntsman tells Snow White that the Forest acts on our deepest fears. What is the greatest fear of the human being?
19. Scene analysis: Snow White and the troll. Why did the troll not attack Snow White?
20. Dialogue analysis: Snow White tells the Huntsman that she did not trust him. What are the principal characteristics of "trust of another"?

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