November 17 23

November 17
[media presentation below] GospelThink Monday, November 17 LUKE 18:35-43 When you cry out in faith to me, I will always hear you. Prayerthoughts a. We see many people who are begging around us. Should I do more for them than I am doing? b. The blind man’s words: “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me.” We have many things that bother us in our lives. Have I taken the time to seriously speak to the Lord about them in prayer? c. Jesus's words: what do you want me to do for you? What most of all do I want from the Lord right now in my life? d. Obviously, the blind man asks that he may see. What are the things that I should “see” in this world that the Lord has given me? e. The most used spiritual word in the Gospels is “faith.” What are the most important parts of faith that I should have? f. The blind man and all the people gave praise to God. Do I call to mind my praise of God often enough? g. My prayerthoughts… Today, I will read 1 Maccabees 1:10-15,41-43,54-57,62-63 and write an important thought from it.
Some Thoughts on the Liturgy THE IDOLS OF THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY + The first reading is from the historical book of the Hebrew Scriptures, 1 Maccabees - telling of the falling away from God by Israel during the reign of Antioches Epiphanes - Israel abandoned their God, and violated what might be called the primary directive of the Old Testament - namely, belief in the one true God over belief in idols + We don’t have a direct belief in idols in our little worlds here, - but many religious commentators say that we too have given ourselves to belief in idols that have different names - whether that criticism is totally true or not, we can listen to it, and allow it to help deepen our spiritual lives - the fact is that there probably have been areas in our lives that have been compromised by outside things, usually material things, whether it be money, TV, work or play, the idols of the twenty-first century - and we may have lost some of our original love of God and God’s action in our lives + The answer to that situation is to open our eyes again to see Jesus and what he wants - the Gospel given at the end of Luke’s Gospel in a sense summarizes Jesus’ ministry to the poor - and it says to us that it is only through faith that we can open our eyes to Jesus - and once we do, the only action is to follow him, as the cured blind person does in the Gospel + The pattern of the Gospel is an important one - we return to true spirituality and love by continually crying to the Lord, begging to be able to see more of what he wants of us - our faith guides us to Scripture and meditation on who Jesus is - and then the only action once we have seen, is to follow - that following involves a giving up of a former life and setting up a new one which includes the thoughts and principles of Jesus + The only way to get back to what is really important in life is to see and understand Jesus.

MEDIA PRESENTATION Song: "Sunroof" -- Nicky Youre MORE THAN A SUNSHINE

The Gospel

MATTHEW 2:9b-12

And behold, the star that [the magi] had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.

Gospelthink: The Magi offered their gifts to me. Do I offer the gifts and talents I have to others?

"I got my head out the sunroof, I'm blastin' our favorite tunes, I only got one thing on my mind, you got me stuck on the thought of you, you're making me feel brand new, you're more than a sunshine in my eyes. We driving down the freeway at night, I'm feeling like this might be the time to shine with you."

What are the things that make us feel good about life? There are probably many answers, some very simple, some quite profound. The magi of Matthew's Gospel were looking for something. They themselves probably did not quite understand what it was, but they sensed that the something was a person who may have been some type of royalty. When they discovered Jesus and offered him their gifts fit for a king, they felt overjoyed because they realized that he was indeed a king. But, much deeper than that, as they prostrated themselves before him, they understood that he was someone who ultimately would help their world.

The popular songs of our day often give answers to the question of what makes us feel good. Nicky Youre sings a common answer as he sings the thought of what being together feels like. He is enjoying the presence of another as they travel down the highway in their car.

Enjoying each other's presence is certainly something that makes us feel good about life. But, even as we enjoy the feeling, we often sense that there is so much more to really feeling good. It not only has something to do with each other; it has something to do with our deeper lives. We need something that can make us feel good about life in a permanent way that is more than a passing emotion.

Christians have always believed the feeling that the magi discovered. The person of Jesus Christ and what he stood for can direct us to true happiness. It is the ultimate answer to what can make us feel good about life.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, we know in faith that your Son can make us feel good about life, even as we enjoy ourselves in this world that you created. Help us turn to him more by studying his actions and learning from his words. Be with us, we pray.

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GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: There are some things in life that make us feel good all the time.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. What does the song "Sunroof" teach young people?
2. The Gospel passage speaks of being "overjoyed." What are the things in our world that make people "overjoyed"?
3. In your opinion, what do the three gifts of the magi represent?
4. What are the top 5 things that make us feel good?
5. It seems that one of the actions suggested by the magi story in Matthew's Gospel is that of paying homage to Jesus because he is God. In your opinion, do most people honor God well in their lives? Yes or no and why?
6. The meditation suggests that we should think of our "deeper lives." In your opinion, what does this consist of? Why?
7. In your opinion, have most Christians truly accepted all the principles of Jesus Christ? Yes or no and why?