awonder1

November 20

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Wednesday, November 20

LUKE 19:11-28
In my story I make it clear that you should use what you have been given.

Prayerthoughts
a. The man going on the journey is God who has given me spiritual "coins" or certain spiritual abilities that I can develop, according to my own capabilities. Those spiritual abilities deal with the spiritual things in my life such as prayer, spiritual reading, different devotions, spiritual retreats, spiritual workbooks, attendance at Mass, etc. Take the time to thank the Lord for the spiritual gifts that I have received.

b. The man who had the most coins earned more, building on what he had been given. Which spiritual talent should I develop more in my spiritual life?

c. The one who did not make use of the coins he was given received no reward, in fact, some “punishment.” Obviously Jesus's story should move me to make a better use of the talents I have been given.

d. How would I rate my development of the spiritual talents I have been given so far?

e. I want to continue to use the Lord's gifts in my life. I should take the time to thank the Lord for giving me so much.

f. My prayerthoughts…

Today, I will read the Book of Revelation, chapter 4

and write an important thought from it.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

USING THE TALENTS WE HAVE

+ The Gospel is probably a combination of two parables that have two separate conclusions,

- but perhaps the one to center in on is the use of the talents that we have been given

- Jesus uses the idea of money, the gold coin, and says that you have to work with what you have in order to make more

- generalizing, we can talk about not only the material things that we have been given, but all of our talents and skills

- the Lord calls us to develop what we have

+ There are some general considerations as we listen to the story and consider the first reading as well:

- first of all, when we are given some talents, some abilities, we are meant to develop them, and do the best we can with what we have

- we all have them, even if we don’t think that they are very much

- secondly, we are not all given the same—some of us receive five, some, two, some, one, but we all are given something

- we all can do something if we want to

- thirdly, doing nothing with what we have is condemned

- what little the person has will be taken away

- and perhaps a fourth consideration coming from the first reading today from the book of Revelation: we have to use the talents we have to worship our God

+ Jesus’ story can be applied in the professional realm or the spiritual realm

- the obvious application to us as we gather for praise of God is the motivation that we should have toward the spiritual in our lives

- why aren’t we motivated properly in spiritual matters?

- why don’t we use the talents that we have in a spiritual way?

+ There are probably many reasons why we aren’t motivated in spiritual matters

- spiritual writers say quite bluntly that one of the principal reasons why we do not develop our spiritual lives is that we have it too good

- they point out that we don’t know what it means to depend on God, or to depend on others

- we don’t have to think of God because God is blocked out by all the goods and glitter of this world

- we should listen to that reasoning

- perhaps we don’t think of God because we have too many other things that occupy our minds

+ We can be truly spiritual people, holy people if we want to be—all we have to do is use the talents and skills that we have been given.

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Movie: "Wonder Woman" -- beginning session

...UNLESS YOU DO IT

The Gospel

JOHN 18:10-12

[After Jesus was arrested,] Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus. Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its scabbard. Shall I not drink the cup that the Father gave me?” So the band of soldiers, the tribune, and the Jewish guards seized Jesus, bound him, and brought him to Annas.

Gospelthink: Peter wanted to defend me, but I told him that this was something I had to do. Do I consider my redemption as important as Jesus did for me?

Diana, Princess of Themyscira, daughter of Queen Hippolyta, later known as Wonder Woman was raised on the island of the Amazonian warrior women who were created by Zeus to protect humankind. The god of war, Ares, Zeus' son had to retreat from his father when he lost favor with his father but was prepared to return to cause war. Queen Hippolyta allowed her sister Antiope to train Diana as a rigorous warrior. In 1918, Diana rescued American pilot Captain Steve Trevor when his plane crashed off the Themyscira coast. A German ship pursuing Trevor invaded the island, attacking the warrior women. In the process, Antiope sacrificed herself saving Diana. Trevor was then interrogated by the Amazons, and revealed that he was a spy for the American forces. Both Diana and Trevor begged the Amazons to allow them to work against the evil which was called World War I. Diana looked at her role as a person who had to destroy the god of war; Trevor wanted to stop the war, and especially Isabel Maru who was producing a deadlier farm of mustard gas to destroy the Allied forces.

John's Gospel presents an entirely different way of viewing the life of Jesus than the other evangelists. In John's Gospel, Jesus is looking forward to his Passion and Death because that is what he is called to do. So he tells Peter to put away his sword, and then most importantly says his direct statement: "Shall I not drink the cup that the Father gave me?" In other words, he is saying that he must accept the challenge he is about to accomplish because it is exactly what the Father wants.

In much the same way, Diana and Steve Trevor in the movie "Wonder Woman" look at their roles in settling World War I. Diana wants to conquer the god of war, and Steve wants to take the journal he discovered to the Allied Forces so they could stop the German army. Both are adamant, saying that they must do what they are ordained to do because no one else can do what they can do.

In our lives, generally speaking, the world will not depend on us to save it in any way. But we do exist in our own little worlds. Each of us can do something to improve the quality of humankind. Author Charles Allen put it into these words: "Remember that you are truly needed. There is at least one important work to do done that will not be done unless you do it."

What it is that we do is up to each one of us. As we study our own worlds, what can we do to bring about what my little world needs most of all? Can we accept the challenge as Jesus did? As Diana and Steve Trevor did?

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, your Son has taught us that we can accomplish things that very few can accomplish, especially in our locales with our personalities. Help us discover what we can do to improve humankind. Be with us, we pray.

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: Sometimes in life, we discover that we must do something that no one else is doing.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. What scene during this session of the movie is most striking? Why?
2. Find one other place in John's Gospel in which it is clear that Jesus is doing exactly what the Father has given him to do.
3. Some scholars see in Jesus' statement to put away the sword as a sign that he does not approve of violence. What is your feeling about their opinion?
4. Analysis: Diana--"I used to want to save the world, this beautiful place.But I knew so little then. It is a land of beauty and wonder, worth cherishing in every way. But the closer you get, the more you see the great darkness simmering within. And mankind? Mankind is another story altogether." What is most striking about the quote? Why?
5. Analysis: as you study the world wars (I and II), was there good reason for your country to enter them? Yes or no and why?
6. Do you believe that there is something good that only you can do in the world in which you live? Yes or no and why?
7. What is most needed in the locale in which you live? Why?