TGIMMtrue1

November 21

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Thursday, November 21

LUKE 19:41-44
I wept because of what would happen to Jerusalem.

Prayerthoughts
a. Jesus weeps over what he foresaw would happen to Jerusalem. There are tragedies around our world. I should pray for the people involved, and maybe donate to help those places.

b. The peace that Jesus gives will not be part of Jerusalem's future. How I am contributing to peace in the area around me?

c. The evangelist has the advantage of knowing what actually happened in Jerusalem since he was writing after it happened. In the world right now, what are the most important happenings, and how does a true disciple of Jesus look at them?

d. The prediction that Jesus gives is not a pretty one. I should view the tragedies in the world with the thought that God will always give the grace to those who are suffering.

e. Are there people in my own area who are suffering in some way. What can I personally do to help them?

f. My prayerthoughts...

Today, I will read Revelation, chapter 5

and write an important thought from it.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

MAKING FOR PEACE

+ Jesus knew all about pain

- he was suffering from the mental pain of people not wholly accepting the Kingdom that he was preaching

- he would suffer greatly in the very near future as we study the time-frame of Luke’s Gospel today

- suffering both mentally with the Agony in the Garden and physically with his passion and death

- and therefore he could understand the pain of another

- and as he came upon Jerusalem, he knew that the people of the city were going to suffer greatly

- because there was to be great destruction which came in 70 AD

+ As he laments the destruction that is yet to come

- Jesus uses a statement that would be good to meditate on:

If this day you only knew what makes for peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.

- what makes for peace in our days?

- for the inhabitants of Jerusalem as Jesus thought of their future, that which would make for peace would be a recognition of what they should have been doing with their spiritual lives—“you did not recognize” Jesus says

+ But what makes for peace in our days—right now, in the twenty-first century

- studying the readings today, perhaps, two things we can dwell on

1 – from the first reading, the Book of Revelation

- that which would make for peace for us would be acknowledgement of the Lamb that was slain

- the Lamb that would be able to open the scroll of life

- we should be making that Lamb, the symbol of Jesus Christ to be the guide of our lives

- allowing him to dictate his doctrine to us

- and just as important, for us to listen to that doctrine and make it our own

- like the doctrine of love of others that is so important for the Christian

2 – from the Gospel

- that which would make for peace for us would be some thought of our future

- what should we be doing with our lives, how should we be conducting ourselves in light of the Gospels of Jesus

- we know what we want our spiritual future to be

- it is up to us to bring it about a little better than we are perhaps

+ There are many things that make for peace for us

- they center around truly accepting the Lord into our lives.

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Movie: "True Grit" -- beginning session

STRONG THE WIND

The Gospel

MATTHEW 14:24-33

The boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night, [Jesus] came toward them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. “It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear. At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” After they got into the boat, the wind died down. Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, “Truly, you are the Son of God.”

Gospelthink: Peter here again exemplifying his human nature. He wanted the glory, but was not willing to look at himself. Am I too much like Peter?

The movie "True Grit" begins with the statement from Proverbs 28:1, "The wicked flee when none pursueth." The 40 year old Mattie Ross continues: "People do not give it credence that a young girl could leave home and go off in the wintertime to avenge her father's blood. But it did happen." The movie is the story of how it happened. Mainly it is the story of young Mattie Ross' determination to reach her goal. She had to travel to a very difficult part of the country, work with some people who would rather cheat or kill than be honest, and convince someone whom she could trust to help her in her quest. There were so many obstacles to achieving her goal that any other person might have given up, but Mattie Ross knew what she wanted. Her determination meant that the obstacles were nothing more than temporary pauses before she accomplished her goal.

The Gospel stories of Jesus' overcoming the powers of the sea have long been interpreted to mean Jesus' power to control the obstacles and complications of life. In Jesus' day, generally speaking, the people were afraid of what the sea held whether they be monsters or the power of evil. In the Gospels, Jesus was always in control of those problems.

He also passed that power on to his disciples as they struggled with the same obstacles. At one time as recorded by the evangelist Matthew, Peter wanted the assurance of Jesus' presence. Recognizing Jesus, he wanted to approach him by overcoming the obstacles of nature and the sea. Eventually, Peter was able to overcome the strength of the wind and his own problems only with the Lord's help.

In the movie "True Grit," one cannot help but admire the determination of Mattie Ross as she set out to avenge her father's death. Overcoming all of the many obstacles that kept her from achieving her goal, she was finally able to realize her desire, only by her sheer determination and refusal to give up.

You and I may not have the individual determination to pursue a goal the way Mattie Ross did, but the good news of the Gospel is that we can accomplish what is good in life. Like Peter, we have the assurance of Jesus' presence in our lives, and with the Lord we can overcome the "strength of the wind," that is, the obstacles of day-to-day living. As we reach out to the Lord who will always help, we know that we can accomplish what is good for us and those around us.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, we are imperfect human beings who are trying to accomplish good things in life. Give us the grace to reach out to your Son in order to accomplish the good goals in our lives. Be with us, we pray.

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: A person who is determined will overcome many obstacles in order to reach a goal.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(session: approximately 52 minutes)
1. What scene during this session of the movie is most striking? Why?
2. The meditation interprets Jesus' control of the sea in the Gospel to be his control of the obstacles in life. What are the principal obstacles to Christian living right now, and what can you do about them?
3. The phrase "Do not be afraid" spoken by Jesus comes up often in the Gospels. What does it mean to not be afraid in our world?
4. As you study the actions of Peter in the Gospel passage, what conclusions can you draw about Peter's character?
5. Jesus reprimands Peter because he "doubted." In what ways do we doubt the Lord in our lives today?
6. In the movie, Mattie Ross set out to administer the strict justice of the law for her father's killer. When is killing another justified? (See Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, numbers 2263-2267.)
7. What are the goals that everyone of us should have?
8. In a Christian meditation, a Christian's goal in life is to live a good life as mentioned in the meditation. What is your definition of "a good life"?
9. If you know a person who has given up because it seemed that God did not listen, what can you do as a Christian to convince such a person that God really cares?
10. What is the greatest good that you can accomplish right now in your life?
11. Analysis: "The wicked flee when none pursueth." Explain the meaning of the proverb.
12. Dialogue analysis: Mattie: "There is nothing free [in this world] except for the grace of God." True or false and why?
13. Do you believe that a 14-year-old could have the maturity that Mattie Ross shows? Yes or no and why?
14. Scene analysis: Brutal killing is portrayed in the movie. Does this type of presentation affect a person who watches the movie? Yes or no and why? In particular, how does this type of presentation affect a pre-teenager?
15. Dialogue analysis: Reuben: "This is like women talking." What is the meaning of the phrase?