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November 22

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Friday, November 22

LUKE 19:45-48
I want you to treat every Church as a house of prayer.

Prayerthoughts
a. People were making a living selling the necessary animals for sacrifice in the temple, but they had moved in too close to the actual temple. Have I looked at my going to Church as something that “I must do” and not as something “I want to do”?

b. Jesus obviously did not want the attitude of “making money” to be connected to Church. Money is obviously needed in today's Church. How should I feel about it?

c. The idea of giving money in today’s Church is important from the point of view of giving to God of what I have because of what God has done for me. Do I give money to my Church with that in mind?

d. Jesus gives the proper perspective of what Church is—“a house of prayer.” Should the time I give to my prayer life be more important in my life right now?

e. The religious leaders wanted to put Jesus to death because of what he did and said. What was their motivation, and what can I learn from it?

f. The people were astonished at Jesus’ teaching. Do I consider the words of Jesus to be a prominent guide of my life?

g. The world can be considered “a temple.” Ecologically speaking, do I treat the world with the respect I should?

h. My prayerthoughts…

Today I will take some time to visit a Church (if possible) and
pray for the people in my life.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

A PASSION FOR GOD

+ The image of the book of Revelation today is an interesting one to pursue

- John or the one who is to prophesy is called to eat the scroll

- that is, the one who is to prophesy must devour the word of God

- and it is both sour and sweet

- that is to say, sometimes it is easy, sometimes it is difficult

- it is a good image for someone interested in the spiritual life

- we are called to devour the word of God

- and that word will have a couple effects in our lives

- at times, consoling, at other times, quite disturbing

+ The thought of Jesus losing his temper and destroying the traders’ tables is a disturbing one

- in general, we don’t like the Jesus we want to imitate to be so radical

- we would much rather have a Jesus who is easy to follow, the gentle Jesus which is also present in the Scriptures

- but Jesus ejecting traders from the temple area is also the Jesus that must be imitated

- and therefore a couple of lessons that comes from the action

+ 1 – Jesus feels strongly about the presence of God, specifically in church

- which basically says that we must never lose the focus of what we as a church community are all about

- you and I are called to a deeper life of Jesus in each of us

- and that is the reason why we organize as a church community

- there is nothing more wrong than church people not getting along with one another

+ 2 – There has to be a certain passion for God in our lives

- as Jesus in a sense lost it in the Temple (lost it for the right reason)

- we have to feel a little passion for the things of God, and make those things more and more present

- easily can be seen with the Christmas season coming up

- not to get lost with all the externals, but to continually bring the things of God to our families and to ourselves

- reminding ourselves of the importance of God in everything we do

+ We must devour the word of God, whether it is gentle or disturbing.

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Movie: "Star Trek Beyond" -- beginning session

OUR CALL TO UNITY

The Gospel

JOHN 17:20-23

Jesus said: "I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you love them, even as you loved me."

Gospelthink: I want everyone to be one in love of all. Am I trying to show that love especially to those I have a difficult time with?

In the movie "Star Trek Beyond", the Enterprise traveled to a nebula after hearing a distress signal from a ship in the area. On the way they were attacked by a massive cluster of ships headed by an alien by the name of Krall. The aliens boarded the Enterprise, took most of the crew captive and destroyed the Enterprise. They were looking for a bio-weapon called the Abronath, and as they did so, they encountered the bravery of the crew. Krall tells Lieutenant Uhuru whom he has captured, that their weakness is their desire for unity since it causes them to stay together and not to get away when they can. Uhuru points out to him that on the contrary, their desire to stay together will be the way to bring about the end of Krall's invasion.

When Jesus prayed for us to His Father, what did he pray for? It is interesting that he prayed above all for "unity." He did not mention specifically obedience to a law, or even that we should love more or be kind to others. He prayed that you and I would be one just as the Father and Jesus are one. Analyzing His words, we see exactly what it means for all of us. God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are one in their love of humankind. It was God who created, redeemed and continues to sanctify all of us. And in light of that, we are to show the same actions toward our world and those around us.

We are called to be one in our approach to others, just as the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit are united. In the movie "Star Trek Beyond," the saving quality as Lieutenant Uhuru expressed it for the crew of the Enterprise was that they were all one. Each member saw the necessity to bind with one another whether it meant death or life, because "unity" was the guide. Unity brings about love and all the Christian virtues because people who want to be joined with one another in a Godly way will show each other what God wants of us.

Unity means something quite specific for people who are committed to each other. For married couples, it will mean working to the best of their abilities to keep their love alive. For couples who are committed to each other in friendship it will mean loving each other no matter what the circumstances. And for people committed to each other under the banner of loving the same God, it will mean a reaching out to one another beyond family ties.

Jesus' prayer for unity for us is a prayer to remain God-like with everyone.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, Your Son prayed for unity when He prayed for us at the end of His life here on earth. May we learn the lesson and work to be one with You and with all of Your creation. Be with us, we pray.

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: While some people may think that achieving unity is a weakness, the mature person will recognize it as a strength.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. What scene during this session of the movie is most striking? Why?
2. In general, do most Christians show the love that they should show to one another? Yes or no and why?
3. In general, do Churches and organizations present "unity" in their approach to the world? Yes or no and why?
4. Specifically, do you think the fact that Christian churches are not united is a good thing or a bad thing?
5. What is a way to promote family unity in the world?
6. Analysis: Should we spend the time and money it takes on space travel? Yes or no and why?
7. Analysis: the Enterprise has been in space about three years. What effect does this have on families? In modern day, it is seen by members of the armed forces who must spend a long time away.
8. Why is the order to "abandon ship" so traumatic for a captain?
9. Analysis: What is the closest weapon that we have to the Abronath that the world possesses now. What control should be placed on it?