November 6

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Wednesday, November 6

LUKE 14:25-33
Following my directives is more important than anything you do.

Prayerthoughts
a. Jesus often uses exaggeration in his sermons. Here “hate” is a strong word with the thought that even family must be secondary to being a disciple of Jesus. Am I a good disciple of Jesus by showing in my actions, thoughts and words that I am a follower of Jesus?

b. “Carrying our cross” refers to accepting the problems of my life as part of the plan of God. What are the principal problems in my life right now and have I accepted them with the thought that God wants me to have these problems as this particular time in my life?

c. Obviously, I must work for solutions to my problems. Do I acknowledge that God will work with me in overcoming the problems?

d. Jesus’s two examples speak of being prepared before you do something. Do I prepare for my spiritual life as much as I should?

e. Jesus uses another exaggeration in saying that we should renounce “all” possessions in order to prepare for our spiritual lives. Do I have too many possessions, some of which I could give to others?

f. The spiritual life needs “salt” to make it real. Do I have a schedule every day that includes some Gospel reading and thinking?

g. My prayerthoughts…

Today I will spend about ten minutes in the outdoors thanking God for my life.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

THE TRUE DISCIPLE

+ In the Gospel, Jesus tells two short stories to get a point across to the crowd around him

- and it is the same point for us today

- that point—you must have some idea of what you are saying or doing—that is, what it entails—before you say or do it

- if you want to build a tower: you had better plan on having enough wherewithal to finish it

- if one king is marching against another: the king had better know what to expect before he starts something

- it is a characteristic essential to any leadership situation: appraisal of the situation, what it is going to take to finish it or accomplish it

+ Jesus says that it is like that with regard to being a disciple or follower of his

- you had better know what that means before you admit to being one

- and Jesus spells out what it means

- *** it means knowing what is really important in life

If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother,…

- the Lord is not against family or the proper taking care of self or material goods

- he is talking in exaggeration, as he often does, and basically says that even those things most close to us cannot be more important than God if you really want to be a disciple/follower of Jesus

- *** it means taking up the cross

Whoever does not carry his own cross …

- in this life that we are living, that life in which God is the most important, things are going to happen which are painful – the cross –

- the only way we can understand them is to say that God is in charge, and when God is in charge, only good can come out of any situation no matter what our understanding

- *** it means having control over the material goods that are part of our lives

Everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions …

- again, it is an exaggeration on Jesus’ part—we cannot renounce all of our possessions, but we can’t let them determine our lives

- *** and borrowing from the first reading, words that Jesus had spoken in one way or another and Paul reiterates to the Philippians

“You shine like lights in the world, as you hold on to the word of life.”

- that is, if you want to be a follower of Jesus, we have to know the importance of God’s word

+ These four points are absolutely necessary if one is to follow Jesus: knowing what is really important in life, accepting the cross, that is the pains of life in light of Jesus, putting material goods in their place, and truly loving others

- these points taken together contain the nucleus of what Jesus asks of us.

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Song: "What Lovers Do" -- Maroon 5 featuring SZA

WE SHOULD KNOW BETTER

p	LUKE 3:10-15

The crowds asked [John the Baptist], “What then should we do?” He said to them in reply, “Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?” He answered them “Stop collecting more than what is prescribed.” Soldiers also asked him, “And what is it that we should do?” He told them, “Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages.” Now the people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Messiah.

"Tell me if you love me or not. I bet the house on you. Am I lucky or not? Been wishin’ for you. Are we too grown for games? Are we too grown to play around, young enough to chase, but old enough to know better. I can’t wait forever. Both of us should know better.”

A very big part of "growing up" is the knowledge of when to be a little more mature in our actions. It was one of the first messages of the Gospel, as spoken already by the precursor of Jesus, John the Baptist, in the very first part of Jesus' time with us. John knew his audience. He knew that many of them had done nothing more than play games with life. Consequently, John told them basically, "Grow up," that is, carefully look at what you have done in the past, and see that life involves a maturity that leads away from the selfishness of that past.

It is not unlike the message of the man in the love relationship described in Maroon 5 and SZA's song "What Lovers Do." He is telling his friend that they have been playing games with love in the past, but that they should be old enough to know better now. Knowing better consists of understanding love, and understanding how a mature relationship must happen. One cannot fool around with true love. Either you "play games" or you honestly work for a possible commitment.

There are many suggestions offered by experts on how to make relationships last. Those who have studied relationships tell us for example to wait until we are older before making a lasting commitment or to allow "love" time to mature or to give up one's own personal wants or to work at becoming best friends. But basically it is nothing more than allowing the immature selfishness of youth to dissolve.

It is easy to fool around with love and the feelings of love without any real desire to "grow up." John the Baptist said it to his listeners. Modern music often does the same by entreating those who want true love to work at it, and do what both in a relationship should know better.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, as we grow, we often want to remain in a state of immaturity and "fool around" with life. Give us the grace to listen to your prophets, and help us grow in true maturity. Be with us, we pray.

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: Even though it feels good to be immature, we must work toward maturity.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. John the Baptist was very clear in wanting people to change their ways within their professions. If you had the chance to address the leaders of our world, what would you say to them?
2. It seems that the people who came to listen to John the Baptist were sincere in their desire to better themselves. In general, what do most of us need to accomplish in order to be better people?
3. Song analysis: "play games." What games to people play in love relationships?
4. Give your own definition of "maturity."
5. In a love relationship, what are some things that we should "know better"?
6. What is the best way to allow the selfishness of youth to dissolve?
7. What does the song "What Lovers Do" teach young people?