aunho

November 7

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Friday, November 7

LUKE 16:1-8

You must act in a prudent way with every situation.

Prayerthoughts
a. The steward was misusing the property of his employer. In my work right now, are there times when I am lazy and not following through with my contract?

b. The dishonest steward comes to understand his position because the owner threatens to dismiss him. Are there some areas in my life right now in which I need to change?

c. The steward does not cheat the owner; he gives up some of his own interest since the steward made his living off of the interest of the money the owner received. Am I too interested in myself, in my behavior, in my world?

d. Jesus is praising the dishonest steward for acting prudently. The dictionary defines prudence to be “the state of being careful and sensible, marked by sound judgment.” Am I careful enough in my dealings with the things of this world?

e. In Jesus’s story, he wants us to be careful and sensible with regard to eternal life. In what more ways can I show that I believe in eternal life?

f. My prayerthoughts…

Today I will read Romans 15:14-21 and write an important thought from it.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

CHILDREN OF THE WORLD AND CHILDREN OF THE LIGHT

+ The story in Luke’s Gospel is an interesting one because it can be looked at as Jesus giving permission to bring about something not quite right

- but for the person interested in spiritual life, the moral of the story is an important one:

The children of this world are more prudent…than the children of light

- that is, as the people of the world deal with things in a concerned way

- so the people of the light—followers of Jesus, Christians, should be very aware of what they should do in their lives because they understand what Paul taught, namely, that we are all chosen by God and can boast of that—as Paul explains his mission in the letter to the Romans

+ It is important to pursue the contrast that Jesus sets up between the people of this world and the people of the light

- in Jesus’ story, the people of the world are going to take care of themselves

- they will be shrewd in carrying out their affairs

- in terms of Paul’s thoughts: the offering up that the Gentiles do

- making money, day-to-day living, the affairs of daily life

- and they will make sure that they are taken care of

- they insure for their future

- they do the things that are necessary to bring about a good living

- Jesus’ point is that the people of the light, the spiritual people, those who would be followers of his should be working with the same intensity as the people of the world in spiritual matters

- that is, their minds will be occupied with the things of heaven

- they will insure their spiritual future

- they will do the things necessary to bring about their own spiritual good

+ The story—as most of Jesus’ stories—leads us to some very direct personal questions

- for the spiritual people who understand that they must work at the spiritual life, that is for the people of the light who are taking their spiritual lives even more seriously than the people of the light who live in the world

- for us, it is not a question of the fact that we will be as concerned about our spiritual lives as the people of the light who live in the world

- but we will be more concerned—more aware that we have to work at the spiritual religious life

- that will mean:

- a stronger effort at our formal prayer

- serious, significant time in meditation on the Gospels

- being more aware of the way we should be acting toward our neighbors

- desiring to read more spiritual and theological material

- etc.

+ Paul reminds the Romans that he has given completely of himself to God

- obviously, a truly spiritual person ought to do the same.

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Song: "Unholy" -- Sam Smith & Kim Petras

A TRULY PERMANENT COMMITMENT

The Gospel

John 18:1b-3

Jesus went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley to where there was a garden, into which he and his disciples entered. Judas his betrayer also knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas got a band of soldiers and guards from the chief priests and the Pharisees and went there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.

Gospelthink: Judas was a friend to me at one time, but he lost sight of what "love" really meant.

"Mommy don’t know daddy’s getting hot at the body shop, doing something unholy. A lucky girl she got married to a boy like you. She’d kick you out if she ever knew. Dirty boy, you know everyone is talkin’ on the scene. I hear them whisperin’ ‘bout the places that you’ve been and how you don’t know how to keep your business clean. He left the kids at home so he can get that."

As we study the Scripture passages at the very beginning of Jesus' passion and death, there are a number of people that a person interested in the spiritual life can study and learn from. One of them is the Apostle Judas Iscariot. It is clear that Judas knew Jesus in an intimate way. He knew where Jesus liked to pray. He knew where Jesus and His Apostles met for private conferences. Judas used that knowledge to set up the downfall of Jesus's human life. Judas had no doubt felt the love that Jesus had for him and it could have been a lasting love if he had pursued it.

Putting such a situation into the romantic love relationships of our modern life, young lovers can easily identify the same feeling. At some point in the relationship as they move toward a permanent commitment, each person in love must decide and choose whether he/she will work for such a commitment. Unfortunately, sometimes he/she will make the permanent commitment and it is false.

Such is the case in the song "Unholy" from Sam Smith and Kim Petras. It is clear that the permanent commitment has been made. They have even created a family. But the father's commitment was not as permanent as he said at first, and it will no doubt throw the family into some type of chaos unless he comes to his senses and realizes what the word "permanent" means.

In any love relationship, whether it is romantic or not, we must decide whether it will lead to a permanent friendship, and in the case of romantic love, a permanent commitment with each other. The "deciding" is of course the difficult part. Usually, the decision will take some time to feel some good moments and bad moments. It is possible to determine whether our love will be lasting or not, but the decision will always have an element of "indecision." We simply must make the decision to go into the desired permanent relationship and not look back.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, there are many decisions that we must make in our human situations, particularly with our interaction with others. Help us to understand the love that we must have to bring about a true lasting love. Be with us, we pray.

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: If we want love to last, we must be certain that it is a permanent love.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. What does the song "Unholy" teach young people today?
2. In your opinion, why would Judas completely turn against Jesus the way he did?
3. The mediation uses the words "permanent love." In your opinion, what is "permanent love"?
4. In your opinion, how long should young people "date" before they make a permanent commitment of living together?
5. In your opinion, should it be the man or the woman who is the aggressive one in the relationship?
6. Many people decide about their love too early, and therefore we have very unhappy marriages. What are the characteristics of a truly happy marriage?
7. In your opinion, do you think that most young people are truly prepared to make the decision of a permanent commitment? Yes or no and why?