October 18

    [media presentation below]

GospelThink

Sunday, October 18, Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

MATTHEW 22:15-21
Caesar

Prayerthoughts

a. Jesus’s enemies wanted to trap him in his speech. What about my own speech? Do I try to be honest in everything I do? Does my speech include too many “curse” words?

b. The Pharisees and Herodians were giving Jesus false praise in order to catch him in a trap. As I study my talk of others, am I too sarcastic with them or insulting in my speech?

c. Jesus’s enemies are trying to trap him with regard to his relationship with those in the government? Do I express criticism with regard to our government, and should I tone it down (or up) in order to bring about peace with those who disagree?

d. Jesus recognizes their hypocrisy. Studying my behavior, am I being hypocritical toward anyone or anything?

e. Jesus says in effect that we should respect those who govern us. Are we at least respectful to those who work in government?

f. My prayerthoughts…


Today, I will read 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5b and write an important thought from it.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

CHURCH AND STATE

+ The year was 1532; the country was England

- the man was very much involved in what might be called the arena of daily living

- he was a teacher and a lawyer, a politician, a good husband and father

- intertwined in that arena was another arena that for him was equally important—what might be called the arena of activity for God

- he didn’t want those two arenas to come into conflict, but they did in that year of 1532

- the man was Thomas More, Chancellor of England, and he had a decision to make between those two arenas

- the only person above him in the English government was the King of England himself

- and that King had determined that if a person did not sign a document that made the King head of the Roman Church in England, such a person was to be convicted of treason and would die

- Thomas More’s daughter Margaret and everyone around him pleaded with him to sign the document

- Margaret accused him of wanting to be some kind of hero, and in response to her, Thomas More said some words that every Christian must carefully listen to:

- “If we lived in a State where virtue was profitable,

common sense would make us good.

And we’d live like animals and angels in the happy land that needs no heroes.

But since in fact we see that avarice, pride, lust and stupidity commonly profit far beyond humility, chastity, justice and thought,

and we have to choose,

to be human at all, perhaps we must stand fast a little,

even at the risk of being heroes.”

- Thomas More knew that the Church had to direct his State, and he died defending that thought in 1535, a true hero


+ Thomas More tried to avoid the conflict between Church and State

- Jesus temporarily avoided that conflict in the Gospel today

- he could see what the Pharisees and Herodians were doing: if he said that it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, he would be hated by the Jewish people

- if he said it wasn’t lawful, they would say that he was a traitor

- and so, he avoided the trap, simply saying that we must live in the two arenas as best we can

- what he was to say later on was that in the end, the arena of God is more important than the arena of daily living


+ This is a very practical concept for us, because you and I live in a world of work and play that is intertwined with the arena of God

- this Mass, this moment with God, is a pause in the arena of daily living

- often, there is no conflict between what we do here and what we do in the arena of daily living


+ But conflicts will come because as Thomas More says: we live in a world where virtue is not profitable

- when conflict comes, then the arena we choose must be as Thomas More chose, namely, the arena of God, and that is never easy

- too often we forget about God—we allow our arena of daily living to occupy all of our time, talent and treasure, and simply do not even consider the arena of God

- when it comes to satisfying our humanly natural and good desire to enjoy ourselves in life, we must choose God and Jesus to guide it

- when it comes to making a living, working with our money, we must choose God and Jesus to guide us

- when it comes to a desire to be more important and to be superior to anyone else, we must choose God and Jesus to guide us


+ Jesus tells us today to

Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.

- Thomas More did that as much as he could, but in the end, he knew that we do not live where virtue is profitable

- in fact, we live in a place where justice and virtuous thinking are often not acceptable

- and so, as Thomas More said, maybe the Christian must stand fast a little, and move ourselves back into the arena of God,

even at the risk of being a hero.












MEDIA PRESENTATION

Movie -- "Bridge of Spies" -- final session

DETERMINED TO BRING ABOUT GOOD



 

The Gospel


MATTHEW 20:17-19

As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, and said to them on the way, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”

Gospelthink: I tell my disciples about my final days and the Resurrection. Do I live the Lord's Resurrection in my life?

Successfully reducing Russian spy Rudolf Abel's sentence to years of prison, James Donovan was given the assignment from the United States government to obtain the release of captured U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers. The thought was to exchange the U-2 pilot for Rudolf Abel. Because of his involvement with Abel, Donovan was given the task. During the negotiations, Donovan saw the opportunity to obtain the release of another American who was arrested, Frederich Pryor. Donovan had to fight the politics of the CIA, the USSR, and the German Democratic Republic in obtaining the exchange, but he was determined to do it. Because of his determination, he was able to carry it out.

The human Jesus was determined in the acceptance of his task as redeemer of humankind. He knew full well what the outcome of his trip to Jerusalem as outlined in Matthew's Gospel would be, but he was prepared to accept whatever would happen. He also knew that the person of the Messiah was necessary for the betterment of all human beings. Therefore he was determined to make his trip to Jerusalem.

Attorney Jim Donovan in the movie based on his accomplishments, "Bridge of Spies" was also a determined human being. His was not the redemption of the world as Jesus's was, but it led to the redemption of sorts for three human beings. His dedication to his job as an attorney led to Rudolf Abel's return to his country; his obedience to his country obtained Francis Gary Powers' release; and his sheer willpower additionally freed Frederich Pryor from immoral imprisonment. All three acts were fraught with danger, but his determination to bring about good knew no limits.

Any human being who honestly wishes to bring a small amount of good into his/her own little world should learn from Jim Donovan's determination. If we are determined to create an atmosphere of true humanness to our actions, we must be willing to show it when it is possible, and not merely think about doing it. As the movie accounts at its conclusion, Donovan's determination was instrumental in freeing future Americans as well. Our own determination to bring about good should be just as firm.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, Your Son was determined in his resolve to redeem us, teaching us at the same time the importance of the virtue of determination. May we continually thank You for Your dedication to us, and may we learn better to keep our commitments. Be with us, we pray.

 

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT


Theme: We must be determined to bring about good.
 
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(session: approximately 65 minutes)
1. What scene during this session of the movie is most striking? Why?
2. The Gospel is the most detailed of Jesus's prediction of his Passion, Death and Resurrection in the Gospels. In general, how do you understand the process of redemption? (See Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, numbers 613-617.)
3. Give your own definition of "being determined."
4. What are the two or three areas in our lives which require determination?
5. What does it mean to be more "human" in our approach to others?
6. What example of determination has inspired you the most?
7. Analysis: In your opinion, do you think that Jim Donovan did more than he had to do to help Abel? Yes or no and why?
8. Scene analysis: The U-2 planes spy on "enemies." In your opinion, should any country "spy" on other countries? Yes or no and why?
9. Scene analysis: the crossover at Glienicke bridge. What is most striking about the scene? Why?
10. What does the movie "Bridge of Spies" teach young people?

 

©2007 Capuchin Province of Mid-America
Fr. Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America