miracle2

October 20
[media presentation below] GospelThink Sunday, October 20, Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time MARK 10:35-45 The Servant to Others Prayerthoughts a. My attitude toward prayer is often the selfish attitude of the Sons of Zebedee here: “I want you to do….” How can I be more unselfish in my prayer? b. Can I “drink of the cup” that Jesus gives me? Can I say with all sincerity that I accept whatever God sends me in this life? c. The apostles are indignant at James and John. Do I see any jealousy in my life right now? d. It is clear that James and John have not understood Jesus’s message. Do I spend enough time thinking of Jesus’s message to me and what it should mean? e. Jesus gives a very straightforward explanation of people who want power in the world. In my thinking, do I spend too much time judging others as if I were more important than they are? f. Again, Jesus is very straightforward with me concerning how I should be in this world: a servant, even a “slave” to others. Am I the servant to others that I should be? g. If Jesus is willing to give his life for others, do I have the same attitude? h. My prayerthoughts… Today I will be aware of someone to whom I should be more of a servant, and do something for that person.
Some Thoughts on the Liturgy THE SERVANT OF ALL + It is always interesting to study the way some people look at religion - two of the Apostles had a pretty specific idea of what it meant for them - for them, it led to power …Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left - and that remark made the other Apostles angry because they wanted the same thing, and felt that they weren’t getting it + We are often inclined to think of religion the same way the Apostles looked at the kingdom - why are we in this Church today? Why worship God? - to feel good, happiness, eternal life, good graces from God, obtaining what I pray for? - that is, to obtain some type of reward for being here on this weekend? - in fact, we often look at religion and going to Church as insurance - so I can earn my way into heaven, doing things to get me to heaven + Jesus says today: that is the wrong stress— - that is not what religion/kingdom/God is all about - telling his disciples that the kingdom he was preaching or religion had nothing to do with what they were going to get out of it - not / that you will sit on my right or left - not / that you will be able to lord it over anyone - in fact, he says, quite pointedly: It shall not be so among you! - it’s not a matter of getting anything - it is rather a matter of service: Whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant. + One of the people that comes up in every retreat that I give is the prophet Jonah - the reason he comes up is because he is a perfect example of us in our negative moments - he was in the category of “a head-strong (= stubborn), / opinionated, / somewhat good person / with talents” - God tried to become active in his life, but his selfishness would not allow it - God told him to preach to the city of Nineveh, a traditional enemy of Israel - Jonah not only said “no,” but tried to run away from God - God got his attention again through a violent storm and a large fish - a second time, the Lord said: now, will you go and preach - which he finally did - good preacher / had talents / they listened / reformed themselves / God rejected the evil that he wanted to send (Jesus refers to this in one of his sermons) - Jonah then became angry at God because he didn’t think that God should have been so good to them / God said “too bad, I do” / then Jonah said: let me die / went out to sulk / felt protected by means of a plant which God also destroyed / Jonah complained about that: let me die / God said basically “grow up” and get over your selfishness - and you are led to question whether he ever did: the book ends + Religion can be defined as letting go of our selfishness, letting go of our “Jonah-ness” - Jesus calls it the whole idea of being a servant - it is the thought of letting go of our selfishness in order to work on behalf of others + Our problem is that our selfishness is pretty strong - we want what we want - we like the idea of “lording it over” others, to have authority over others - we don’t particularly like the idea of service of others - we really want to make religion a personal thing - we like to think that going to Church is enough and it doesn’t really involve others and their problems - certainly we are into religion with the whole idea of personal salvation—that is an automatic—we are working to have eternal life - but Jesus says that everything connected with religion/God/Kingdom must always consider other people as well—because we enter into religion as “servants” of others + If we want to be a follower of Jesus Christ, we have to listen closely to him today: Whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. - “a slave” is even stronger than a “servant” - he is describing an attitude that everyone of us should have.

MEDIA PRESENTATION Movie: "The Miracle Season" -- final session THE GUIDANCE OF THE SPIRIT

The Gospel

JOHN 16:12-14

Jesus said, "I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you."

Gospelthink: The Holy Spirit will come upon you to lead you in your life and the life to come. Do I pray to the Holy Spirit to aid me?

The volleyball team at West High School in Iowa City, Iowa were in a state of mourning for their captain, Caroline "Line" Found. Her father was even more distressed as he felt the loss of both his daughter and his wife who had died from cancer. Incredibly the team was able to make a comeback with the leadership of their coach, Kathy Bresnahan and Caroline's best friend Kelley Fliehler using the inspiration of their deceased captain as motivation. At the same time, following the same motivation, Dr. Found was able to withstand his sorrow. The team won their second straight State championship, a truly miraculous accomplishment.

How does the Holy Spirit act in our lives? As we always do, we look for spiritual answers in our Scriptures. Jesus was speaking late in his public life of ministry about the Holy Spirit, what he called the "Spirit of truth" or the "Advocate." It is significant how he described it. The Spirit of truth will guide the Apostles to whom Jesus is speaking. Jesus was praying that the Apostles would listen to the Spirit who will guide them to how Jesus thinks.

Often during his ministry the Lord referred to what should happen in our lives, implying that we should allow the motivation of good people to be part of our thought. We think of the examples of Mary Magdalene, John the Baptist, and the Apostles when they understood the Lord. Judging from what Jesus said about the Spirit, it was the Spirit who guided them to truth. The Spirit inspired others by having them consider the good people of Jesus' time.

One can see that idea at work in the life of very inspiring people in our world as well, as Line was for the people of Iowa City High School. She had motivated the school and especially the volleyball team to the height of achievement. Translated into spiritual terms, the Holy Spirit was inspiring the people who thought of her with the thought of true accomplishment.

The Holy Spirit will lead us to the Lord's words and actions. In every day life, it means that we will be guided by the inspiration of good people and even everything that happens to accomplish the good things that the Lord wants.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, You and Your Son guide us by giving us the grace of the Holy Spirit. May we learn that everything that happens to us, even the difficulties of life can be graces that help us. Be with us, we pray.

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GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: The inspiration that comes from knowing another is one of ways the Holy Spirit guides us.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(session: approximately 46 minutes)
1. What scene during this session of the movie is most striking? Why?
2. What does the movie "The Miracle Season" teach young people?
3. What is your understanding of how the Holy Spirit works in our lives?
4. What are the principal difficulties of our High Schools today, and what can be done about them?
5. The meditation uses the idea that the Holy Spirit used good people to be inspiration to others. What are some examples of that in our lives?
6. As the finals approached in the Volleyball championship, the chance of "losing" was very real in the minds of those who supported West volleyball. Why is it necessary to understand that "winning" or "losing" a game has nothing to do with spirituality?
7. Give an example of "losing" which is a means to help people.