TGIMMunsteady

October 22

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Tuesday, October 22

LUKE 12:35-38
You must be always prepared for the end of your life.

Prayerthoughts
a. The evangelist Luke is reflecting on his understanding of the end times. Does my death fill me with fear?

b. What do you think is the meaning of the word “vigilant”?

c. The imagery is truly liberating: Jesus actually will serve the people who are vigilant. It is an extremely hopeful vision of eternal life. In general, am I hopeful in my attitude toward life?

d. In what ways am I preparing for my meeting with Jesus at the end of my life?

e. My prayerthoughts….

Today I will write a prayer that I could say one hour before my death.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

BEING PREPARED

+ Paul reminds the Christians of Ephesus that as Christians they have a special status:

- not only are they not strangers and aliens any longer

- but they are closely connected with holiness

- they make up a building with Jesus as the foundation

+ You and I are part of that building as well

- it is a building that will last forever because Jesus is the foundation

- and because he is, there must be a constant dependence on him

+ That dependence has the characteristic of being ready, prepared to meet him when he calls on us which means a couple of things:

1 – the idea of accepting him without delay

- we often would prefer our own timing

- for example, our own deaths

- with the way that we want things to be

- but being ready implies immediate acceptance of the way Jesus wants things to work out

- realizing that the way things happen are all part of God’s plan

- and we accept them no matter what—immediately

2 – the idea of constantly being wide-awake

- that Jesus is not a stranger to us

- no matter when he calls, we are there to answer, for example,

- the call for help of someone that we can help

- the desire to accept the Christian way of action no matter what the situation

- in the workplace or at home

3 – recognize that things are going well

- which is basically an attitude

- there may be moments when the feeling is not there

- but accepting that things are going well is more than a feeling

- we actually work toward the attitude of being well

+ We are called to be fellow citizens of saints

- and fellow citizens are constantly prepared for the way to become a saint through Jesus.

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Song: "Unsteady" -- X Ambassadors

A "LITTLE UNSTEADY"

The Gospel

LUKE 2:21-24

When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord," and to offer the sacrifice of “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,” in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.

Gospelthink: In my early life, my earthly parents gave me the foundation that I needed to live well. Have I made Jesus the true foundation of my life?

“Hold on,” the young person sings because he/she is a "little unsteady." “Mama,” the child sings, “come here. Daddy, I’m alone ‘cause this house don’t feel like home. If you love me, don’t let go. Hold on to me. Mother, I know that you're tired of being alone; Dad, I know you're trying to fight when you feel like flying. If you love me, don't let go."

Mary and Joseph knew the law when it came to their child Jesus. But they knew more than that. As attested by the accounts found in the Gospels, they were very much aware that they were necessary to help the young Jesus grow up in their world. They realized that they were the stability that the growing Jesus had to have.

One can readily understand why this is true. The developing young mind must have a certain amount of stability in order to grow. As a delicate flower must have the proper environment, so the young person must have the necessary atmosphere to learn about life and love, freedom and responsibility. If the young people do not experience a stable basis for their growth, they will enter adulthood wounded.

The group X Ambassadors labels such a situation for the young as being "unsteady." They sing their song as if the child or teen is speaking and the young people "beg" to have Mom and Dad hold on to them because they are a "little unsteady." Even if they--Mom and Dad--find difficulty in remaining together, the child tells his parents that they must be there for him/her in order to make their living together to feel like a home.

Thinking about the song, perhaps two conclusions must be considered. One is the obvious one for the parents of our world. The song and the example of Mary and Joseph in the Gospels shows the importance of parents as a young child grows, from early until adulthood, a lesson to be learned for all parents. The song also calls on children who are old enough to speak their minds to their parents, respecting them, giving them good reason to hold on to them.

A case can be made that all of us are "unsteady," but certainly those of us who are younger must have the stability necessary for a good foundation.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, Mary and Joseph were good parents as Your Son began his life with us on this earth. May we all learn the importance of a good family as we grow in this world. Be with us, we pray.

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: Young people absolutely need their parents in order to grow well.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. In the Gospel, it is clear that Mary and Joseph were good Jewish people who followed the law. In general, do you think most Christians follow the law of Christianity in their lives? Yes or no and why?
2. What are the characteristics of parents who offer a stable foundation for their children?
3. In general, in our world, do most parents offer true stability to their children?
4. Text analysis: "Little unsteady." What is your understanding of the phrase?
5. What is the principal effect on the young children when Mom and Dad cannot get along?
6. In general, what does it mean that children should treat their parents with respect?
7. What does the song "Unsteady" teach young people?