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October 26

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Monday, October 26

LUKE 13:10-17

Jesus cures on the Sabbath

Prayerthoughts

a. In many ways, I am a teacher of Christianity simply because I am trying to be a good Christian. Can people learn good things from my every action?

b. Jesus goes to the crippled woman without her asking him to help. I should be aware of those who are hurting around me, and “go to them”, that is, offer to help if they need it.

c. The woman thanked God for the gift of being healed. Do I often thank God for all the good things I have received?

d. The leader of the synagogue felt compelled to criticize the Lord. Do I find myself criticizing people in my thoughts or words in the sense that I feel superior to them?

e. Jesus directs those who are thinking critically as hypocrites. Do I see some hypocritical thinking and acting in my actions?

f. Jesus gives a “true” understanding of “the sabbath.” What is that and what can I learn from it?

g. My prayerthoughts…

Today I will read Ephesians 4:32--5:8 and write an important thought from it.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS

+ Jesus asks questions in the Gospel today

- and almost always in the Gospel, Jesus’s questions were not difficult to answer

- they were asked because the people knew the answers and Jesus knew that they didn’t want to hear those answers

- and so, the leader of the synagogue knew the answers:

- yes, I do take care of my animal on the Sabbath, and of course this person ought to be cured on the Sabbath—any day as a matter of fact

- because people are more important than any law

- he knew the answers to the questions, but they were questions that the leader were not asking

+ One of the most important parts of solving any problem is to be able to ask the right questions.

- and really want to know the answers

- questions which concern the problem, questions whose answers we are not afraid of

- questions that deal with life and how I treat others, and so forth

- questions that get to the point of what I should be doing in the situation I am in

- in the Gospel: Jesus wanted the leader of the synagogue to ask the right questions, questions like,

- what should a truly religious leader do on the Sabbath or on any other day of the week?

- to ask the right question implies that we want to know the answer, and that we will carry it out

+ Moving into the twenty-first century, the questions that we should ask are about our own spiritual development:

- how do I become closer to the Lord given this situation?

- what should I be doing right now that could help my spiritual life?

+ Paul reminds us in his letter to the Ephesians that we are children of light

- one of the characteristics of the children of light is that they ask the right questions and are willing to follow through with the right answers.

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Movie: "Black Adam" -- final session

MAKING THE FIRST MOVE

The Gospel

JOHN 14:15-18

Jesus said, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth which the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows it. But you know it, because it remains with you, and will be in you."

Gospelthink: I promise that the Holy Spirit will be with you.

Ostensibly Adrianna's friend, Ishmael revealed himself as the leader of Intergang and kidnapped Adrianna's son Amon who had stolen the crown of Sabbac. Ishmael finally tricked Adrianna into giving him the crown and was about to kill Amon which sent Teth-Adam into his final rage before he willingly gave up his power. The Justice Society took Teth-Adam to a secret underwater black site, and as they returned to the city, they found that Ishmael has become the Sabbac who is terrorizing Kahndaq once again. The people rallied behind Amon, Adrianna and Karin but were unable to save the city. As Fate fought Sabbac, he released Adam from his prison and came to join Hawkman, Atom Smasher and Cyclone to free the city. Adam finally killed Sabbac, and declared that he had become Black Adam to be the protector of the city.

It is significant that in the story of Black Adam, while Teth-Adam was voluntarily being held in exile, that normal people rallied the people of Kahndaq to fight against the evil of the Intergang. Usually, in the DC Comic series and in stories told in movies and television, it is the super-power who is the hero. Indeed that is the final case in the movie "Black Adam," but it was "normal people" who began to take their city back. Then they needed help, but it began with them.

It is the story of the Holy Spirit in the Gospels. Jesus knew that we could not keep the commandments by ourselves. It was too awesome a task. And so, he makes a point of saying to us to keep his commandments which becomes our directive as we embrace the faith in Jesus, but we cannot do it alone. We absolutely need divine help no matter how committed to the task we may be. We need the "super-power" to help us in our task.

The beauty of our faith is that once we have made the commitment to follow the Lord's commandments, we are given the Holy Spirit at the same time who will give us the aid that we need in order to carry out our task. We do not need to "wait" till things are so bad that the super-power must come. We are given that super-power, the Holy Spirit, at the same time that we make the commitment to obey Jesus's words.

The "problem" is not the gift of the Holy Spirit which is given to us, nor in the knowledge of what Jesus's commandments are. They are automatic in the sense that once we understand our faith, we have them. The problem is our own action in following the Lord's directives. We remain sinful human beings, and often our following of the Lord's directives simply is not what it should be.

As Amon and the people of Kahndaq had to turn to action before their super-powers would help them, you and I must be devoted to follow the Lord's ways. And the Holy Spirit will automatically be there for us.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, Your Son promised the Holy Spirit to us if we would follow what he taught, and we believe that it is so. Help us initially to put into practice what the Lord has directed us to. Be with us, we pray.

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: Everyday people give hope when evil has taken over, but they need help in order to achieve their purpose.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(session: approximately 58 minutes)
1. What scene during this session of the movie is most striking? Why?
2. In your own words, describe the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. (Wisdom, Understanding, Reverence, Courage, Awe, and Right Judgment).
3. It is Catholic doctrine that there is only one gift of the Holy Spirit as such, namely love. In general, have Christians honestly learned the lesson of love? Yes or no and why?
4. In what way can we "normal people" who do not have a lot of power help humankind?
5. In your opinion, what are the three most important commandments of Jesus? Why did you choose these?
6. What does the movie "Black Adam" teach young people?