October 27 23

October 27
[media presentation below] GospelThink Monday, October 27 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 Romans 8:12-17 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 Romans that we are children of God - one of the characteristics of the children of God is that they ask the right questions.

MEDIA PRESENTATION Song: "50 Ways to Say Goodbye" -- Train OUT OF LIES

The Gospel

JOHN 4:25-26

The Samaritan woman said to him, "I know that the Messiah is coming, the one called the Anointed; when he comes, he will tell us everything." Jesus said to her, "I am he, the one who is speaking with you."

Gospelthink: I tell the Samaritan woman exactly who I am. I know that Jesus is Lord and the question is: do I act that way?

"My heart is paralyzed; my head was over-sized. I’ll take the high road like I should. You said it’s meant to be, that 'it’s not you, it’s me'. You’re leaving now 'for my own good.' That’s cool, but if my friends ask where you are, I’m gonna say," ... and he goes on to make up reasons why she left—reasons that include among others, "she fell into a cement mixer full of quicksand," "she met a shark underwater," "she was eaten by a lion," and "she got run over by a crappy purple Scion." He ends with the plea: "Help me, help me, I’m no good at goodbyes, I’m all out of lies, and ways to say you died. My pride still feels the sting, you were my everything, someday I’ll find a love like yours."

Train's song "50 Ways to Say Goodbye" is a lighthearted, almost happy song about a very serious problem. The problem is that we do not like others to think that there is something wrong with us. So, when his lady friend decides to leave the man in the relationship because of her own personal reasons, he does not want people to think that it was his fault, and, as he admits, he lies. The song is exaggeration, of course, but the point is made: we like to look good. When we do, we are often not honest with ourselves.

The encounter of Jesus with the Samaritan woman in John's Gospel is an encounter of two people at opposite ends of the continuum of honesty. Jesus is totally honest with the woman, even admitting that he is the Messiah. The woman on the other hand, at first was not honest at all concerning her life. She only arrived at being honest with herself the more she talked with Jesus.

The virtue of honesty is without doubt one of the most important virtues for the human being because it involves how we look at ourselves and others. "Honesty," Thomas Jefferson said, "is the first chapter of the book 'wisdom'." It is the foundation of true living. It begins with ourselves, and very simply, as Train alludes to in their song, it involves being "all out of lies" at every moment. It means studying our words and actions and even our thoughts to see if we are lying to ourselves about who we present ourselves to be, about the relationships that we have, or about the way we truly believe.

Jesus knew that the Samaritan woman would only be saved if she became honest with herself about her life and what she was doing. It took some soul-searching on her part and some difficult words from Jesus to do it. The only path to salvation and happiness is one paved with honesty. We must take the time to study how we are walking that path.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, through your Son, you constantly call us to be honest in our approach to life. Unfortunately, we are often not inclined that way. Continue to give us the grace to understand ourselves a little more and always to be honest with ourselves and others. Be with us, we pray.

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GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: We must strive to know the truth about ourselves at all times.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. Project: outline the story of the Samaritan woman in chapter 4 of John's Gospel. What is most striking about the story?
2. Jesus is the Messiah. What is your understanding of the title? See Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, numbers 436-440, 711-716.
3. Text analysis: "My head was over-sized." What is the meaning of the sentence?
4. Text analysis: what is the "high road" that he is speaking of?
5. What is the meaning of "being honest with ourselves"?
6. Is there ever an instance where we can actually not tell the truth? Yes or no and why? (See Catechism, numbers 2488-2492.)
7. If "honesty" is the first chapter of the book "wisdom" (as Thomas Jefferson says), what do you think are the other parts of wisdom that are essential?
8. Do you believe that there are people in our world who never lie? Yes or no and why?
9. In what ways do people present a false picture of themselves to others?
10. In what ways are we not honest in our relationships?
11. What are the best ways to "search our soul"?
12. What does the song "50 Ways to Say Goodbye" teach young people?