MARK 12:32-34

The scribe said to Jesus, “Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, ‘He is One and there is no other than he.’ And ‘to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself’ is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices." And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Gospelthink: The scribe answered with understanding. Do I truly want to try to understand others, especially those I don't like for some reason?

In the movie "Contagion," the experts of the Center of Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization finally identified the virus that was killing people and causing uncontrollable panic in the world. As one studies what was happening with the spread of the disease and the deaths that were occurring, one can easily understand how the desire to protect ourselves has a tendency to control our thinking. For the most part, such thinking is good since we are called to preserve our own lives. But when we begin harming others in order to bring about our own protection, we have to carefully consider what we are doing. Sacrificing oneself for the sake of others may be more important even than preserving one's own life. 

Giving up one's own life so that others can live is the highest form of love. Throughout his life on earth, Jesus called people to such a love. Many people understood it, as the evangelist Mark attests to after Jesus had spoken his doctrine of love. In fact, as one of the early Christian commentators wrote, "We know that we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers. Whoever does not love remains in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him. The way we came to know love was that he laid down his life for us; so we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If someone who has worldly means sees a brother in need and refuses him compassion, how can the love of God remain in him?" (1 John 3:14-17)

Unfortunately, such love does not fill our Christian minds the way that Jesus wanted. As can be seen in the movie "Contagion," when the possibility of our own survival is at risk, many of us tend to think only of ourselves. The looting that occurs, the favoritism for a privileged few, using panic for one's own profit all show a fundamental desire that too many have--we want to protect ourselves no matter what, even if we hurt others in the process.

Jesus wants us to be interested in ourselves. Otherwise he would never have told us to love others as we love ourselves. But loving God and others must have the priority. The Christian doctrine of love is written with the thought that even though we must work at self-preservation, our guide as we live must be the love that goes beyond ourselves. Jesus told us as much by his own death.

A footnote must be made as we talk of the possibility of dying on behalf of others. Truly, we Christians are called to martyrdom--sacrificing ourselves for others. It is difficult when we must die for God and others. Also, it is just as difficult when martyrdom means to live for them.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, your Son preached your difficult doctrine of love. In many instances in history, it has called for dying on behalf of you and others. Give us the grace to see the importance of loving you and others even as we take care of ourselves as best we can. Be with us, we pray. 

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GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: We must truly love others even as we strive to care for ourselves.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(session: approximately 49 minutes)
1. What scene during this session of the movie is most striking? Why?
2. The insight of the scribe in the Gospel passage was that love of God and neighbor was even more important than worship in the temple. In your opinion, do most Christians think that such love is more important than worship of God in Church? Yes or no and why?
3. In general, in your opinion, have Christians made "love of God and others" the primary directive in their lives? Yes or no and why?
4. Jesus saw that the scribe answered with "understanding." What is your definition of true "understanding"?
5. In general, in your opinion, are we a people who will lay down our lives on behalf of someone else? Yes or no and why?
6. If you would find yourself in the situation of the movie--with the possibility of death from the virus as a very real possibility--how would you behave? Why?
7. In your life right now with your own set of circumstances, what is the best way for you to show that you love other people?
8. How can a person be a "martyr" and still be alive?
9. Scene analysis: Dr. Cheever tells his wife to leave Chicago, even though he was told not to tell anyone. Would you have done the same thing? Yes or no and why?
10. Scene analysis: Dr. Cheever's wife tells someone and tells her not to repeat it. Obviously, this is the way something "secret" spreads. Are there some "secrets" that should be told? Yes or no and why?
11. Scene analysis: looting of stores. What is the motivation of people who are doing this?
12. Scene analysis: Dr. Mears offers her coat to someone else even as she dies. She was truly a martyr for the cause of curing the disease. Give some examples of "modern day martyrs."
13. Scene analysis: empty public places since all people are staying at home in fear. Given this type of fear, what would you have done?
14. Scene analysis: The vaccine lottery. It is a fair way to give the vaccine to everyone. Can you think of another way it could have been done? Yes or no?
15. Scene analysis: When Dr. Orantes hears that they really did not give the vaccine to her captors, she leaves in a hurry, with the movie not saying where she is going. What do you think her intentions were?
16. What does the movie "Contagion" teach young people?

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