September 16

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Tuesday, September 16

LUKE 7:11-17
I have pity on a family who needs it.

Prayerthoughts

a. The death of someone is the occasion for this discussion. If a person close to me dies, do I do enough to help the family in their sorrow?

b. The situation that the Lord observed was a very sad one. Am I as aware as I should be of the sad situations in my locale. Can I do more to help them?

c. As often happens, the Lord had pity on someone. Do I show pity toward the people in my life who need it?

d. Jesus brought the man back to life. Obviously, we cannot follow the Lord completely, but do I try to "bring back to life" those who are hurting for whatever reason?

e. The people said that God was among them. Do I show the evidence of God's action in my words and deeds?

f. My prayerthoughts….

Today, I will read 1 Timothy 3:1-13 and write an important thought from it.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

THE VIRTUE OF COMPASSION

+ Paul makes a special point of saying what kind of a person ought to be involved in the hierarchy of those who serve in the Church

- here he is talking about bishops and deacons, and he uses words that describe what their character should be: “irreproachable” and “dignified”

- actually, there are many characteristics that those in service ought to have,

- and by extension, all of us who claim the Church as our religious guide are called to those characteristics

+ What are the characteristics that we all should have?

- love is certainly one of them

- and one connected with love is compassion

+ The widow in the Gospel has no man in her life at this time described by Luke

- in a patriarchal society, that means that she had a future of rejection

- Jesus was moved with pity, actually touched a coffin (something the Hebrews were forbidden)

- he was not called by her—Jesus went to her

- showing sincere compassion

+ As a Christian spiritual person, this is one of the virtues that we should develop

- the world needs compassionate people

- and compassionate people should have some of the characteristics that Jesus shows here:

1 – an awareness of the need

- Jesus knew that the widow needed her son

- in our lives, there are people who need us in a real way

- compassionate people will understand that

- it will mean taking the stress off of ourselves for a time, and that is difficult

2 – we will want to do something about that need

- Jesus sought her out, touched the coffin of the dead man

- we have to make the moves to help someone

- here as throughout the Scriptures we are faced with the concept of being able to measure what we do, point to it, not in bragging, but just doing it

- the visit to the hospital, nursing home

- the offering of money to people in need

+ Jesus is praised by the people because of his compassion

- this is significant for us also, not in the sense that we want the praise

- but the world needs compassion, and must have it, and therefore will “praise” those who give it.

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Song: "Eyes Closed" -- Ed Sheeran

DEALING WITH THE CARDS LIFE DEALT

The Gospel

MATTHEW 9:20-22

A woman suffering hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind [Jesus] and touched the tassel on his cloak. She said to herself, "If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured." Jesus turned around and saw her, and said, "Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you." And from that hour the woman was cured.

Gospelthink: I reward a person's faith.

"I know it’s a bad idea, but how can I help myself? Been inside for most this year, and I thought a few drinks they might help, it's been a while, my dear, dealing with the cards life dealt. I'm still holding back these tears while my friends are somewhere else. Every song reminds me you’re gone, and I feel the lump in my throat cause I’m here alone. Just dancing with my eyes closed ‘cause everywhere I look I still see you and time is moving so slow, and I don’t know what else that I can do, so I’ll keep dancing with my eyes closed,"

Things happen whether we like it or not. The car breaks down. We are involved in an accident that causes some pain, often debilitating either physically or mentally. We are a victim of a disease. We grow older and simply cannot function like we used to. Reality.

Reality is often not very pretty, but it is reality, and it cannot be denied. What happens after we realize it is a matter of personal choice. We place it into our consciousness, and then decide whether we want to do anything about it. Sometimes we may not want to do anything; sometimes, it may not even help to do anything. But sometimes we can do something, and it can be significant for our lives.

The lady in the healing story of Matthew's Gospel had accepted her ailment for twelve years. No doubt she had tried her best to do something about it; she had even consulted the so-called experts of her time, the doctors. There was nothing anyone could do, and so when she heard of Jesus, she turned to him. And more than that--she believed that he could do something about it.

Ed Sheeran’s song "Eyes Closed" describes a real situation that is significant for a person that is trying to get over the pain of the loss of someone close. In his mind, the way to deal with the negative reality was to allow music and rhythm to heal. As he explains in the song, he was "dealing with the cards that life dealt." For him, dancing with his eyes closed was the remedy to the reality that he had to face.

Perhaps one of the most important indications of how we live our lives is how we deal with the "cards that life" deals. We can feel sorry for ourselves and complain to whomever will listen. Or we can do something about it. We can face whatever it is and determine a course of action that will address the problem.

Such a course of action can have a temporary result or a permanent one. The song's solution of "dancing with your eyes closed" may give some relief, but perhaps the decision to do something that will last a little longer is more appropriate. The thought of the lady in the Gospel should be the approach of every Christian believer. Whatever cards are dealt to us, we can turn to our God, and listen to Him tell us what to do.

PRAYER
Good and gracious God, we make decisions all the time, and sometimes those decisions are not good and end up hurting us. Also things happen that are disappointments to us. Give us the grace to learn to adjust to whatever happens in our lives, and then move on with the help of your grace. Be with us, we pray.

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: We must find a way to deal with the difficulties of life.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. What does the song "Eyes Closed" teach young people?
2. As you study our world over the past couple years, what are the most important realities that have happened, and how have we adjusted to them?
3. How do most people react to a tragedy that has happened to them or their family?
4. What can I do to help someone who has suffered some tragedy?
5. In your opinion, do you think that simply "ignoring" a problem really works?
6. The meditation suggests that an indication of how we live our lives is how we adjust to the things that happen. Do you agree or disagree?
7. How does our faith in God help with any tragedy?