Some
Thoughts on the Liturgy
BEARING
THE FRUIT OF THE GOSPEL
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Paul tells the Christians in Corinth that they are not ready to
receive the Gospel of Jesus yet because they are involved in
too much jealousy
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he tells them that God is in charge of everything, and the
people who preach about God are merely instruments of God
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he says that he and his fellow preachers are God’s co-workers
and they are God’s building
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The Gospel that Paul and his fellow missionaries was speaking
of, of course, is contained in what we have come to know as the
four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
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in the present daily readings, we are beginning some thoughts
on the Gospel of Luke
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in those Gospels, what Jesus did is a guide
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if we follow through with what his actions teach, then the
Gospel will bear fruit and grow as it did for the Christians of
the early era
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the important idea is that it will bear fruit and help the
world around us, a world that really needs that help
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In the Gospel of today, perhaps three ideas that if we followed
what Jesus gave us, we would bear fruit
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first, Jesus was all about “curing people”
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we won’t be able to perform miracles, of course, but we can
offer help and consolation to the people around us
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and in a sense, “cure” them with our kindness and
willingness to help
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second, as Jesus did, we need to get by ourselves in a deserted
place and pray, become connected to our God
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asking God to be with us in the difficult task of living and
working in this world
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and thirdly, as Jesus and Paul and his fellow missionaries did,
we need to “preach,” that is, “proclaim the good news of
the Kingdom of God”
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and although we may not do it in a formal way, our lives and
how we live them will become a way of preaching, a way of
telling the world around us how important God is for this world
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The Gospels are more than anything a guide for us
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and if they bear fruit in us, both we and the world will profit
from it.
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MEDIA
PRESENTATION
Song:
"Greedy" – Tate McRae
BEING
“TOO GREEDY” WITH LOVE
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LUKE
12:13-15
Someone
in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to
share the inheritance with me.” He replied to him,
“Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?”
Then he said to the crowd, “Take care to guard against
all greed, for thought one may be rich, one’s life does
not consist of possessions.”
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Gospelthink:
A follower of mine will not be into greed.
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“He
says, ‘Are you serious,’ I’ve tried, but I can’t
figure out; I’ve been next to you all night and still
don’t know what you’re about.” But she says, “I
would want myself. Please believe me. I’ll
put you through hell just to know me, so sure of yourself,
don’t get greedy—that stuff won’t end well.”
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Jesus
knew about being greedy. He understood that it was nothing
more than selfishness and so he warns those who follow him:
“Take care to guard against all greed.” It is
significant that he says “all greed” because greed not
only applies to possessions which he mentions, but
understood generally, it applies to personal relationships
as well.
Tate
McRae’s song “Greedy” applies to personal
relationships with the lady in the relationship saying to
the man that he should not be greedy. That is, he
should not be too quick to pursue entering some type of
commitment. She is not ready yet, and she is telling
him not to be so selfish as to not give her the time that
is needed to be sure of a permanent commitment. As she said
of the song, it was all about the confidence of the woman
and about female empowerment. That is, she
decides
when the commitment will be made.
The
lesson of greediness therefore implies a two-fold thought.
Not only should we not follow the desire to have as many
possessions as possible, but we should control our
selfishness and allow the significant others in our
relationships to make the decisions according to their
desires.
Greed
is selfishness and selfishness is controlled by the
understanding of what is truly important in life.
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PRAYER
Good
and gracious God, we are selfish people in many ways. We
want what we want whether speaking of possessions or
relationships. Give us the grace to completely understand
our desires, and to regulate them for better living. Be
with us, we pray.
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GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM
PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT
Theme:
Greed can be seen not only in the desire for possessions,
but also in the pursuit of relationships.
DISCUSSION
QUESTIONS:
1. What
does the song "Greedy” teach young people?
2. What is your
understanding of “being greedy”?
3. When do you think is
the best time to make a permanent commitment like marriage?
4. As a general
statement, do you think most people get married too young?
5. What do you think of
the actions of many people who simply live together instead
of marrying?
6. Why do people what
more and more “things”?
7. In your opinion, what
is the best way to control selfishness?
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©2007
Capuchin Province of Mid-America
Fr.
Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin
Province of Mid-America
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