TGIMMselma2

September 23

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Monday, September 23

LUKE 8:16-18
If you truly listen to my word, I will give you even more understanding.

Prayerthoughts
a. Jesus tells a story that involves my being a light for others to see. Others observe me all the time whether I like it or not. Am I showing the virtues of Jesus to the world?

b. There is nothing that will remain hidden, nothing that will remain a secret. Are there some actions that I do that I would not like the majority of the world to know? Why?

c. The Lord states a phrase that he often uses, saying that we must truly hear what he says to us. Are there some sayings of the Lord that are too difficult for me to listen to?

d. We must also take care what we hear. Do I find myself listening to idle gossip and negative conversation about others, maybe even sometimes contributing to it? Perhaps I should say a prayer for those people that I have been too critical of.

e. The Lord promises that the person who really tries to do well in judging others will be rewarded and the person who does not do well will not be rewarded. It is a scare tactic from the Lord, and one we should listen to.

f. My prayerthoughts….

Today, I will read Proverbs, chapter 3, and write an
important thought from it.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

LISTENING CAREFULLY TO THE WORD

+ This portion of Luke’s Gospel continues the thought of listening to the Word of God

- and therefore the thought is dealing with the Word of God

- the Word of God which should fall on good soil

+ That Word is to be present to all—on a lampstand

- everyone will have access to it—nothing hidden

- and the more one hears and understands, the more a person will have knowledge

- if one hears without understanding, he/she will be totally confused

-so the Lord says:

Take care, then, how you hear.

+ The application: how well do we listen to the Word of God

- both here at Mass and in the privacy of our mental prayer

- in particular, how do we perceive the Word of God for our lives

- one of the essentials of Catholicism must be the belief that God is talking to us in Revelation

- and it is likewise essential how well we are listening

+ For example, the Book of Proverbs, a book which is full of sayings that can literally guide one’s life

- how do we receive what is said?

- do we strive to hear with understanding?

- that is, hear so as to see that the Word of God should guide us, hear so as to yield a hundredfold?

- just in today’s lesson:

- do we give—the single most important word in love of a spouse

- do we quarrel not, envy not

- we recognize the condemnation of the arrogant

- that is, people who always think of themselves first

- and not worrying about others

- do we recognize the acceptance of the humble

- the poor in spirit, the anawim of Luke’s Gospel

- that is, the people who really want God’s will to work in their lives with no duplicity?

+ The Word of God is essential to our faith

- and there must be a true acceptance of that Word of God.

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Movie: "Selma" -- final session

FOCUSED ON WHAT GOD WANTS

The Gospel

JOHN 8:28-30

Jesus said (to them), “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I AM, and that I do nothing on my own, but I say only what the Father taught me. The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do what is pleasing to him.” Because he spoke this way, many came to believe in him.

Gospelthink: I make it clear that I am God, and the Father and I are one. Is it clear from my life that I have chosen Jesus as my Savior?

The movie "Selma" records the historical fact of three different marches from Selma, Alabama to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965. The first became known as "Bloody Sunday" because of police violence against the demonstrators. The march was aborted as a result, but it was recognized as a major turning point in an effort to gain public support for the Civil Rights Movement. The second march was aborted by King himself so that the march would not violate a court order preventing it. After a judge's decision, the third march was successful, ending on the steps of the court house in Montgomery. During his speech at the end of the march, one that he had been warned not to give because he could have been killed, King pointed out that God was the impetus behind their activity. Eventually Congress passed the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The movie closes outlining the fates of King and his supporters.

Martin Luther King Jr. felt that he was doing the work of God in his fight for complete integration because he was focused on what God wanted. As he reflected on the steps of the Montgomery court house, quoting the ancient hymn, his eyes had seen the glory of the Lord. That glory led him to accomplish by a non-violent means a march that eventually led to the right to vote for all in the South. He was able to overcome all obstacles.

It is clear from John's Gospel that Jesus was God with the I AM statements, the name of God as given by Moses. But it is also clear that what he wanted to do was accomplish what God the Father wanted. His focus was just that: "I say only what the Father has taught me." We may not understand the Trinity and the truth of it, but it is evident from Jesus' thought about himself that he was focused on God and as a result, he could overcome all obstacles and eventually accomplish the redemption of the world.

The lesson for the common citizen who wants to bring about the Christian message is an obvious one. We must keep ourselves focused on what God wants which we discover by listening carefully to God's Son, Jesus. Therefore we will follow what the Lord desires of us. As Martin Luther King Jr. learned from his Savior, we must be non-violent people in bringing about peace and justice for our world.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, our Christian goal must be the goal of Your Son Jesus as He worked in our world. He was totally focused on You as he went about His ministry. Give us the grace to learn from Him and thus be focused on You and help bring about a truly non-violent world. Be with us, we pray.

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: If we focus on what God wants, we will overcome all obstacles.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. What scene during this session of the movie was most striking to you? Why?
2. Analysis: John the evangelist using many phrases such as I AM in his Gospel, signifying that Jesus is God. Of course, all Christians accept this fact. Is it possible for a Christian to convince a non-Christian that Jesus is God? Yes or no and why?
3. The point of the passage with this part of the movie is that Jesus focused on what God wanted. What does God want most of all for the world?
4. If we truly are focused on what "God wants," what is the first thing that we should do?
5. Where have you seen "the glory of the Lord" most in our world?
6. As you study the world right now, what are the strongest obstacles to the Christian ideals?
7. How is the best way to "keep ourselves focused" on what God wants?
8. In your opinion, is it ever possible to obtain the "non-violent way" as we work in our world?
9. Scene analysis: "Bloody Sunday," the close of the first march to Montgomery. In your opinion, do you think that King should have continued to pursue his ideal even though it was evident that people would be hurt or killed? Yes or no and why?
10. Scene analysis: King prays and then turns back during the second march ostensibly because the judge had not ruled yet on whether to allow it, and receives criticism from his supporters. What do you think was King's motivation?
11. Scene analysis: President Johnson sends his personal adviser to beg King to stop the marches, and seek a compromise. Should King have thought more about "compromise" in accord with the President's wishes? Yes or no and why?
12. Scene analysis: King's wife joins him before the final march. Why was it important for Coretta to be present for the march?
13. Analysis: The Selma-Montgomery marches were very important for Southern integration. In your opinion, is the Southern United States completely integrated now? Yes or no and why?
14. What does the movie "Selma" teach young people?