September 23 

  [media presentation below]

GospelThink

Tuesday, September 23

LUKE 8:19-21
My Word should be important in your life. 

Prayerthoughts
a. Jesus was obviously close to his family. Go through your close family members right now and determine whether you are as good to them as you should be. What can you do to better your relationship?

b. Is there some family relationship, either close or otherwise,  that I should improve?

c. Two things are necessary concerning the Word of God.  First, I must listen to it. Have I worked out a pattern to listen to the Word of God daily?

d. Then, of course, I must act on that Word. What areas of my life right now could I improve?

e. The essential thought for today's reading is that we often place other things to be more important than the Word of God. What are the important things in my life right now, and does the Word of God compare in importance to them?

f. My prayerthoughts... 

Today I will read Ezra 6:7-8,12b,14-20 and write an important thought from it.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

HOW IMPORTANT IS THE WORD OF GOD?


+ The historical book of Ezra gives us the account of the re-building of the temple

- reporting the people who built it, how the dedication went, and the establishment of the priests and Levites for the service of God

- showing the reverence that the Israelite people were to have for God by revering the building

- saying in effect that because God is so important, the building and those who service it are to be as grand as possible

- not unlike the people who built this Cathedral of the Plains


+ Jesus adds something to that thought that is very important

- the building may be important because it shows reverence to God, but it is not as important as listening and carrying out the Word of God

- he says such in effect as he deals with his family here in the Gospel,

- saying that the fundamental relationship to him is not through a building or blood ties or other earthly connections but through hearing and acting on the word of God


+ Obviously, our meditation, as yesterday, must center around how well we are listening and acting on the word of God

- Jesus saying directly to us: the people who are important to me…

…are those who hear the word of God and act on it.


+ Perhaps the thrust of our meditation this morning could center around the importance we place on other things, and compare that to the importance we place on carrying out the word of God

- you look at how important those who built this building place on their building of it

- and now our maintaining it

- you study the importance of our families, and how we feel about them

- and we conclude that there are some things that are extremely important to us

- and we treat them that way—as we should

- our meditation is that even more than that, we have to listen to what God says to us, and carry through on it


+ There are many things that we give a high importance to in our living and acting

- the question for us: is understanding what the word of God should mean for us that high in importance?                                                                  












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's 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? 

 

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