attention

September 25

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Thursday, September 25

LUKE 9:7-9
Herod was confused about who I was, thinking I was my friend John the Baptist.

Prayerthoughts
a. Herod has always been considered as “evil.” As I consider “evil” and the different places of “evil” in the world, can I do anything about them besides praying that the evil will be conquered?

b. John the Baptist above all spoke the truth. Perhaps there are some “truths” which I should speak. What are the principal "truths" which should be present in my life?

c. The talk that Herod heard concerned prophets that had reappeared. Who are the modern prophets of our day today, and what should I learn from them?

d. In my life, I, too, keep trying to see Jesus in the sense of making him part of everything I do. In my life right now, what needs the most improvement?

e. My prayerthoughts….

Today, I will read Haggai 1:1-8 and write an important thought from it.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

MORE THAN TRYING TO UNDERSTAND JESUS

+ An interesting meditation can be supplied by Herod’s question and Luke’s comment in the Gospel today

- Herod’s question: Who is this?

- Luke’s comment: He kept trying to see him.

+ As one attempts to grow spiritually, Herod’s question is fundamental: who is this person?

- it is the beginning question which must be asked

- why do we choose to follow this Jesus?

- why do we base our spiritual life on his thoughts, words and deeds?

- it can easily lead to commitment, deep involvement and acceptance as Lord and Savior

- but in order to accomplish that, we have to do more than simply try to see him

+ Our Church calendar is full of saints and blesseds who were doing more than simply trying to understand Jesus

- studying Herod and the saints, it is possible perhaps to set up a distinction as a result of Luke’s comment today:

***- there are those in the spiritual life who begin by trying to understand Jesus, and then really involve themselves in Jesus’s thought—the saints, for example

- they are anxious to understand his words and actions and why he does certain things so that they can be guided by him

- and willing to spend time in reverencing God, as God directed the early Israelites seen in the Haggai reading

***- and there are those in the spiritual life—you really can’t even use that term to describe them--

- those who are simply trying to understand Jesus’s thought, and going no further—people like Herod

- they realize that they will have to change or at least spend a significant amount of time studying the situation of their lives if they go further than merely try

- and this does not fit into their pattern

+ Herod’s question and Luke’s comment sets up a distinction for our spiritual life

- the key question is who is this person?

- and the answer is not to merely try to see Jesus, but to try and then do something about it.

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Song: "Attention" -- Charlie Puth
ALL YOU WANT IS ATTENTION

The Gospel

MATTHEW 23:27-28

Jesus said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of filth. Even so, on the outside you appear righteous, but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and evildoing.”

Gospelthink: I was very upset with the religious leaders, and one of the reasons was simply the way they were thinking. Am I trying to purify the way I think?

"You’ve been runnin’ around throwin’ that dirt all on my name ‘cause you knew that I’d call you up. I know that dress is karma, perfume regret. You got me thinking ‘bout when you were mine. You just want attention, you don’t want my heart. Maybe you just hate the thought of me with someone new. Yeah, you just want attention. What are you doin’ to me?”

What happens to a relationship when one of the party wants attention from everyone around him/her, and really does not care about the relationship? Obviously, such a relationship is not going to last because as Charlie Puth sings in his song "Attention," "You just want attention, you don't want my heart." If there is to be a lasting relationship, giving one's heart to another implies that the other will give his/her own heart as well. A relationship cannot be present with only one heart: it takes two.

Part of the sin of the Pharisees and scribes in Jesus's eyes was "wanting attention" from people, but not wanting to give their hearts. They were interested only in how many people they could impress, and forgot about their "insides," as Jesus pointed out to them. They were not interested in giving away their hearts, that is, leading others to religious practice; they were only wanting attention, appearing "beautiful" to anyone who was watching.

In a romantic relationship, it is relatively clear that the relationship is over when one of the people in the relationship is more interested in being noticed by others in a romantic way. Both parties of the relationship must be interested in each other. If one is more interested in others, then it is time for discussion on the part of both. In the Gospels Jesus wanted to work with the scribes and Pharisees, but when it was clear that they were only concerned about what others thought of them, Jesus could not communicate with them.

Incredibly in the song, the man in the relationship is not deciding to end the relationship. He wants it to continue, and so he seems to "overlook" the fact that his friend is much more interested in "showing off" to others. If that friend does not change, the man's life will be miserable. It is certainly good to desire the relationship to continue, but there must be evidence that it will continue before a person gives his "heart" to it.

PRAYER.

Good and gracious God, Your Son worked to have a good relationship with everyone here on earth, even those who did not listen to him. Give us the grace to build good relationships by overcoming any selfishness that we may have. Be with us, we pray.

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: If a person merely wants attention from others, he/she can never enter a real relationship.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS;
1. Jesus showed "tough love" toward the scribes and Pharisees. What does "tough love" consist of?
2. What is the best way to cleanse our "insides" as Jesus desires of the religious leaders?
3. In general, why do people want "attention" from others?
4. What does it mean to "give our hearts" to another?
5. Why would a person in the situation of the song want to continue the relationship?
6. What does the song "Attention" teach young people?