attention

September 25

[media presentation below]

GospelThink

Wednesday, September 25

LUKE 9:1-6
I send you to do the same to those around you.

Prayerthoughts
a. Obviously, I cannot heal the sick or cast out demons, but I can show concern. Do I show signs of personal concern—a card, a visit, etc.—to the people that I know who are ill?

b. Jesus wanted his Apostles to travel “lite” because he did not want material things to hold back the message that they were to preach. As I live in the world, are there material things that are holding me back from God’s presence?

c. Jesus realizes that the Apostles will face rejection, and rather than talk against those who rejected them or threaten them, he tells them simply to shake the dust from their feet, or in other words, just leave and go to the next situation. Often I cannot do that—I would rather seek out some type of revenge. What is the area in my life where I am most prone to revenge?

d. How do I proclaim the message of good news in the places where I live?

e. What is the most important message that should be proclaimed to our present world?

f. My prayerthoughts...

Today, I will consider some times when I was hurt, and take the time to pray for the people involved.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

SUFFICENT MATERIAL GOODS

+ It is an interesting prayer that is part of the Book of Proverbs today:

- asking for two things of God: 1 – to keep the person speaking from lying, that is, to be honesty and 2 – to give him sufficient material goods, not too much, and not to little

- because in both instances, if he did not have an answer to these prayers, the man felt that he would sin

- both are good for our spiritual lives for the same reason—to keep us from sin

- the one about material goods is also part of the Gospel today

+ As Jesus sends his Apostles into the ministry to do the things that he wanted them to do, namely,

- preach the Kingdom of God and heal

- he gave them a directive concerning material goods

- that is, taking nothing extra for their journey

- which basically says that they have to depend on God’s providence

- it is practically the same directive as the second part of Proverbs’ prayer: sufficient material goods

+ The application for our spiritual lives is a consideration of how much we have

- how much we have, how much we want, how we desire more are topics that Jesus speaks directly in other places in Scripture

- here, the thoughts is why we should want only a sufficient amount of material goods

- as the Book of Proverbs says—because there is the possibility of sin

- Jesus implies that the job he gave them will not get done

- if we are worried too much about compensation for what we do, the chances are that what we do will suffer

- and so, depend on God, Jesus says

+ The goal that we should have with material goods is that we never allow them to keep us back from doing the proper things for Godly living

- because we are Christians, we are all called to be missionaries

- to proclaim the kingdom of God by preaching with our lives -- thoughts, words and actions

- and to heal, primarily psychological, helping others

- the fact is that if we spend too much time on material goods, we could miss our calling.

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' 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?