TGIMMpart

September 3
[media presentation below] GospelThink Wednesday, September 3 Luke 4:38-44 The purpose for which I came to you was to preach the Good News of the Gospel. Prayerthoughts a. Jesus led a human life like you and I do. As we visit friends, are we as kind and gracious as we should be? b. We will run into people who are sick or ill, maybe some in a hospital. Am I willing to visit them, showing that I truly care for them? c. Obviously, I cannot heal people physically. But I can psychologically simply by my presence and concern and promise of prayer. d. Simon’s mother-in-law is a good example of showing gratitude. She got up immediately and waited on them. Am I as grateful to others as I should be? e. Evil is very much alive in our world. Sometimes I must confront it head on, although always with caution. Perhaps, without judging them, I should pray a little more for those who are perpetrating evil. f. Jesus wants to spend time in prayer. Have I set up a prayer life daily that I try to follow as best I can? g. Jesus says that his purpose is to preach the Gospel to all around him. I have chosen a specific way of living in my life (my “purpose”). What is the best way of making it a “Christian” direction? h. My prayerthoughts… Today, I will read Colossians 1:1-8, and write an important thought from it.
Some Thoughts on the Liturgy BEARING THE FRUIT OF THE GOSPEL + The daily readings begin the consideration of the letter to the Colossians today - at the beginning of the letter, our reading here, Paul, or more than likely a disciple of Paul, praises the Christians of Colossae saying that the Gospel that he preached to them is bearing fruit and growing - it is doing that because they were willing to listen to it and make it part of their lives + The Gospel that Paul was speaking of, of course, is contained in what we have come to know as the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John - in those Gospels, what Jesus did is to be a guide - 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 - the important idea is that it will bear fruit and help the world around us, a world that really needs that help + In the Gospel of today, perhaps three ideas that if we followed what Jesus gave us, we would bear fruit - first, Jesus was all about “curing people” - we won’t be able to perform miracles, of course, but we can offer help and consolation to the people around us - and in a sense, “cure” them with our kindness and willingness to help - second, as Jesus did, we need to get by ourselves in a deserted place and pray, become connected to our God - asking God to be with us in the difficult task of living and working in this world - and thirdly, as Jesus did, we need to “preach,” that is, “proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God” - 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 + The Gospels are more than anything a guide for us - and if they bear fruit in us, both we and the world will profit from it.
MEDIA PRESENTATION Song: "Part of Me" -- Katy Perry YOU CAN NEVER BREAK A SOUL

The Gospel

LUKE 14:1-6

LUKE 14:1-6

On a sabbath [Jesus] went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees, and the people were observing him carefully. In front of him there was a man suffering from dropsy. Jesus spoke to the scholars of the law and Pharisees in reply, asking, "Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath or not?" But they kept silent; so he took the man and, after he had healed him, dismissed him. Then he said to them, "Who among you, if your son or ox falls into a cistern, would not immediately pull him out on the sabbath day?" But they were unable to answer his question.

Gospelthink: I wanted the religious leaders to understand that people are much more important than law. Have I placed the good treatment of others as a priority in my life?

"Days like this, I want to drive away; you chewed me up and spit me out like I was poison in your mouth. But that was then and this is now. This is the part of me that you’re never gonna ever take from me. Throw your sticks and your stones, throw your bombs and your blows, but you’re never gonna break my soul. Now, look at me: I'm sparkling, a firework, a dancing flame. You won't ever put me out again. I'm glowin'."

Jesus always had the highest regard for human beings, especially those who were set aside by the majority of the people. One of the ways that he showed it was by his attitude toward the laws of the sabbath. Jesus considered the sabbath sacred, as did the religious leaders, but the laws of the sabbath were not as important as a human person or even a suffering animal. Observing Jesus' attitude toward the human person, one must always conclude that every human being is very special because every human being is a child of God.

Katy Perry's song "Part of Me" is an excellent song about the importance of every individual. The person in the song has been hurt by her boyfriend, but she is saying that she will survive. She has the highest regard for the human person, and in particular, her own humanity. She knows the importance of her own soul, as she says, and no one will ever be able to take away the depth of who we are.

Of course, there are going to be problems: we are going to feel like we have been chewed up, and spit out of people’s lives because of whatever reason. Sometimes, unfortunately, we are at fault, and we should be chewed up a little. That in itself is very difficult to face, because we do not like to think that we are at fault. But sometimes, we are not at fault; the other person should not be doing the chewing up and spitting out. It is totally wrong, and it should not be happening, but it is. The person in the song has the attitude that it is not going to make any difference in her life because she realizes who she is, that she has a soul.

Now, of course, the sticks and stones and bombs and blows are going to hurt the lady in the song, no matter how much she says that such a thing is not going to happen. We are all human and we are going to feel the mental pain of someone not liking us or talking us down, especially when we do not deserve it. But her attitude is the one to be learned and sought after by every one in our world. We are human beings; there is greatness in our lives because of it. We must treat ourselves and others with that in mind.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, you have given us the great gift of creation. May we always thank you by being aware of the importance of who we are, both for ourselves and for others. Be with us, we pray.

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GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: We must understand the greatness of our humanity at all times in our lives, even when we have pain.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. In the Gospel, the man with the disease may have been the reason why Jesus was invited to the meal, hoping for a cure. One of the laws of Christian love is that we are good to the sick. In general, do Christians have a true loving care for the sick in the world? Yes or no and why?
2. In general why is the Sabbath (Saturdays for Jewish people; Sundays for Christians) such an important day? Do you think that people treat the Sabbath any differently from other days of the week? Yes or no and why?
3. Should shops and stores be open on the Sabbath? Yes or no and why?
4. Why are breakups often so bitter?
5. The person in the song has a very positive outlook on life as she sings the song. What will it take to keep such a positive attitude in her life?
6. What is the best way to treat a person who has hurt us in a past love relationship? Is it the way most people would behave? Yes or no and why?
7. Analysis: no one will ever be able to take away the depth of who we are. What is the meaning of the statement?
8. In general, do most Christians think that every one is a special child of God?
9. The presenter may want to make a presentation on "body and soul." See Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, numbers 362-368.
10. The meditation refers to times when we should be chewed up a little. In particular, what are some of those times?
11. Jesus has said that we must forgive those who have hurt us. In general, do Christians follow the doctrine of forgiveness all the time? Yes or no and why?
12. What is the best way to heal the mental pain that comes into our lives because of what others do to us or our families?
13. What does the song "Part of Me" teach young people?