TGIMM422

	FACING THE EVIL AMONG US

The Gospel

JOHN 2:13-17

Since the Passover of the Jews was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the money-changers seated there. He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen, and spilled the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables, and to those who sold doves he said, “Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.” His disciples recalled the words of scripture, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

The Media -- "42" (final session)

Jackie Robinson accepted Branch Rickey's challenge to become the only African American baseball player in the major leagues. As a result of his acceptance, Robinson had to suffer incredible abuse from most of the white players on his team and other teams. It is a fact of history that he endured the suffering as well as any man was able to do. At one time when he was deliberately spiked by another player, and Rickey was offering Robinson encouragement, Robinson asked Rickey the question, "why?" Why was Rickey doing this? Why did he want to integrate major league baseball? Branch Rickey's answer is one that every organization and institution must study. Rickey explained that because he loved the game of baseball, he wanted it to be free of evil. It was not, and if the game was to be what it should be, the players could not show any prejudice.

The movie "42" points out that the only number that has been retired in all of major league baseball history is the number "42," Jackie Robinson's number. It has been held as a sacred number because of Jackie Robinson's courage. Together with Branch Rickey, Jackie Robinson turned around the segregation that had infiltrated major league baseball. Many people point to what Branch Rickey and Jackie Robinson accomplished as the starting point of the civil rights movement in the United States.

An important consideration of the courageous story of Jackie Robinson is that major league baseball was only one of the institutions that was plagued with the cancer of segregation. There were many employers and organizations that had to face the fact of prejudice in their ranks. In general, the leaders of any good organization will try to identify any evil that is part of their institution, and then do something about it. It took courageous people to begin it for major league baseball. Likewise it takes courageous people to call attention to any organization who has allowed evil to creep into its operations.

Jesus was such a courageous person when he walked our earth. He was part of the institution called "religion." As a human being, he knew what religion ought to be. From early on, he had considered it to be a guide in his life, the means that he had of reaching out to God, the creator of all. When he sensed that the institution was not doing it, he allowed his human zeal to envelop him, causing quite a stir, no doubt, among the religious leaders who should have realized what was happening.

In light of a world that is often only interested in money, pleasure and power, institutions and organizations must be aware of the possibility of evil in their organizations. The burden of bringing about the good is with us. We are all members of some organization, whether it be a school, a church, or a job that supplies money for our living or the like. It is the mark of Christian living that we must be aware of the possibility of evil, and if it is present, to be courageous, zealous enough, to do something about it.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, it is well known that evil has crept into the world that you created. Give us the grace to identify any evil that we may cause, and give us the courage to try to conquer it. Be with us, we pray.

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GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: The leaders of any organization must address the evil that has entered into it.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(session: approximately 60 minutes
1. What scene during this session of the movie is most striking? Why?
2. The presenter may want to present a class on "The Temple" of the Israelite people, pointing out where the money changers and so forth were located.
3. Most commentators remark that Jesus was angry as he did the action. In your opinion, can a holy person be both holy and angry at the same time? Yes or no and why?
4. In your opinion, define what the Scripture means by the word "zeal."
5. The presenter may want to give a presentation on the civil rights movement, and identify how Branch Rickey's and Jackie Robinson's courage "paved the way" for it.
6. Name some other institutions that were showing "prejudice" during the 1940's.
7. Besides prejudice, what are some other evils that creep into established organizations?
8. Do you think that the religious leaders of Jesus' time believed that what was happening in the Temple area was wrong? Yes or no and why?
9. In your opinion, do most large organizations consider the possibility of evil in their organizations? Yes or no and why?
10. Identify an evil in a school. In a church. In a community.
11. Do you think that most people would "blow the whistle" (report a wrong) when they see an evil on a company who has employed them? Yes or no and why?
12. Scene analysis: the young child who was so interested in Jackie Robinson (who went on to play major league baseball). In your opinion, do the major stars of a sport realize the impact they have on young people? Yes or no and why?
14. Scene analysis: The pitcher deliberately hits Jackie Robinson in the head. This still happens in baseball today, and often the other team retaliates in some way. What can be done about this evil?
15. Scene analysis: Jackie Robinson vows to be a good father to his kids. In general, do most fathers do a decent job with their children? Yes or no and why? How can they do a better job?
16. Scene analysis: Pee Wee Reese does not sign the petition to refuse to play if Jackie Robinson is on the team. In your opinion, would most people have this much courage? Yes or no and why?
17. Scene analysis: the abuse given by the Phillies manager, Ben Chapman. Is there any comparable abuse given to any public figure today? Yes or no and describe it if you think of one.
18. Scene analysis: Robinson loses his temper in the walkway to the dugout and Branch Rickey helps him. Whether the scene is factual or not, what does the scene teach us?
19. Dialogue analysis: Robinson: "I know who I am." Why is knowledge of self so necessary as we grow?
20. Scene analysis: the young man watching his dad and those around him verbally abuse Robinson. What lesson does the scene teach us?
21. What does the movie "42" teach young people?

Questions, comments? Let me know. Email Fr. Mike