ad astra 1

Movie: "Ad Astra" -- beginning session

WHO ARE YOU?

The Gospel

LUKE 9:18-20

Once when Jesus was praying in solitude, and the disciples were with him, he asked them, "Who do the crowds say that I am?" They said in reply, "John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, 'One of the ancient prophets has arisen.'" Then he said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter said in reply, "The Messiah of God."

Gospelthink: Who do I say Jesus is to me? Is he someone that I merely admire, or someone that I imitate?

Taking place in the near future, the Solar System is being struck by mysterious power surges of unknown origin, threatening literally the future of human life. The US Space Command believed that astronaut Roy McBride was best suited to discover the reason for the anomaly because of his abilities. But he also was the son of the astronaut who was in charge of the Lima Project, the past project that the US Space Command believed was causing the problems. Because Roy desired to know what happened to his father, he accepted the mission to get in touch with the Lima Project.

One of the most important questions that is asked in the Gospels is "Who do you say that I am?" If we say and believe with Peter that Jesus is the Messiah, the promised one, our lives will change, and we will begin to accept Jesus Christ’s suggestions about how to live. Our answer to the question, as was Peter’s, then becomes the key to a change for the better.

Astronaut Roy McBride in the movie "Ad Astra" was interested in that question from his own family's point of view. He was searching for the reason of why he became who he was. The answer was not only his situation at that time in his life, namely a astronaut who had risen as high as he could go in his chosen profession. But since he did not remember much about his father, a brilliant astronaut and a leader of a mission that took him away from his family, he wanted to know more. Discovering the chance that he could find out some things about his father, Roy accepted the mission to determine exactly the nature of the Lima Project whose leadership was assigned to his father. In the process, Roy hoped to discover also the cause of the power surges that were destroying planet Earth and were blamed on the Lima Project.

Our family background is very important. Many tests have shown that much of what we become later in life comes from our early growth period when Mom and Dad and family was directing what we did and what we said.

No matter how we feel about our early lives, perhaps most important for us as growing adults is the knowledge of who we are now, and what we can become. For some of us, we must accept the fact that our early growth was not as good as it should have been, and we have to work to make it better. For some of us, we realize the our upbringing was as good as it could have been.

But in any case, we must face who we are at the present time, and if we should change to be better, perhaps we should take the time to do it.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, all of us come from a family that has accepted the task of helping us grow in today's world. Help us, now that we are mature enough to determine what our future will be, to accept what we are now, and make ourselves better. Be with us, we pray.

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: We are all searching for the reason why we became who we are.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(session: approximately 57 minutes)
1. What scene during this session of the movie was most striking to you? Why?
2. In the Gospel, it is significant that Jesus is absorbed in prayer before important decisions. Do you believe that "prayer" is an important part of most Christians' lives? Yes or no and why?
3. Project: make a presentation on prayer in general. See Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition. Part Four of the Catechism is devoted to Christian prayer. See especially numbers 2700-2719.
4. What is the difference between admiring someone and imitating someone?
5 In your opinion, have most Christians changed for the better because they know Jesus? Yes or no and why?
6. Why are fathers so important in a family structure?
7. A person whose early life was not good should seek counseling. In your opinion, do most people in this situation seek out the counseling they should have? Why or why not?
8. As we grow, when is the best time to bring about a significant change?

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