TGIMMafter1

Movie: "After Earth" -- beginning session
WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT

The Gospel

LUKE 5:27-32

Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him. Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were at table with them. The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus said to them in reply, “Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.”

Gospelthink: I called a tax collector to be an Apostle because i wanted all to see the importance of God in their lives. Do I acknowledge the Lord's presence often?

Cypher Raige was a leader for his time. His time was the future on a planet taken by survivors of earth. His job was to lead the soldiers of his world to control the monsters released by those hostile to their cause. He did it by teaching those soldiers to overcome the natural fear that held them back from victory. In the process, he became the ram-rod straight persona who feared nothing. But in the process, he lost his humanity and his family. Recognizing what had happened to him, and understanding that his son Katai worshiped him and his wife Faia was completely dedicated to him, he decided to change and become the father and husband that he wanted to be.

Perhaps the essential question in life is the question of what is most important to us. Among the many things that we do, what is most significant to us? Most of the time, the answer involves something that only the individual person can answer because it will always involve how a person looks at him/herself at that particular time. But is there a general answer? That is, given a general view of humanity, is there something that is most important no matter what the circumstances?

Jesus seems to answer the question with an attitude while he was among us. What comes up at every moment--in his teaching, in his preaching, in his actions--was his devotion to people, people who needed help, as well as people who thought they did not need help. He told his adversaries that he came to earth to be a physician who wanted to cure everyone who was sick. Love and concern for people was most important to him.

In the movie "After Earth," after realizing that he had forgotten the people who were most important to him--his family--Cypher Raige set out to correct the problem. He almost did not have the opportunity to carry it out, but he was finally able to do it. He did it by changing his lifestyle. It is an important lesson for the families of our world.

The movie is an imaginary vision of what could happen on earth hundreds of years from now, but Cypher Raige's reason for changing his lifestyle must be a lesson for the present twenty-first century. It is that raising a family may be the most important act that a husband and wife can accomplish. In fact, if people manage to do it well, their future will always be happy.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, you taught us through your Son that we must love people. In our world right now, involved with family as we all are, may we learn the lesson to be always concerned about the people who are closest to us, namely our families. Be with us, we pray.

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GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: At times, we must change our lifestyles to accomplish what is really important..

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(session: approximately 47 minutes)
1. What scene during this session of the movie was most striking to you? Why?
2. In Luke's Gospel, the Apostles "leave everything" when they follow Jesus, an indication that they left all material goods. The following of Jesus implies leaving some material goods in our society. In general, do most people in our society have too much concern for material goods? Yes or no and why?
3. The fact that Jesus ate with sinners is an encouraging statement for us who have sinned in the past. Do most Christians want to do something about the fact that they are sinners? Yes or no and why?
4. Who are the "righteous" that Jesus refers to?
5. In general, what is the most important thing for most American people?
6. in general, do you believe that most Christians have learned the lesson of love for people? Yes or no and why?
7. In general, do you believe that most families show the love and respect that should be present in every family? Yes or no and why?
8. What are the principal characteristics of true family love?
9. Do you think that our world is in the process of "destroying itself"? Yes or no and why?
10. Do you think that it is possible to completely suppress fear in our minds? Yes or no and why?
11. Scene analysis: Kitai blames himself for Senshi's death. Why do you think that the very young have a tendency to blame themselves for actions that are clearly not their faults?
12. Scene analysis: Cypher is hardly ever at home. Are there some demanding jobs that should keep people from marriage? Yes or no and why?
13. Analysis: One of the ways that Cypher attempts to control his son Kitai's emotional behavior is to force him to calm himself by telling him to "take a knee." What is the best way to control a person's emotions?
14. Analysis: why is it difficult for young people to control their emotions?
15. Scene analysis: Kitai lies to Cypher concerning the oxygen capsules. Why do young people often resort to lying to adults?

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