TGIMMalready

	LOVING BY LETTING GO

The Gospel

MARK 9:38-40

John said to [Jesus], "Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us." Jesus replied, "Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us."

The Media

"Already Gone"

Kelly Clarkson

"Remember all the things we wanted; now all our memories, they’re haunted. We were always meant to say goodbye. Even with our fists held high, it never would have worked out right. We were never meant to do or die. I didn’t want to hurt you; now I can’t stop. I want you to know that it doesn’t matter where we take this road, but someone’s gotta go, and I want you to know: you couldn’t have loved me better, but I want you to move on, so I’m already gone. I love you enough to let you go."

When we think that we are correct, we usually do not like people to tell us otherwise. And when they do, we think that they are wrong and should be corrected. Jesus dealt with such a feeling when he was here on earth. There were other people who wanted to bring about good who walked this earth at the same time as Jesus. When Jesus' disciples wanted him to correct them, and force them to follow Jesus, he simply told them to let them be, saying in effect that just because people did not agree with them did not make them wrong.

Kelly Clarkson sings about a love relationship in her song "Already Gone," but it is a romantic love relationship that has not worked out in her mind, and so she tells her fiance that he would do better in another situation. She says that she loved him enough to let him go. She was saying that even though things were great for a while, true love demands something else. There was nothing wrong; he "could not have loved her better," she sings, but it was not right for her. She let him know that love was still present, but both of them would be better in another romantic situation.

Whether one is working out a romantic love or simply trying to live life well, it is true that sometimes we have to love people enough to let them do their own thing without correcting them or changing them. Jesus knew that other people had good intentions about how to live well, and so he allowed it to happen, knowing that in the end, everything would work out for the better. The lady in Kelly Clarkson's song knew that her friend would do better without her, and so, even though it hurt both of them, she let him go to another relationship.

As we study our lives, we see situations that may not be the way we think they should be or that could be better. Perhaps a sincere study of the circumstances will show that we should accept it, even with love. If we admit that we are searching for the truth, we may find it in a place we have not even thought of yet.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, your Son taught us to love in every instance. Sometimes, love means that we have to allow you to work even when we feel some personal pain. Help us understand what true love directs us to do. Be with us, we pray.

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GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: Sometimes we have to love people enough to let them do their own thing.

THE GOSPEL
1. Jesus is speaking of the fact that we should be tolerant of other’s opinions and other’s actions. In your opinion, speaking generally, do people show enough tolerance toward other people? Toward other religions? Yes or no and why?
2. Do you think that the Roman Catholic Church promotes unity among Christians? Yes or no and why? (See Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, numbers 813-822.)
3. What is a good example of a situation that can be described as “Whoever is not against us is for us?”

THE SONG
1. Why are romantic break-ups so difficult? Is there anything that can make them easier?
2. Text analysis: “Even with our fists held high, it never would have worked out right.” What do you think the sentence means?
3. In your opinion, do most “break-ups” occur with “love”? Yes or no and why?

THE MEDITATION
1. The meditation says that just because people do not agree with us does not make them wrong. Why is the statement true?
2. How does one make a “break-up” more “loving”?
3. We often attempt to correct others if they do not agree with us. Why does such an attitude show selfishness?
4. Give an instance in which love means to let go of something you like.
5. What does the song "Already Gone" teach young people today?

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