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MEDIA PRESENTATION Song: "All of Me" -- John Legend LOVING PERFECT IMPERFECTIONS

The Gospel

MARK 2:13-17

Once again Jesus went out along the sea. All the crowd came to him and he taught them. As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the customs post. He said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him. Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors and said to his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?" Jesus heard this and said to them, "Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."

Gospelthink: I called Apostles who were people that needed help and could help others. Do I pay attention to the people in my life who need my help?

"I can’t pin you down, what’s going on in that beautiful mind? I’m on your magical mystery ride, and I’m so dizzy, don’t know what hit me, but I’ll be alright. All of me loves all of you, love your curves and all your edges, all your perfect imperfections. Give your all to me, I’ll give my all to you. You’re my end and my beginning. Even when I lose I’m winning ‘cause I give you all of me, and you give me all of you."

John Legend's song "All of Me" is a song of beginning romantic love, and the man in the relationship is hoping that it will take place. He really does not know about the commitment of the lady in the relationship, and he is trying to figure it out. As he pursues the relationship, he sings a general rule for any love relationship: when you truly love someone, it involves complete love, even the parts of them that are not so lovable. As John Legend describes it, the man loves even her "perfect imperfections."

The song is a great lesson for the Christian ideal of love. As Jesus calls his followers to love one another (John 15:12), it is an important fact to know that the "other" will not be perfect. In fact, "others" will always be people that are less than perfect because we are all human. Their imperfections may outweigh their good qualities, even to the point of making them completely obnoxious. Jesus' action in his life makes it clear that we should love even them. As he says, after calling a person that most people thought of as a sinner, a tax collector, he had come to call sinners to a new way of life.

A romantic relationship often teaches about Christian love because such a relationship must have all the characteristics that a Christian should show in order to fulfill Jesus' call to love. In this instance in particular, the Christian must truly understand that a universal call to love implies that the love will include those who have imperfections.

If there is true love of another, the Christian will be called to love the unlovable, to put up with those who are not behaving the way they should, to understand those who are difficult to understand. Jesus' command not only includes those who like us and get along with us. Romantic lovers will adjust to the imperfections of the person they love. Jesus tells his followers to adjust to everyone's imperfections, and in the end, truly love them.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, we can learn from romantic love situations because they are part of the love that your Son taught us. Give us the grace to show true love toward all, especially to those who are not as lovable as they could be. Be with us, we pray.

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GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: If we claim to love others, we will accept the fact that they are not perfect.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. Analysis: In the Gospel, Jesus "taught them." In your opinion, what is the most important teaching of Jesus? Why?
2. The problem with tax collectors was extortion--taking more than necessary. In business today, do you think that extortion is something that is common? Yes or no and why?
3. In general, people are moved to the sin of extortion in order to have more money. Why is "money" so important in our world?
4. Analysis: Jesus speaks of the "righteous," that is those who are "self-righteous," those who think that they have no need of repentance. In your opinion, who are the "self-righteous" in our society today?
5. What is the best way to get someone you love to talk when they do not want to?
6. Analysis: What are the most common imperfections that people have?
7. The person in the song seems to be making a commitment when he is not sure of the lady's commitment to him. In your opinion, does this happen often in romantic relationships? Yes or no and why?
8. Text analysis: "Even when I lose, I'm winning." What is the meaning of the statement?
9. What is the most difficult part of "beginning romantic love"? Why?
10. Give your own understanding of "perfect imperfections."
11. In general, who are the most difficult people to show the Christian ideal of love? Why?
12. In general, do most people try to "adjust" to the imperfections of the people in their families? Yes or no and why?
13. What does the song "All of Me" teach young people?

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