TGIMMblow

	WHEN A PERSON HAS HAD ENOUGH

The Gospel

MARK 7:21-23

[Jesus said:] "From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile."

The Media -- "Blow Me (One Last Kiss)" (Pink)

"White knuckles and sweaty palms from hanging on too tight, clenched shut jaw, eyes on fire, and they burn from all the tears; I think I’ve finally had enough, I think maybe I think too much. I think this might be it for us—blow me one last kiss—you think I’m just too serious, I think you're full of .... My head is spinning so—blow me one last kiss. I think that life's too short for this, I want back my ignorance and bliss, I think I've had enough of this. You will pay for your sins; you'll be sorry, my dear."

Pink tends to be controversial in her music, and her song "Blow Me (One Last Kiss)" is no exception. In the song, she uses a word which usually does not come into our music, using it no doubt for shock value, but the word also expresses the true feeling of the person in the song. She does not like another person's behavior toward her, perhaps a boyfriend who is using her. She has had enough, she sings, and therefore is ready to call off the relationship. She has to be careful, however, because her anger may cause further problems.

When Jesus spoke about the moral behavior of people who wanted to follow him, he reminded them of both external and internal behavior. He told them that the external evil that exists in the world was the direct result of what was "from the heart" as he said. He was concerned not only with the behavior that people could see, but also with the evil that could not be seen, namely what was in a person's mind. He pointed out that the external evil behavior begins in thought, and a person who wanted to follow him had to address those thoughts in order to conquer sin.

Jesus knew our human nature very well. We have a tendency to excuse our thinking at times, saying that we cannot control our thoughts, and therefore we cannot be totally responsible for what we are thinking. Of course, the truth is that we really cannot control the thoughts that randomly come into our minds, but a follower of Jesus can determine whether those thoughts are following the mind of Jesus or not. If they are not, then, we acknowledge them as present in our minds--they are there anyway--but we do not act on them. If we act on them, they turn to evil actions or words or further thinking.

The lady in Pink's song probably has good reason to drop the relationship, and following through with the action may indeed be what she should pursue in her life. But she must consider her thoughts carefully as she pursues what she must do. Uncontrolled anger or revenge may seem appropriate because of her hurt, but she must be aware that her thinking could lead her into behavior that will only harm her more and cause evil.

Good and evil actions begin in the mind and heart. The better our thinking even when "we have had enough" of a situation, the better our worlds will be.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, there are problems in our world in which we live and in our own personal lives. Give us the grace to work out those problems, and as we do it, help us direct our thinking in the way that your Son has taught us. Be with us, we pray.

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GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: Sometimes we may have to allow some relationship to cease, but we always have to be careful about our anger as we do it.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. In your opinion, what is the "thinking" behind people who do truly evil things like murder and theft, that is, what is their "motivation"?
2. Project: the presenter may want to define the evils listed by Mark the evangelist so that there is a common understanding of what is being presented.
3. Which one of the list that Mark the evangelist has Jesus outline here causes the most harm? What "solution" can be offered to eradicate the evil?
4. Given your answer to number 3, can we do anything about it personally? Yes or no and why?
5. As the person in the song describes her feelings, she says "I think maybe I think too much." How can this be a problem?
6. Analysis: why would one person in the relationship say that the other is "too serious."
7. Analysis: "I want back my ignorance and bliss." Explain the meaning of the phrase.
8. Trying to get into the person in the song's mind, how is the boyfriend going to "pay" for all the lies?
9. Analysis: the use of the slang word in the song. The meditation says it is for "shock value." Do you agree and why or why not?
10. Give your understanding of what it means to act "from the heart."
11. The meditation says that we really cannot do anything about the thoughts that come into our minds, but we can do something about the actions which may or may not follow those thoughts. What are some actions that most commonly follow evil thinking?
12. What are the circumstances in which a relationship with another should cease?
13 The meditation mentions that "uncontrolled anger" and "revenge" may seem appropriate, but really is not. What is the best way to control a person's anger?
14. What does the song "Blow Me (One Last Kiss)" teach young people?

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