TGIMMbreakeven

	WHO IS FIRST

The Gospel

MARK 14:3-9

When Jesus was in Bethany reclining at table in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of perfumed oil, costly genuine spikenard. She broke the alabaster jar and poured it on his head. There were some who were indignant, "Why has there been this waste of perfumed oil? It could have been sold for more than three hundred days' wages and the money given to the poor." They were infuriated with her. Jesus said, "Let her alone. Why do you make trouble for her? She has done a good thing for me. The poor you will always have with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them, but you will not always have me. She has done what she could. She has anticipated anointing my body for burial. Amen, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed to the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her."

The Media -- "Breakeven" (The Script)

"I’m still alive, but I’m barely breathing, just prayin’ to a god that I don’t believe in, 'cause I got time while she got freedom, 'cause when a heart breaks it don’t break even. Her best days will be some of my worst; she finally met a man that’s gonna put her first; while I’m wide awake she’s no trouble sleeping; what am I supposed to do when the best part of me was always you. I’m falling to pieces. They say bad things happen for a reason, but no wise words gonna stop the bleeding."

The Script’s song "Breakeven," is a song of severe pain, pain that had been brought on by the man in the relationship. Realizing the reason for the pain gives rise to the secret for any good relationship, namely he did not put the other first. It is true for any romantic relationship as is reflected in the song. It is also true for every relationship, whether friendship or day-to-day associations with others. If we manage to put others first in those relationships, we not only give others the respect that they deserve; we actually improve ourselves as well.

It was evident in Jesus' words and actions as recorded in Mark's Gospel immediately before his death and resurrection. At a meal, a woman came to Jesus and anointed him with sacred oil, an action reserved for the privileged class. The woman according to many Scripture scholars was most probably a sinner. The people who were with Jesus immediately began to judge her--her action was too extravagant, she was a sinner, she should not have been touching Jesus. Jesus, interestingly enough, does not address the woman. He addresses the people at table with him, explaining to them that they should not be judging the woman, explaining to them exactly what she had done. "She has done a good thing," he says. She had chosen to place Jesus first, before herself, and in the process became a better person even as she gave Jesus the respect he deserved.

The song "Breakeven" contains the same insight. If one wants to establish a relationship, really establish it well, the way to do it is to put the other person first in the relationship. What does he/she want; what are his/her favorite things to do; what should you do to make him/her happy? Those and similar questions must be asked. When we don’t take the time to do it, as the group sings, it will cause us to fall to pieces, that is, it affects our own well-being. As we establish our own psychological and spiritual growth, we must try to establish a true acceptance of ourselves, to be sure, but we must also see the importance of others in our relationships.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, as your Son pointed out to us in his lifetime, one of the secrets to good living is always to understand the importance of others. Give us the grace to understand what that means in our lives. Be with us, we pray.

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GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: We must give everyone the respect they deserve.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. In the Gospel passage, the woman respects Jesus and Jesus respects the woman. How would you describe the idea of “respecting another” from this passage?
2.Text analysis: The man is “praying to a god” that he does not believe in. What is the meaning of the text?
3.The man in the relationship describes someone else who has put his former girlfriend “first.” This is the point of the meditation. What is the best way to put someone else “first” in a relationship?
4. Do people tend to put others “first” as they establish relationships? Yes or no and why?
5. The man in the song describes his present state of pain to be “falling to pieces.” In our world, what can we do when we feel as though we are “falling to pieces”?
6. Text analysis: “They say bad things happen for a reason.” What are some of the lessons that we can learn from the bad things that happen to us?
7. How does giving another respect improve our own selves?
8. We judge many people as we think of them. What is the Christian way of thinking about others?
9. What is the highest respect that we can show to someone else?
10. The meditation says that we must try to achieve a true acceptance of self. What is the best way to accept ourselves?
11. What is the best way to show respect to someone that we do not get along with?
12. What does the song “Breakeven” teach young people today?

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