Song: "Can't Hold Us" -- Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
EMBRACE THE FIGHT
The Gospel MATTHEW 3:1-6
In those days John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said: “A voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.’” John wore clothing made of camel’s hair and had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. At that time Jerusalem, all Judea, and the whole region around the Jordan were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins.   
Gospelthink: My friend John the Baptist began the process of redemption of the world. Am I behaving as a redeemed Christian should in today's world?
"We came here to live life, like nobody was watching. I got my city right behind me. If I fall, they got me. Learn from that failure, gain humility, and then we keep marching ourselves. Here we go back, this is the moment. Tonight is the night, we’ll fight ‘til it’s over. So we put our hands up like the ceiling can’t hold us. Let the night come, before the fight’s won. Some might run against the test, but those that triumph, embrace the fight ‘cause the best is there to prove that courage exists." 
The words of Macklemore and producer Ryan Lewis' song "Can't Hold Us" are difficult to hear because like most rap productions, they move very fast. Studied as a whole, the song seems to say that we will face the difficulties in the world, and that even the ceiling will not keep us from doing our best to work with the courage it takes to live well. The song is a statement of good leadership.

One of the great examples of a good leader in the Gospels is John the Baptist. His words as recorded by Matthew immediately before Jesus began his public ministry state exactly what must happen if people want to prepare for the Lord. They supply perhaps the first words of leadership training in the Gospels, namely that in order to help ourselves, we have to admit our own difficulties first. John labels it acknowledging our sinfulness.

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis label it learning from our failures. In both the song and John the Baptist's sermon, we have to learn from the negatives--learn from the sins that we have done, learn from the failures in our lives--and then "march" on in the song's thoughts. Such marching implies an attitude of triumph because we embrace the fight with courage.

There are many things that we have not done correctly. We have said words that were not at all indicative of being good people; we have done actions that have hurt others and ourselves. Most of all, we have sinned in thought, bringing down judgment on people and situations that in the end are harmful. Our intent in order to live well must be to acknowledge those sins and failures, and then truly "live life" by embracing the fight.

And because we do, we will win no matter what the outcome.
PRAYER
Good and gracious God, we know that we need your help in order to live well. Help us acknowledge our sinfulness and failures so that we can live the life that you want us to live here on earth and forever in heaven. Be with us, we pray.

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GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: We must embrace what may be the first difficulty of life, namely our own sinfulness.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. Matthew's Gospel here does not say anything about John the Baptist's origins nor does he make him a relative of Jesus. Describe your understanding of John the Baptist.
2. Text analysis: What is your understanding of the word "repent"?
3. The presenter may want to spend some time with the understanding of the "kingdom of heaven." See Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, numbers 2816-2821.
4. Text analysis: "acknowledged their sins." In your understanding of things, what was the greatest sin in Jesus' day?  What is the greatest sin today? Why?
5. Text analysis: "Like nobody was watching." What is the meaning of the phrase?
6. Text analysis: "I got my city right behind me. If I fall, they got me." Explain  the meaning of the sentences?
7. What is your definition of humility? See Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, number 2559.
8. Text analysis: "Embrace the fight 'cause the best is there to prove that courage exists." Explain the meaning of the sentence.
9. What are the principal difficulties in our world? Why?
10. What are the most important principles of good leadership?
11. How would you define the thought of an "attitude of triumph"?
12. What is the best definition of "living life" well?
13. How is it true that a Christian will "win, no matter what the outcome"?    
14. What does the song "Can't Hold Us" teach young people?    

Questions, comments? Let me know. Email Fr. Mike
©2007 Capuchin Province of Mid-America
Fr. Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America