[Jesus said:]
“Either declare the tree good
and its fruit
is good, or
declare the tree rotten and its fruit is rotten, for a tree is known by
its
fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you say good things when you are
evil? For from the fullness of the heart the
mouth
speaks. A good person brings forth good
out of a store of goodness, but an evil person brings forth evil out of
a store
of evil. I tell you, on the day of
judgment people will render an account for every careless word they
speak. By your words you will be acquitted,
and by
your words you will be condemned.”
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| Gospelthink: You will say good things if you are a good person. How are the words that come out of my mouth: good or not so good? | ||||||
In the
movie, "Chronicle," three young men experienced an unknown object
and suddenly began to feel the results of the encounter with the gifts
of
telekinesis and power that quickly became part of their day-to-day
living. They found that they
could control things
with their minds, and consequently they literally could do almost anything that
they wanted. At first, typical of teenage thinking, they began to
satisfy their selfish desires. But, as their powers became more
evident, they observed more things that they could do. One of the young
men, Andrew,
did not want to curb anything about his power, but his friends Matt and
Steve both felt that they had to have some rules as they became
stronger. The rules were nothing more than the Christian directive to
do good and avoid evil. As they phrased it in a negative way, they
should not use their powers on
human beings, never use them when they were angry, and never use them
in public.
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Jesus
wanted people to do good and avoid evil. It was as simple as that. As
he expressed it in metaphor, it is like making ourselves a good tree.
If I am a good tree, I will bring about good for humankind. My words
and actions will be such that every gift that I possess will be offered
for the good of all--all the time, in every instance. A person who does
evil will be condemned.
As people mature, they will gradually realize that they possess the basics of many gifts and talents. Because of our technology and the knowledge that we have discovered, we can become almost anything that we want to become. We will not have the same gifts and talents that the three young men of the movie "Chronicle" possessed, but every one of us has something to offer. The Christian understanding of life tells us to make everything that we have something that is good for ourselves and others. It is significant that in the movie, two out of the three young men wanted the control that was necessary for good living. Viewed in a mathematical way, only 67% of the group wanted the good. In our world today on a global scale, would it be the same? Would only a few more than half of the people of the world want what is truly good? Whatever the number, Jesus knew that there would be some evil or else he would not have talked about the evil. The fact is that we all have gifts that can be used for good or evil--we can make ourselves a good tree or an evil one. The Christian's task is choose the good one. |
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PRAYER
Good
and gracious
God, you have given us all gifts and talents that we can use in
whatever way we want. Give us the grace to follow Your Son's direction
and thus use our gifts for the good of all.
Be with us, we
pray.
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+++++
GUIDE
FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT
Theme: We must use the gifts we are given for the good of everyone. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: (session: approximately 38 minutes) 1. What scene during this session is most striking and why? 2. Jesus refers to the "fullness" of heart being good or evil. What are the ways to make the heart "good"? 3. Jesus refers to the "day of judgment." What is your understanding of the judgment at the end of our lives or the end of the world? See Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, numbers 1020-1041. 4. The Lord refers to our speech which will acquit us or condemn us. In your opinion, are most Christians as concerned about their speech as they should be? Yes or no and why? 5. Obviously, most people choose to do good and avoid evil. Why do people choose evil? 6. The meditation says that we can become almost anything we want. Is it a true statement? Yes or no and why? 7. If we are given the task to make everything we possess something that is good, what should be the first thing that we do? 8. Scene analysis: Andrew's home life. How much of an effect does a person's home life have on his/her future? 9. Scene analysis: The "rave." At the dances portrayed in the movie, there is much drinking of alcohol and open sexuality. In general, does the movie present a true picture of what happens at high school parties? At college parties? Yes or no and why? 10. Scene analysis: The movie means for the object in the hole to be "mysterious." What is your feeling about "unidentified flying objects" (UFOs)? Why? 11. Scene analysis: Andrew makes the rude motorist swerve into the river. What would have been a good way of using his telekinetic abilities? 12. Analysis: If you had the powers that the three young men had in the movie, what would be your first three things that you would do? 13. Scene analysis: In their conversation of places they can visit, Andrew shows a desire to visit Tibet because of its peaceful nature and level of enlightenment. It is important to remember as we view what Andrew becomes. What are the most peaceful places that you know around you? |
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©2007
Capuchin Province of Mid-America
Fr. Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America |
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