TGIMMdyna

	LEAPING FOR JOY

The Gospel

LUKE 1:39-45

Thereupon Mary set out, proceeding in haste into the hill country to a town of Judah, where she entered Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and cried out in a loud voice, “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb. But who am I that the mother of my Lord should come to me? The moment your greeting sounded in my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy. Blessed is she who trusted that the Lord’s words to her would be fulfilled.”

The Media -- "Dynamite" (Taio Cruz)

"I throw my hands up in the air sometimes, saying AYO, gotta let go! I wanna celebrate and live my life. I came to dance. I hit the floor ‘cause that’s my plans. ‘Cause we gonna rock this club, we gonna go all night. We gonna light it up, like it’s dynamite. I came to move. I’m in the club so I’m gonna do just what I came here to do."

John the Baptist leaped in his mother’s womb because the world was about to come to life. Or in terms of what Taio Cruz sings in his party song "Dynamite," the world could finally celebrate life. The way it would be accomplished was with the presence of Jesus. Mary was indeed blessed because of her trust that God would bring about a better understanding of life through her. The world was about to be shown what life means from God's point of view.

Whether we are Christian or not, religious or atheist, one of the facts of life is very simply that we are not going to enjoy this life until we "celebrate" it. What it means is that we realize what we have and the things that have been given to us. We are alive, able to think, able to understand the beauties of the world. Some of us may be handicapped, some of us have had horrible childhoods, some of us are victims of accidents or crime and injustice. But we have life. And so, we should celebrate that life and say: I came to this earth to dance, to enjoy what I have. And so I explode with joy like dynamite, and move into life with all the possibilities of what I can do.

The Christian has a double incentive to live life to the fullest. Not only do we have life, but we believe that we have the presence of Jesus in our lives. By our acceptance of Jesus, we become people who can help bring about the peace that Jesus inspires us to; we become mature, able to understand and truly practice love and forgiveness. Perhaps most of all, we see what life here on earth can be, as we prepare for the eternal life that Jesus promised.

We really can leap for joy because of the life that we have. It not only includes the party life that Taio Cruz sings of, but it will include the rest of life as well.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, you have given us life. Sometimes it is not what we think it should be, but we have it. The joy of being a follower of your Son, is that this life is just the beginning--you have promised us a wonderful life of eternal happiness. Thank you, and may we always want to celebrate the life we have. Be with us, we pray.

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GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: We are called to celebrate the life we have.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. Project: present some of the doctrine of the Holy Spirit as contained in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, numbers 687-741.
2. Elizabeth extols Mary because she trusted in the Lord. What is your definition of trust?
3. The song is a party song. Looking at a party from a philosophical point of view, what is the most important part of a party? Why?
4. Text analysis: "Gotta let go." What is the meaning of the text?
5. Text analysis: "I wanna celebrate and live my life." In what way do we "live our lives" at a party?
6. The song presents "dancing" as a way to celebrate. Why is dancing such an enjoyable act?
7. Do you believe that comparing life to a "party" is a good comparison? Yes or no and why?
8. The meditation talks of "life from God's point of view." Describe what you think this means.
9. The meditation mentions that to celebrate life means to understand what we have. In your opinion, what is the best way to celebrate life?
10. The meditation refers to people who have reason not to enjoy life because of handicaps and the like. What is the best way for people to help others who are not enjoying life?
11. As you study the opportunities that we all have as we live, in your opinion, what is the greatest opportunity that we have?
12. The meditation mentions what experiencing life with Jesus should do to their lives. In your opinion, do most Christians show their happiness the way they should? Yes or no and why?
13. The prayer refers to eternal life which according to the believer has already begun with this life. What should this mean for the Christian right now?
14. What does the song "Dynamite" teach young people?

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