TGIMMiloveit

	THE FEELING OF NOT CARING

The Gospel

MATTHEW 26:14-16

Then one of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, "What are you willing to give me if I hand [Jesus] over to you?" They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over.

The Media -- "I Love It" (Icona Pop f/ Charli XCX)

“I got this feeling on the summer day when you were gone. I crashed my car into the bridge. I watched. I let it burn. I threw your stuff into a bag and pushed it down the stairs. You’re on a different road, I’m in the milky way, you want me down on earth, but I am up in space. You’re hard to please, we gotta kill this switch, you’re from the 70’s, but I’m a 90’s person. I don’t care. I love it.” [lyrics adjusted]

The lady in the relationship described by Icona Pop and Charli XCX's song "I Love It" is very upset. She knows that they simply could not agree with each other, he is hard to please in her view, and he is from the 70's, while she is from the 90's. Their relationship was over--the other was gone. But maybe the important study is what happens as a result. She crashes her car, throws away the other person's belongings, and does not care about life. Then she says that she loves the feeling of not caring.

Admittedly, the song is a dance song, and maybe the words are merely sung as a way to enhance the music, but we should not pass over lightly the meaning of the words. Breakups are very difficult, and we must be very careful about what we do and say after we suffer through them.

The Gospels do not give us any examples of romantic breakups. The closest they come perhaps is the action of Judas Iscariot as he broke his relationship with Jesus. His relationship had turned from love to hate. But more importantly, we should study the results of Judas' actions. When he decided to break from Jesus, he first of all made arrangements for Jesus' enemies to capture him. Then, the whole action confused him so much that Judas later took his own life. The breakup was bad enough; the results of the breakup were a disaster.

We do not usually compare Judas' actions with the breakup of a romantic love relationship, but the feelings are similar. A romantic breakup disturbs a person's whole being and demeanor. People who suffer them feel upset, at least for a while. But, the important lesson with breakups is what we do after we suffer them. The feelings of a breakup will pass, but what we do as a result may not pass so quickly.

If the person is a Christian, the behavior of the person that suffers breakups of relationships ought to remain in the category of "Christian." Christians should always be thinking in terms of love and understanding, not hatred and revenge. They must remain Christian at all times, even when a relationship has ceased for some reason. To be sure, it is not an easy task.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, your Son taught us love and understanding toward all, but at times our human natures do not desire to follow his direction, especially when love relationships do not work out for some reason. Give us the grace to always act as your Son desires. Be with us, we pray.

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GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: Breakups are very difficult, and we must be careful about what we do after we suffer through them.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. In the Gospel, the evangelist Matthew presents the desire for money to be a motive for Judas' betrayal of Jesus. Among the evils of the world, where does "money" place? Why?
2. Describe the character of Judas as you understand him.
3. Scripture scholars point out that "thirty pieces of silver" is a small price. What does such an understanding add to the thought of why Judas betrayed Jesus
4. Why do you think modern music uses slang "curse" words in their songs?
5. Text analysis: "You want me down on earth, but I'm up in space." What is the meaning of the sentence?
6. Text analysis: "We gotta kill this switch." What is the meaning of the sentence?
7. What is your analysis of the song's use of "I don't care; I love it."?
8. What can be done for a person who does not care about life?
9. In your opinion, do people often listen to the music of the song without listening to the words? Yes or no and why?
10. What is most difficult about the breakup of a love relationship?
11. In your opinion, do most breakups of romantic relationships end with understanding? Yes or no and why?
12. What is the best way to bring about the end of some romantic love relationship?
13. What does the song "I Love It" teach young people?

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