| I WON'T GIVE UP | |
| The Gospel | MATTHEW 27:45-50 |
From noon onward, darkness came over the
whole land until three in the afternoon. And about three o'clock Jesus
cried out in a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachtani?" which means,
"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Some of the bystanders who
heard it said, "This one is calling for Elijah." Immediately one of
them ran to get a sponge; he soaked it in wine, and putting it on a
reed, gave it to him to drink. But the rest said, "Wait, let us see if
Elijah comes to save him." But Jesus cried out again in a loud voice,
and gave up his spirit.
| The Media -- "I Won't Give Up" (Jason Mraz) |
“I won’t give
up on us, even if the skies get rough. I’m
giving you all my love; I’m still looking up. And
when you’re needing your space to do some navigating, I’ll
be there patiently waiting to see what you find. I
don't wanna be someone who walks away so easily. I'm here to stay and
make the difference that I can make. Our differences, they do a lot to
teach us how to use the tools and gifts we got. And
in the end, you’re still my friend; at least we did intend for us
to work. We didn’t break, we didn’t burn. We
had to learn how to bend without the world caving in. I
had to learn what I’ve got, and what I’m not, and who I am."
The
greatest example of commitment that a Christian has is what Jesus
Christ did for us. The theological word for it is "redemption." In the
Scriptures, it is clear that Jesus knew what he was doing, and set out
to do it with firm conviction. He accomplished it while suffering in
the most violent of ways, and in Matthew's Gospel, even feeling that
God the Father had forsaken him. But he did it. He had made the
commitment, and to him, it was a permanent commitment that could not be
taken back.
Carrying through with a permanent commitment is a lesson that our world must have. Too many people say that they will "always" do something, and as a matter of fact, do not really mean "always." The most obvious example is marriage today. Our divorce rate is indicative that we have a difficult time keeping the promise to "always" give ourselves to another person in marriage.
Jason Mraz's song "I Won't Give Up" becomes a perfect teaching tool to the people who choose marriage as a way of life. If we are committed to someone, there will be rough times because that is what happens with human nature. But we will never let the other fall, we will be there even when things are not going well, we will take the world on, we will hold the other until the hurt is no longer a hurt. We will learn how to bend when there are so many things that could cause us to break and burn. We will learn about ourselves and how to work with our spouse. We will always be there. Always. In every way. We will not give up.
Of course, there are exceptions. The world remains imperfect, and there will always be times when a permanent commitment must be redefined. But, the song teaches the ideal. If our world would learn it and live it, our lives would be better.
Carrying through with a permanent commitment is a lesson that our world must have. Too many people say that they will "always" do something, and as a matter of fact, do not really mean "always." The most obvious example is marriage today. Our divorce rate is indicative that we have a difficult time keeping the promise to "always" give ourselves to another person in marriage.
Jason Mraz's song "I Won't Give Up" becomes a perfect teaching tool to the people who choose marriage as a way of life. If we are committed to someone, there will be rough times because that is what happens with human nature. But we will never let the other fall, we will be there even when things are not going well, we will take the world on, we will hold the other until the hurt is no longer a hurt. We will learn how to bend when there are so many things that could cause us to break and burn. We will learn about ourselves and how to work with our spouse. We will always be there. Always. In every way. We will not give up.
Of course, there are exceptions. The world remains imperfect, and there will always be times when a permanent commitment must be redefined. But, the song teaches the ideal. If our world would learn it and live it, our lives would be better.
PRAYER
Good
and gracious God, your Son died for us, saving us from our sins and
giving us the chance of eternal life. He has taught us what commitment
really means. Help us learn the lesson that if we say "always," we will
mean "always." Be with us, we pray.
+++++
GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND
PERSONAL ENRICHMENT
Theme: If a person makes a permanent commitment, it must be a permanent commitment.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. From your knowledge of the Scriptures, what is most striking about the death of Jesus? Why?
2. Text analysis: "My God, why have you forsaken me." The words are from Psalm 22, a song of lament. It was a feeling that Jesus had. When do people feel most forsaken by God?
3. Text analysis: "Gave up his spirit." Scripture theologians point out that Matthew's words express Jesus' control of what he was doing. What should Jesus' willingness to give up his life inspire us to do?
4. What are the "rough" times in a marriage? In any relationship?
5. Text analysis: "needing your space to do some navigating." What is the meaning of the phrase?
6. Note that the "learning" that must be done includes what we learn about ourselves. What is the most important fact that we can learn about ourselves?
7. Project: make a presentation of what "redemption" means. See Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, numbers 599-605.
8. Obviously God will never forsake us. Why do you think God allows us to feel as though we are forsaken?
9. Give some examples of the world using the word "always" and really not meaning it.
10. What are the most common reasons for people to get a divorce today?
11. In the world, what causes people to "break"?
12. The meditation says that there are exceptions to "permanent" commitments. In your opinion, what are some examples of good exceptions?
13. The meditation says that the song presents the ideal of a permanent commitment. Give some examples of other permanent commitments besides "marriage."
14. What does the song "I Won't Give Up" teach young people?
Theme: If a person makes a permanent commitment, it must be a permanent commitment.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. From your knowledge of the Scriptures, what is most striking about the death of Jesus? Why?
2. Text analysis: "My God, why have you forsaken me." The words are from Psalm 22, a song of lament. It was a feeling that Jesus had. When do people feel most forsaken by God?
3. Text analysis: "Gave up his spirit." Scripture theologians point out that Matthew's words express Jesus' control of what he was doing. What should Jesus' willingness to give up his life inspire us to do?
4. What are the "rough" times in a marriage? In any relationship?
5. Text analysis: "needing your space to do some navigating." What is the meaning of the phrase?
6. Note that the "learning" that must be done includes what we learn about ourselves. What is the most important fact that we can learn about ourselves?
7. Project: make a presentation of what "redemption" means. See Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, numbers 599-605.
8. Obviously God will never forsake us. Why do you think God allows us to feel as though we are forsaken?
9. Give some examples of the world using the word "always" and really not meaning it.
10. What are the most common reasons for people to get a divorce today?
11. In the world, what causes people to "break"?
12. The meditation says that there are exceptions to "permanent" commitments. In your opinion, what are some examples of good exceptions?
13. The meditation says that the song presents the ideal of a permanent commitment. Give some examples of other permanent commitments besides "marriage."
14. What does the song "I Won't Give Up" teach young people?
©2007 Capuchin
Province of Mid-America
Fr. Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America
Fr. Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America