TGIMMmen2

Movie: "Men in Black" -- final session

OUR PERSONALITIES AND FRIENDSHIP

The Gospel

LUKE 5:1-11

While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Simon said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.” When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them. They came and filled both boats so that they were in danger of sinking. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.

Gospelthink: Jesus calls all of us to be his followers, even to the point of giving everything to him. Obviously, I cannot give away everything, but have I shown by my actions that I am a follower of Jesus?

Given the light-hearted nature of the movie "Men in Black 3," it is a challenge to capture the personalities of Agents K and J, the principal characters of the movie. Observing their interaction throughout the movie, it gradually becomes clear that they are true friends to one another. They risk their lives for each other; they save each other from aliens; they stand together in the way of the evil that is attempting to conquer the world. The development of friendship that the movie presents is a study of how friends with different personalities must interact with one another. There are moments of confusion, disappointment, and even hatred, but as agent K remarks to Agent J at the end of the movie, being a true friend is a privilege. It is one of the joys of living here on earth.

Since Jesus was a human being, maybe even the perfect human being, he knew the value of friendship. He knew the importance of having people close enough to him who could feel the same joys and sorrows that he did. Peter and the apostles gradually fulfilled such a role. When Jesus saw them, he no doubt realized that they would prove to be good friends to him, even if at times there would be some misunderstandings. But, in the end, Peter and the disciples would see how much of a privilege it was to be acknowledged as Jesus' friends.

It is clear that Agents K and J are friends in the movie "Men in Black 3." Their friendship was even extended to earlier days as they experienced the ability of time alteration in the movie. They both came to understand that even though their personalities did not always match perfectly, they respected each other enough to adapt to each other's feelings. They teach a lesson for any friendship. Friends will always value the privilege of friendship, even if they do not always totally agree with each other.

There are two lessons here for the Christian. One is the spiritual one that insures that Jesus will be a friend of ours, one of the teachings that comes from the Christian Gospels. Jesus not only called Peter and the disciples, but through them, he has called us to be his followers and therefore his friends. Secondly, Jesus teaches us how to be friends by showing his close disciples what a friend really is. If we choose to be friends, we will accept our friends' personalities, even as they choose to accept ours.

Friendship is indeed a privilege in the human realm of things. We must value it, and work at being better at it.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, we believe that your Son has chosen us as true friends just as he chose his disciples in his human lifetime. Give us the grace to study the friendship he gives us, and make it an example for our friendships with others. Be with us, we pray.

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GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: It is a privilege to have a true friend.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(session: approximately 49 minutes)
1. What scene from this session of the movie is most striking and why?
2. In Luke's Gospel, this incident comes after the local townspeople have rejected Jesus. Perhaps Luke is thinking that there was both rejection and acceptance of Jesus. In your opinion, why was reaction to Jesus so confused?
3. In Luke's Gospel, the disciples left "everything," a symbol of complete detachment from material things. In your opinion, can people really give up everything to follow Jesus? Yes or no and why?
4. Text analysis: "From now on, you will be catching men." What is the meaning of the sentence?
5. Give your definition of "friendship."
6. If friends have totally different personalities, what must happen if they remain friends?
7. Define your understanding of "respect for another."
8. In your opinion, does every Christian accept the fact that Jesus is a friend?
9. What is the most significant effect on us if we believe that Jesus is our friend?
10. What does it mean when someone says that it is a "privilege" to be a friend of someone else?
11. Dialogue analysis: "The bitterest truth is better than the sweetest lie." Why is this a true statement?
12. Dialogue analysis: Griffin tells Agent J that Agent K will survive but there will have to be a death. What is the best way to understanding the death of a close friend?
13. Scene analysis: Griffin changes the Colonel's mind by showing him the future. What future in your life would you like to see the most? Why?
14. Scene analysis: Agent K kills Boris. When is it morally correct to deliberately kill another person?
15. Scene analysis: Agent J watches as Agent K takes care of him as a young child. Why did Agent K never share this with Agent J?
16. What does the movie "Men in Black 3" teach young people?

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