TGIMMmissiion2

July 16	WE HAVE TO DO IT TOGETHER

The Gospel

LUKE 24:32-35

[The two disciples] said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning [within us] while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?" So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the eleven and those with them who were saying, "The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!" Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

The Media -- "Mission: Impossible--Ghost Protocol" (final session)

The IMF team of the movie "Mission: Impossible--Ghost Protocol" as usual faces "impossible" situations. There are many characteristics necessary to allow for a solution to the difficulties, but there is one common ingredient that must be present before any of their clever scenarios to bring about good will work. In the movie, Ethan Hunt states it perfectly. Recognizing that they have much to do, not the least of which is to function as a government agency without the help of the agency, he tells his team: "We have to do it now, and we have to do it together." The foundation for any difficult undertaking requiring the cooperation of others is unity. There must be a common belief, a belief in each other and a belief in the cause that they are choosing.

When Ethan Hunt spoke his words to his team about the necessity of doing things together in the movie "Mission: Impossible--Ghost Protocol," he was speaking a principle that is absolutely necessary in order to accomplish anything worthwhile. Perhaps the only exception is when a difficult task has been given to only one person, and even there, the Christian believes that God must help accomplish it. Generally speaking, any task in life involves the cooperation of a number of people.

Such was the conviction of the early Christian Church leaders. From the very beginning as they sought to spread the message of Christianity, they were "together." At first, they were together out of fear of what might happen. And as the Church progressed, they were together in telling others about what they believed. As Luke says in the Acts of the Apostles which describes the early Church: "They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers....All who believed were together and had all things in common" (Acts of the Apostles 2:42,44).

Being "together" is generally much more difficult than it sounds. Mere physical presence is easy enough, but that which brings people actually "together" is a common cause. The early Church possessed such a common cause, the IMF team of "Mission Impossible" possessed one. A common cause implies some basic beliefs--a belief in whatever the endeavor might be, and more importantly, a belief in the fellow workers who are involved in the undertaking. The beliefs are especially important if the task is a difficult one.

We all experience a number of situations that require people to work together. One of our Christian responsibilities is that we be the type of team player who is committed to the cause and committed to those involved with us.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, your Son's early followers give us a tremendous example of working together. Continue to give us the grace to be committed to what you want of us, and help us be people who are always willing to help any group we are involved in. Be with us, we pray.

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GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: Being committed to a cause together is the foundation for any difficult undertaking.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(session: approximately 61 minutes)
1. What scene during this session is most striking? Why?
2. The disciples say that they understood who Jesus was in the "breaking of bread," an early way of describing the Eucharist. What is your understanding of the Eucharist? The presenter may want to make a presentation on some aspects of the doctrine of the Eucharist, Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, numbers 1322-1405.
3. Ethan Hunt implies by his statement which is the thought of this session that everyone must agree with the cause before they enter into it. Name some "causes" that some people enter into, but do not have total agreement to do them.
4. The early Christians were together and held everything in common. Is such a way of life possible in today's world? Yes or no and why?
5. What are the most common causes or situations that unite people?
6. Name the "basic beliefs" that are part of the causes or situations that you mentioned in number 5.
7. Scene analysis: the IMF team disagree among themselves. When groups of people disagree like this, what is the best way to work with the situation?
8. Dialogue analysis: Hunt: "Failure to a terrorist is just a rehearsal for success." In your opinion, what can be done about the terrorism in the world?
9. Scene analysis: Carter uses "sexual appeal" to get close to Brij Nath. Do you feel that this is using "sex" the wrong way? Yes or no and why?
10. Is the use of "sexual appeal" such as presented degrading to women? Yes or no and why?
11. Scene analysis: Hendricks causes a nuclear missile to be fired at San Francisco. What would be the first thing that would happen if there were a nuclear attack? What should happen?
12. Scene analysis: the violence of the movie. Is violence in movies always exaggerated? Yes or no and why?
13. Dialogue analysis: the team talks about the success of the mission being "dumb luck." Is there such a thing as luck? Yes or no and why?
14. What does the movie "Mission: Impossible--Ghost Protocol" teach young people?

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