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When
Jesus went into the
region of
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| Gospelthink: Peter finally understood who I really was. Have I shown that I believe in Jesus by the way that I act, speak and think? | ||||
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"I don’t
wanna lose you now. I’m looking right at
the other half of me. The vacancy that
sat in my heart is a space that now you hold. Show me how to fight
for now, and I’ll tell you it was easy coming back
into you, once I figured it out—you were right here all
along. It’s
like you’re my mirror, my mirror staring
back at me. I couldn't get any bigger with anyone else beside of me.
And now it's clear as this promise that we're making, two reflections
into one."
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Peter the Apostle is
one of the most interesting people to study in the Gospels because he
was so unpredictable. Jesus called him in the first place, and he
responded whole-heartedly, but then he had doubts. He came back to
total acceptance of Jesus when he professed that Jesus was the Messiah,
but then he was to deny him completely a little later, only to come
back to the love relationship once again. Perhaps he was so
unpredictable because he was constantly aware of how cautious he had to
be in order to make a permanent commitment.
We see a similar situation in Justin Timberlake's song "Mirrors," but here are completely different circumstances, of course. It is a song of the man in a relationship returning to a previous relationship after being away for a while. In his mind, it was a mistake to leave, and now he is not about to change his mind again. Using commitment-type language, he assures the lady in the relationship that this time, he will stay and will not leave. As he says, he now considers her to be his other half, the filled vacancy, the mirror of himself who was with him all along even though he did not realize it, the one reflection instead of two. What is not mentioned in the song, however, is the caution that both must have as they begin the relationship again. There was a breakup at one time--whether his fault, as he hints at in the song, or hers--but it was a parting of the ways. Whenever such a breakup has occurred at one time, the couple must be very cautious as they begin again. There is no doubt that it can work again, and it is a wonderful feeling of love. But they must be careful. Entering relationships is serious business, especially relationships that once were vibrant and fell apart. Any person who comes back into a situation after a time must have the same type of caution. Just as a couple must choose a renewed love relationship with a certain wariness, a person who re-enters into a renewed spiritual life must do the same. Peter the Apostle discovered that fact in his life, but eventually chose to make Jesus the center of his life. It is a lesson that any spiritual person must learn. |
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| PRAYER Good and
gracious God, modern music can easily direct our thinking when it comes
to relationships. Your Son wants us to choose his way of life as he
wanted Peter to choose it, and we as Peter
honestly want to accomplish it. Give us the grace to carefully choose
it in our lives.
Be with us, we pray.
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+++++
GUIDE
FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT
Theme: It is a great feeling to move back into a relationship that we have left by mistake, but we must be very cautious. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. From your knowledge of the Gospels, describe the character of Peter the Apostle. 2. Project: the presenter may want to study with the class, the persons of John the Baptist, Elijah and Jeremiah, showing how they were prophets at the time they lived. 3. Obtain a copy of the video to the song and study it. What is most striking to you about it? Why? 4. The person in the song does not mention any "apology." Why would some type of apology be necessary in the song? 5. The song uses excellent imagery about making a commitment. What is most striking about the texts? 6. It seems a bit early to make this type of commitment after only recently coming back to the relationship. How much time should a person give before he/she makes a permanent commitment? 7. In your experience, can there be some type of "easy" reconciliation between a couple after they have had a breakup? Yes or no and why? 8. In your opinion, do most people have a clear idea of a permanent commitment when they enter it in our world today? Yes or no and why? 9. What is the fundamental reason why people must be careful as they re-enter a relationship that failed at one time? 10. How is the caution that the meditation suggests "worked out" in a relationship? 11. What does the song "Mirrors" teach young people? |
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©2007
Capuchin Province of Mid-America
Fr. Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America |
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