TGIMMnothing

	SOLVING A PROBLEM

The Gospel

MATTHEW 5:43-47

[Jesus said:] "You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same?"

Gospelthink: I give you my very difficult directive that you are to love even your enemies. As I think of the people that I have a difficult time loving for whatever reason, I should at least pray for them.

The Media -- "Nothing" (The Script)

"They say I’m better off now than I ever was with her as they take me to my local down the street. They say a few drinks will help me to forget her. But after one too many I know that I’m never. And my mates are all there trying to calm me down, 'cause I’m shouting your name all over the town. I’m swearing if I go there now, I can change her mind, turn it all around. Dialed her number and confessed to her: I’m still in love, but all I heard was nothing."

No one would fault her for her response in the song. To be begged is bad enough, to be begged while in an alcoholic-induced state is even worse. What is commonly called "alcohol talk," that is thinking that is the result of too much alcohol, is never a solution to a problem, and the lady in the relationship could easily sense that "nothing" could be solved by such "alcohol talk."

Jesus knew that there were solutions to the problems in his world that should not be used. One of them was hatred of the enemies of Israel. The Jewish people had grown accustomed to a law that they interpreted from the original law of Moses: since they were the chosen people, other nations were not. It gave rise to the belief that they did not have to establish a good relationship with other nations, and in particular, they could "hate" their enemies. Jesus points out to his followers that there must always be love of others, even those who do not love them. It was a law that was difficult for the people of his time. It has come to be perhaps the most neglected law of his followers in the present day.

We see many solutions to the problems that we have as human beings. Many times the solutions are easy in the sense that they satisfy our selfish natures. In the song, "Nothing," drinking alcohol was such an easy solution. In the Lord's time, hatred of those who hated them was easy and natural, following the instincts of human nature.

Mature human beings will understand that easy solutions usually are not the best solutions to the problems they have. They will study their problems and choose solutions based on the principles of good living like those given by Jesus in the Scriptures rather than what satisfies their selfish desires.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, we have problems that face us in life. Our natural desire is to solve those problems as easily as possible. Help us understand that those problems must be faced with solutions based on your Son's teaching rather than on our own desires. Be with us, we pray.

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GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: There are solutions to problems that should NOT be used.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. Jesus gives the foundation of "love of enemies" to be the fact that we are all God's creation. What keeps people from accepting such a belief?
2. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, treats love of enemies in numbers 1822ff, 2303 and 2844. Outline a presentation on the topic.
3. If alcohol was not a good solution to the problem of the song, what would be a good solution?
4. Text analysis: "They say a few drinks will help me to forget her." Why is the statement not a true statement?
5. Alcohol often releases inhibitions. What are some examples?
6. What is wrong with being "begged" to stay in a relationship?
7. In your opinion, do most heads of nations reflect a desire to "love the enemies" of their country? Yes or no and why?
8. The meditation states that Jesus' law of love of enemies may be the most neglected of his laws. Is the statement a true statement? Yes or no and why?
9. Why are easy solutions usually not the best solutions to a problem?
10. What are some principles of good living other than Christian ones?
11. What does the song "Nothing" teach young people?

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