TGIMMsnit2

	SUFFERING HARDSHIP FOR ANOTHER

The Gospel

JOHN 15:14-17

[Jesus said:] “You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you: love one another.”

The Media -- "Snitch" (final session)

In the movie "Snitch," because of a mandatory drug offender charge which would give him up to 10 years in prison, John Matthew's son Jason was asked to cooperate with authorities. If he would and help capture some of his friends on drug charges, he was promised a reduced sentence. The law was set up so that the offender would "have" to cooperate in such a way. Jason saw otherwise, however, even though his family begged him to work with the authorities. In Jason's mind, he did not want to be responsible for a friend's misfortune. Even after suffering physical pain in the prison, and even though his friends did not even know what he did for them, he still did not change his mind. For Jason, love of another met enduring personal hardship. As his father John told him, Jason was teaching everyone what real character and integrity was all about.

Psychologists will make the point that Jason Matthew in the movie could have actually helped his friends by reporting them, but Jason did not see it that way. Jason saw that the law was tricking him into violating his friendship with another, and he would not allow it. Jason felt that he knew what friendship was, and it was the definition that determined his action.

When Jesus spoke specifically about friendship in the Gospel of John, it was with the idea of being close to his Father. Since he had told his Apostles everything that the Father had revealed to him, the Apostles had a special place in his heart. Jesus called it a place in which everyone was equal, a place in which the Apostles should consider themselves "chosen" to be friends of Jesus. Within the friendship, the guide was "love." "This I command you," he says, "love one another."

In the movie "Snitch," Jason shows by example how to treat friends. He was willing to endure personal hardships on behalf of his friends, that is, he was willing to suffer before he would betray friendship. He presents a lesson for every friendship. Almost every friendship will experience a time in which one of the friends can betray the friendship in some way. The proof of a good friendship is how friends behave in those circumstances.

Jason's father John praises Jason's resolve in the movie although he did not want Jason to suffer the way he was. He comments that he could never have done what his son was doing. Indeed such love in friendship is uncommon. Jesus expected it from his friends. Jason gives an example of what it means in our every day world.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, your Son taught us about friendship, a friendship based on his love for You. As we deal with people that we call our friends, give us the grace to learn the lesson of friendship that Jesus taught. Be with us, we pray.

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GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: Love for another involves enduring hardships on behalf of the other, even if the other person does not know about it.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(session: approximately 53 minutes)
1. What scene during this session of the movie is most striking? Why?
2. Doing what Jesus commands is one of the conditions of friendship with him. In your opinion, what is the most important command that Jesus gives?
3. Obviously, Christians have not followed Jesus' directive to "love one another" as well as we should have. What would the Christian world have to do first in order to follow the Lord's law to "love one another"?
4. How are we helping another by giving them up to law enforcement?
5. Is it ever right to "lie" to help another?
6. The basic element of friendship is love. What are some other characteristics of being a friend?
7. In general, in today's world, is it common for friends to suffer hardship for another? Yes or no and why?
8. What should be our attitude toward another when we know that they have betrayed our friends?.
9. Analysis: As with many movies, violence and killing is portrayed. Does this have any effect on young people? Yes or no and why?
10. Analysis: Organized crime in the United States. Is there any way of "converting" the members to be better people? Yes or no and why?
11. Scene analysis: Daniel and his wife fight about Daniel's involvement with drugs again. In a marriage, is there any time when one spouse should keep something from the other? Yes or no and why?
12. Analysis: Money is the usual motivation to commit crime. Why do people have a desire for more and more money?
13. Scene analysis: Agent Cooper tells John what will happen. In general, are people who are "high up" honest with other people? Yes or no and why?
14. Dialogue analysis: John praises his son Jason. This is the subject of this meditation. In most families, do fathers show enough appreciation of their sons and daughters? Yes or no and why?
15. Analysis: Juan Carlos will not get into a confrontation with police because his young son is with him. How is it that those who commit crime have respect for the young, and yet are willing to kill others at random?
16. Scene analysis: John has to go into a Witness Protection Program. In your opinion, do these type of programs really work? Yes or no and why?
17. Scene analysis: Daniel does not go into a Witness Protection Program. Do you think that his family will be safe? Yes or no and why?
18. Scene analysis: John gives Daniel the reward money. In general, when people do not need the money, are they inclined to give to others? Yes or no and why?
19. What does the movie "Snitch" teach young people?

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