TGIMMsome

	THE LUXURY OF CAUTION

The Gospel

JOHN 3:9-13

Nicodemus answered and said to [Jesus], "How can this happen?" Jesus answered and said to him, "You are the teacher of Israel and you do not understand this? Amen, amen, I say to you, we speak of what we know and we testify to what we have seen, but you people do not accept our testimony. If I tell you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?" No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man."

The Media -- "Some Nights" (Fun.)

"Some nights, I stay up cashing in my bad luck. Some nights I call it a draw. Some nights I wish that my lips could build a castle. Some nights, I wish they’d just fall off. But I still wake up, I still see your ghost. Oh Lord, I’m still not sure what I stand for. What do I stand for? Most nights, I don’t know anymore. Some nights I wish that this all would end ‘cause I could use some friends for a change, and some nights I’m scared you’ll forget me again. Some nights I always win."

From the very start, Nicodemus was very careful about his relationship with Jesus. He came to him at night when no one was around, and he asked questions that he probably understood a little, but not completely. He wanted to establish a relationship with Jesus, but he knew that he had to be cautious. He was cautious not only because of possible opposition from his fellow Pharisees, but he simply did not understand the new doctrine that Jesus was teaching. He wanted to know as much as he could before he made a decision about following him.

Nicodemus' thinking seems to be the same type of thinking of the man in the relationship mentioned in Fun.'s song "Some Nights." The man knew that he would have to make a decision concerning his future. He knew that he and his friend had some nights that were good, and some that were bad, and so he was being cautious about his future possible decisions, asking serious questions and taking his time.

There is wisdom in the idea of being cautious, especially when a person must make a major decision, such as marriage or some important commitment. How does "being cautious" manifest itself? The principal ways probably are the taking of some significant time before any final decision and secondly, asking ourselves some serious questions about the decision. The person in Fun.'s song does both. He speaks of "some nights," and one is led to believe that it was actually "many nights." He also asks the question, "What do I stand for?" Sufficient time and deep questions give us the luxury to study all of the circumstances that are part of any decision.

Eventually, of course, decisions must be made. Nicodemus' ultimate decision was based on a spiritual agreement with what Jesus Christ was teaching. The Christian who makes major decisions should learn from Nicodemus and the rock group Fun.. The more caution we have as we make the decisions that we must make, the better our decisions will be.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God we all make decisions in life, some of them of real significance. Help us always be cautious so that we can make good decisions, and may we always ask for your help in doing so. Be with us, we pray.

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GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: People should be cautious about their serious relationships and decisions.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. In the Gospel passage, Nicodemus was a teacher in Israel. What are the most important characteristics of a good teacher?
2. Jesus mentions "earthly things" and "heavenly things." Name some elements of each category.
3. What are the principal reasons why love relationships do not work out?
4. Text analysis: "Cashing in my bad luck." What is the meaning of the phrase?
5. Text analysis: "I wish that my lips could build a castle." What is the meaning of the phrase?
6. The group asks the rhetorical question "What do I stand for?" What is the meaning of the question?
7. Text analysis: "Some nights I always win." What is the meaning of the phrase?
8. In general, with what you know about Nicodemus from this passage, what kind of a person was he?
9. The meditation uses the idea that the man in the relationship is being cautious about what he is to do in the future. Given what you have heard in the song, what do you think the man will do concerning his relationship? Why?
10. What are some serious general questions that we should ask ourselves before we make any serious decision?
11. What are the major decisions that people make in life? How should they prepare for them?
12. In general, do you think most young people show enough caution before they make important decisions? Yes or no and why?
13. What does the song "Some Nights" teach young people?

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