TGIMMMarch16

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Movie: "Super 8" -- beginning session

GROWING UP FAST

The Gospel

MARK 16:1-8

When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go and anoint [Jesus]. Very early when the sun had risen, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb. They were saying to one another, “Who will roll back the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” When they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back; it was very large. On entering the tomb they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a white robe, and they were utterly amazed. He said to them, “Do not be amazed! You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Behold the place where they laid him. But go and tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you.’” Then they went out and fled from the tomb, seized with trembling and bewilderment. They said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

Gospelthink: The women who were close to me discover that I have risen as I promised. Have I allowed the Lord's Resurrection to influence my life?

"Super 8" is a unique "monster movie." It shows the monster and the usual killing and mayhem that a monster causes, but the movie is so much more. It is the story of young middle school people who are doing the usual "young people things." It is also the story of adult people who have their own problems and their own ways of dealing with them, especially when there is an unknown that is affecting their lives. What is important to see is that everyone in the situation would benefit from a more mature point of view. The young people had to "grow up fast" in order to cope with tragedy and the unfamiliar. The adults had to learn the lesson of true concern for others that went beyond their own desires even as they dealt with personal struggles. Acquiring maturity, whether one is adult or young, is a necessity in our world if we want to have a good life.

The reading from Mark's Gospel is embarrassing. It relates that the women who came to the tomb did not carry out what the young man from God had told them to do. All they did at that time was to say nothing because they were afraid. Perhaps they guessed what the consequences might be. Perhaps they thought that they were not quite ready. Perhaps they had to "grow up" a little more in order to face the difficulties of living a dedicated life. They finally carried out the command, of course, because we have accepted the Christian doctrine that they ultimately were to report. [Author's note: according to the New Collegeville Catholic Commentary, there is a plausible explanation why Mark used the language he did in order to end his Gospel. It explains the reason why "other endings" were used in the early Church.]

The storyline of the movie "Super 8" is one of people having to "grow up fast." Joe Lamb and his friends had to leave the relative safety of middle school living because they had discovered something that required mature thought. Joe's father Jack gradually came to understand that they were dealing with a reality that defied reason. Such difficult times demanded mature action and thought even in the midst of personal tragedy and pain.

Gaining maturity is not easy. A person's life is built on the fact that in order to survive early on, we must be selfish. We must be interested in what we need as we grow or else we will not grow. But there will come a time when we finally must realize that such selfishness must give way to something else. It is a time when we see the importance of others and the importance of giving up our own desires for the sake of something else. When such a time comes earlier in life or at a time when we would rather be thinking only of ourselves, it becomes even more demanding.

Young people must grow into maturity; adults must act more maturely in their lives. It is the only way to bring about a better world.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, we must gain maturity in order to bring about the better world that you wanted. It is never easy, of course, no matter what our age or our circumstances. Help us honestly desire to gain such maturity. Be with us, we pray.

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GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: Having a better world demands maturity.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(session: approximately 51 minutes)
1. What scene during this session of the movie is most striking and why?
2. In the Gospel, the evangelist reports that women were the first to visit the tomb of Jesus. In your opinion, why did the men not go to the tomb?
3. It is generally agreed by scholars that verses 9-20 were added to Mark's Gospel later. By ending it this way (the women not carrying out the command), it has been argued that Mark actually invites his readers to step in and take the place of the women at the empty tomb. What should the women have done?
4. The tie-in with the movie theme is that the women only gradually understood their Christian maturity, that is their Christian duty. In general, what are Christians called to do most of all?
5. Give your own definition of "having to grow up fast."
6. What are some signs of maturity in middle school young people?
7. Personal tragedy and pain often disrupt maturity. What are the best ways to "handle" the tragedies and pains of life?
8. Show how babies "must be selfish."
9. At what time should people generally give up their childish selfishness?
10. The meditation suggests that "maturity" might be defined as a time "when we see the importance of others and the importance of giving up our own desires for the sake of something else." What are some other characteristics of "maturity"?
11. The meditation suggests that only the mature can bring about a better world. Do you agree with the statement? Yes or no and why?
12. The movie begins with the loss of a mother/wife in a family. What are the ways to cope with such a tragedy?
14. Scene analysis: Dr. Woodward's actions. He ultimately wanted the creature to escape, and was willing to give up his life for that end. It was an act of martyrdom. How would you define a "martyr" in today's world?
15. Scene analysis: Joe obviously feels "love" for Alice. Why is "first love" such an important feeling?
16. Scene analysis: The military is being "secretive" about what they are doing. Do you believe that it is necessary for the military to be "secretive"? Yes or no and why?
17. Scene analysis: Joe and his dad argue. How should have Joe's dad have acted toward Joe?
18. Analysis: At this point of the movie, how should General Nelec have handled the situation of the "clean-up"?

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