TGIMMtheb2

	"I HAVE YOUR BACK"

The Gospel

MATTHEW 1:1-17

A family record of Jesus Christ, son of David, son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers. ... Jesse was the father of King David. ... Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers at the time of the Babylonian captivity. ... Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary. It was of her that Jesus who is called the Messiah was born. Thus the total number of generations is: from Abraham to David, fourteen generations; from David to the Babylonian captivity, fourteen generations; from the Babylonian captivity to the Messiah, fourteen generations.

The Media

"The Blind Side"

second session

What made Michael Ohre a good person was what made him a good football player. In the true to life story of Michael Ohre in the movie "The Blind Side," Michael had never felt the effects of being a part of a family. His life had been more a reaction to circumstances than anything else. When the Tuohy family gave him the sense of belonging, he found something that could guide him as he pursued his future. During this session of the movie, he tells his coach that "he has his back." It is a common phrase that to Michael meant that he was family, as was the team, as were his new friends and especially as was his new legal Mom, Dad, sister and brother. A family member protected each other. It was a lesson that Michael learned well. It is a lesson for everyone whether they play football or not.

One of the important things in our lives is our families and our backgrounds. The beginning of Matthew’s Gospel points out the Christian’s ancestry, saying that we can trace all of our spiritual histories back to Jesus Christ. Jesus is the source of our spiritual lives.

One of the great lessons in life is what we learn from and about our own families. Most of us experience normal enough family lives as we grow. There are the good times and the bad times, the closeness and the fights, the big events that we look forward to with joy and the day-to-day drudgery. Most of us do not understand that we are always learning, and always developing a personality that will be unique. Through it all, we are establishing a foundation that will last for a long time.

As Michael Ohre does in the movie, as Jesus no doubt did during his early years, we all should study the importance of our families and our own contributions to them. Many times deep friendships form from early family living, but unfortunately we all know of deep hatred that can also form. This session of "The Blind Side" might provide an opportunity to study how we view our families right now.

If indeed there are some negatives that exist in our families, perhaps we should take the example of Michael Ohre to heart. He discovered that having a family was the most important thing that life could give him. No matter who we are or how our families have been formed, perhaps we are all called to be family members that can be better than we are right now.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, you gave us your Son who set up a guide for everyone to follow. Part of the guide involved an understanding of family. Give us the grace to imitate him so that we can love our own families in a better way. Be with us, we pray.

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GUIDELINES FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: Our families are important, and we should always treat them in an important way.

THE GOSPEL
1. There are a number of problems with the listing that Matthew gives in his genealogy, but the overall thought is that Jesus’ history can be traced back to Abraham, his religious beginning (Luke’s genealogy traces Jesus back to Adam to signify Jesus’ connections with the first man, Luke 3:23-38). In your opinion, is knowing your background really important? Yes or no and why?
2. Although coming after Abraham, David is mentioned first, probably because of his status as King, and Jesus is seen in Matthew’s Gospel as a King. How would you describe the person of Jesus as you have studied him?

THE MEDITATION
1. When a person does not grow up in a nurturing family atmosphere (as Michael Ohre did not) what is the most common problem such a the young person will have to face?
2. Describe “normal” family life.
3. What is the most important characteristic of a good family?
4. Share one good quality of your family right now.
5. In what ways can a son/daughter make their families better than they are at present? [Personal meditation: what can I do to make my family life better than it is right now?]

THE MOVIE, PART 2 (approximately 40 minutes)
1. What scene during this session of the movie is most striking? Why?
2. Dialogue analysis: Leigh Anne tells her friends that Michael is changing her family’s life. In what way is this a true statement, and is it good or bad?
3. In your opinion, what is most difficult for the children when parents adopt another child?
4. Scene analysis: Leigh Anne talks with Mrs. Ohre. What is important about this scene? Why?
5. Scene analysis: the accident. What is most striking about this scene? Why?
6. Michael tells the coach that he “has his back,” the theme of this session. What is the most important characteristic of a good family?

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