TGIMMtheb3

Movie: "The Blind Side" -- final session

IT'S OUR DECISION

The Gospel

MARK 8:27-30

Now Jesus and his disciples set out for the village of Caesarea Phillipi. Along the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?" They said in reply, “John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said to him in reply, “You are the Messiah.” Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him.

Gospelthink: I wanted my Apostles to acknowledge me as the Lord of their lives. I do, obviously, but what I do during my life should be saying the same thing.

"Ferdinand the Bull" was a favorite story of the Tuohy family. The story is about a bull who would rather smell flowers than fight in bullfights. He sits in the middle of the bull ring failing to take heed of any of the provocations of the matador and others to fight. Leigh Ann Tuohy after all she did for Michael, realizes that she and Michael's tutor, Miss Sue, and her whole family may have been trying to choose a way of life for him. During this final session, after many offers from college football programs, Leigh Anne finally asks Michael what he really wants. Her thought was that maybe he was a "Ferdinand" and really did not want to play football. She tells Michael, "It's your decision; it's your life."

Michael Ohre answered Leigh Anne by saying that he thought that he was pretty good at playing football, and therefore he was saying that he wanted to play. It was important for Leigh Ann to hear Michael say it. Leigh Anne, indeed the whole Tuohy family and every football coach who watched him play, may have wanted him to play football, but it had to be Michael's choice because it was his life.

The choice that we make is extremely important. We decide what direction we go. We may have help and incentive from others, but ultimately, it is up to us. In fact, the biggest mistake that a teacher or parent can make is to decide for the student or child what they should do in life. When mentors see potential in their charges, they want to choose for them, but it is wrong to do it. It was with that thought that Jesus asked his question of the apostles, "Who do you say that I am?" Only the apostles could answer because if Jesus would answer for them, it would have been nothing more than what a teacher wanted to hear from a student.

When Peter answered Jesus the way he did, when Michael answered Leigh Anne the way he did, it was not only a statement--it was a direction for life. Once the decision was made, both Peter the apostle and Michael the football player could do what they had the potential to do.

No matter which way the call of our lives leads us, it begins with us. When we have reached maturity, no one should dictate to us what we should do, and also we cannot blame anyone for our decisions. Yes, we need help to decide; yes, we might be able to blame someone for things which were beyond our control, but for the most part, in the end, we are the ones who must make the important decisions in life. Once we make them, everything else will fall in line.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, your Son knew human nature very well. He knew that his apostles had to choose him to be their leader and guide, and he knew that it had to be their decision. Be with us as we make the important decisions in our lives, we pray.

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GUIDELINES FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: We are the only ones who can decide what we want to do in our lives.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(session: approximately 40 minutes)
1. What scene during this session of the movie is most striking? Why?
2. This Gospel passage is a turning point in Mark’s Gospel. Not only is Jesus a prophet, but his apostles acknowledge him to be the Messiah, the one who is to redeem humankind. What is your understanding of redemption? (See Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, numbers 599-618.)
3. Jesus’ reason for telling his apostles not to tell anyone is that people still did not understand what the Messiah would accomplish. Do you think most Christian people understand what Jesus has done? Yes or no and why?
4. Project: Discuss the children’s story of “Ferdinand the Bull.” What is significant about the story and why?
5. Why is it a true statement that parents and mentors often “push” their charges too much?
6. What are the most important decisions that a young person makes in life, and what preparation should be given for the decisions?
7. Scene analysis: Miss Sue tries to influence Michael not to choose Tennessee as a college. Why is their such great rivalry between certain universities?
8. Dialogue analysis: Michael’s essay on “The Charge of the Light Brigade.” “Any fool can have courage. But honor: that’s the real reason to do something or not.” Why is the statement true?
9. Analysis: the NCAA visits Michael. Should the NCAA be this interested in why athletes choose colleges? Explain your answer.
10. Dialogue analysis: “It’s your decision; it’s your life.” In general, do young people realize the significance of their decisions? Yes or no and why?
11. What does the movie “The Blind Side” teach young people today?

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