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	NEVER ALLOW EVIL TO BE STRONG

The Gospel

LUKE 9:37-43a

When they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met Jesus. There was a man in the crowd who cried out, "Teacher, I beg you, look at my son; he is my only child. For a spirit seizes him and he suddenly screams and it convulses him until he foams at the mouth; it releases him only with difficulty, wearing him out. I begged your disciples to cast it out but they could not." Jesus said in reply, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long will I be with you and endure you? Bring your son here." As he was coming forward, the demon threw him to the ground in a convulsion; but Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and returned him to his father. And all were astonished by the majesty of God.

The Media -- "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" (beginning session)

After Gandalf, Bilbo, King Thorin and the Dwarves began a more direct journey to take back the Dwarf homeland of the Lonely Mountain or Erebor in the movie "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug", they had to receive the aid of many friends to accomplish their purpose. They were blocked in their journey principally by Azog whom Thorin had wounded sometime before and his army of Orcs who were doing the bidding of a horrible evil even greater than the dragon Smaug. At every turn they were met with challenges. A group of their rescuers was strangely enough an enemy of the Dwarves, the Wood-elves, who long before had refused to help the Dwarves as they were driven from their homeland. One of the Elves, a she-elf by the name of Tauriel, understanding that Elves should never allow evil to be stronger than they were, led her colleague Legolas to aid in their battle with the Orcs. In doing so, she overcame the past hatred, deciding to help turn away the evil that plagued their once-upon-a-time enemies.

Evils knows no rules. If there is any way into a situation, evil will find it. Consequently, when one sets out to face it in hopes of stopping it, there are many things to consider. Not only must one study the evil itself, for example, but the person trying to eradicate the evil must think of what the evil has caused.

Jesus, as he cast out demons, not only paid attention to the evil itself--the devil who had taken over the lives of people in some way. But he always worked with the people who were affected by the evil--the people themselves, their acquaintances and friends. Knowing the extent of evil's influence, he showed his concern for those who suffered the evil. As the Gospels relate, he not only conquered the source, but he healed what the source had caused.

Likewise, Tauriel and Legolas in the movie "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug." As Tauriel remarks, "When did we let evil be stronger than us." Seeing the evil of the Orcs of Middle Earth, and recognizing that they could do something about it, they set out to overcome the evil and help those who were affected by that evil. It mattered not whether they were once enemies; they understood what they could do for the Dwarves, and they did it.

Knowing that we will not cast out devils or be called to eradicate thousands of evil-minded people, we are aware of the small evils in our own little worlds. As Christians, we are not only called to work against the evil we have made our own, like the devils of gossip, debilitating words and harmful thinking and the like, but we must pay attention to the people we hurt or may have hurt.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, as your Son, we are aware of the evil in the world, and even more aware of the personal evil which infects us. Give us the grace to be aware of any evil, but especially to help those who have been hurt by that evil. Be with us, we pray.

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GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: Confronting the evil involves not only trying to overcome it, but helping those whom the evil has injured.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(session: 76 minutes approximately)
1. What scene during this session of the movie is most striking? Why?
2. This Gospel passage implies (and the parallel passages in the other Gospels point to the fact) that it is a lack of faith on the Apostles' part that prevents them from curing the boy. What is your definition of "faith"? See Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, numbers 144-165.
3. Where do you see "the majesty of God" most in our world today?
4. In your opinion, do most people of the world recognize the "majesty of God"?
5. In your opinion, are people as concerned about evil as they should be? Yes or no and why?
6. The Christian belief is that evil will never overpower good completely. Do you believe that there are "exceptions" to such a belief in which evil always "wins"? Yes or no and why?
7. What are some ways to "make up" for the evil that we may have done, like gossip, hurting the reputation of another, and so forth?
8. In general, why do people commit the "smaller evils" mentioned in the meditation?
9. Scene analysis: the evil Azog and his son Bolg. Do you think that there are people in our world today who are so evil that they could never be good? Yes or no and why?
10. Analysis: It is evident in the movie that evil in some form is "everywhere." In our world today, how is it true that evil is "always" present?
11. Scene analysis: Bilbo attacks the centipede-like creature with more force than is necessary showing the corrupting influence of the ring. The ring is something that seems to be good--making one invisible--but also corrupts a person. In today's world, what is an example of this type of evil?
12. Analysis: the Dwarves and Elves are enemies because the Elves refused to help the Dwarves previously a long time before. Why do people hold grudges this long?
13. Dialogue analysis: Tauriel: "When did we let evil be stronger than us?" It is the theme of this session of the movie. It signifies real courage in the face of evil. Where do you see the most courage in today's world?
14. Character analysis: Bard. Describe what type of man he is at this point of the movie.

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