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The Gospel

MATTHEW 27:22-25

Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus called Messiah?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” But he said, “Why? What evil has he done?” They only shouted the louder, “Let him be crucified!” When Pilate saw that he was not succeeding at all, but that a riot was breaking out instead, he took water and washed his hands in the sight of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. Look to it yourselves.” And the whole people said in reply, “His blood be upon us and upon our children.”

The Media -- "The One That Got Away" (Katy Perry)

"In another life, I would be your girl. We’d keep all our promises, be us against the world. In another life, I would make you stay so I don’t have to say you were the one that got away. All this money can’t buy me a time machine. It can’t replace you with a million rings. I shoulda told you what you meant to me, ‘cause now I paid the price."

Katy Perry's song "The One That Got Away" is a song about a breakup again—perhaps the most common topic sung about in popular music, and it is sung with particularly poignant words. The video to the song portrays the situation of the song quite well. In the song, the woman in the relationship is recalling that the early stages of the relationship were wonderful and how she misses it now. She has lost him forever, and it truly was her fault.

One of the problems of human behavior is that we do not always consider the consequences of what we say and do, especially when we are angry. Such was the case when the people of Jesus' time called for Jesus' death and even accepted the blame for it, saying at that moment that it did not matter what future generations might think. They were angry; the religious leaders had convinced them that this Jesus was not a good person, and so they thought they knew what they were saying and doing. History was to prove that they should have thought out their words and actions a little more.

The lady in Katy Perry's song "The One That Got Away" could easily identify with those feelings. Her relationship with the man was once very good, but there were some things that she should have done to keep it that way. And now, because she did not do them, she is paying the price. Her life is not as good as it could have been.

Actions and words have consequences, no matter when those actions happen. Our human emotions often dictate words and actions that are said and done at the wrong time. When we are angry or very tired or very stressed, we say and do things that we do not think about, and many times those words and actions will cause us future pain. We find ourselves saying with the lady in Katy Perry' song, "I should have..." or "I should not have..."

Katy Perry makes the observation that material things cannot mend a relationship that has been ruined because of things that were said or done. The only way to help relationships is to take the time to think about the consequences of our words and actions. Often we do not take that time. Ultimately, it means that we must carefully study in every instance what our emotions want us to do. It is not an easy task.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, we often say things and do things that we regret later on, very much like the people who condemned your Son on this earth. Give us the wisdom to think about our words and actions before we say and do them. Be with us, we pray.

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GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: We must always consider the consequences of our actions and words.

THE GOSPEL
1. Recent religious documents remind us that the Jewish nation was not responsible for the death of Jesus and that only a certain few were. There has been much prejudice toward Jewish people shown throughout the ages. In what ways have you seen this prejudice? What can people do to offset this prejudice?
2. Some spiritual writers say that we were all responsible for Jesus' death. What is the meaning of this accusation. See Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, numbers 597-8.
3. What is your idea of Jesus' redemption? See Catechism, numbers 599-618.

THE SONG
1. Obtain a copy of the video of Katy Perry's song "The One That Got Away." What is most striking about it?
2. Text analysis: "We'd keep all our promises." What promises do young people in relationships make that most of the time are not followed?
3. Text analysis: "I would make you stay." We cannot make anyone stay in a relationship, of course, but what can couples do to make a relationship last?
4. Katy Perry mentions that money and material things play a role in relationships. Do you believe that money is important in love relationships? Yes or no and why?
5. Text analysis: "I shoulda told you what you meant to me." Why do people in love often not tell the other how they feel about them? What are the significant elements of couple communication?
6. The song reflects the thought of a couple who promised as early as when they were eighteen that they would be together forever. What are the principal reasons not to make commitments this early in life?

THE MEDITATION
1. As we consider the consequences of words and actions, what is the best way to keep from making significant mistakes in our lives?
2. Anger is often the reason for words and actions that have consequences that we regret. What is the best way to manage anger?
3. What are the two or three things that a couple often do that break up the relationship?
4. One of the simple rules of leadership training is not to make a decision when you are not "100 percent." What is the meaning of the phrase?
5. Name an instance in your life when you made a wrong decision because you were angry or too tired or too stressed.
6. What is the best way to motivate ourselves to take more time before we make significant decisions?
7. What does the song "The One That Got Away" teach young people?

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