TGIMMtheperks2

	CHOOSING WHERE TO GO

The Gospel

MARK 14:66-72

While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the high priest’s maids came along. Seeing Peter warming himself, she looked intently at him and said, “You too were with the Nazarene, Jesus.” But he denied it saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are talking about.” So he went out into the outer court. [Then the cock crowed.] The maid saw him and began again to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.” Once again he denied it. A little later the bystanders said to Peter once more, “Surely you are one of them; for you too are a Galilean.” He began to curse and to swear, “I do not know this man about whom you are talking.” And immediately a cock crowed a second time. Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had said to him, “Before the cock crows twice you will deny me three times.” He broke down and wept.

The Media -- "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" (final session)

Charlie continued his education as a freshman in high school in the final session of the movie "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," tentatively discovering important facts about school, sex and drugs. At the same time, he began to see that he had a certain ability in writing, and luckily had a teacher who encouraged him. But he also knew that his "bad" days, as he called them, were still part of his life. He had suffered through a suicide of a friend that had adversely affected him, but especially he had had an early experience with a favorite aunt who had died suddenly. His aunt was special to him, but he also had to finally understand that the aunt had actually molested him as a young child. It seemed that his task of growing up would always be hampered as he dealt with the pain of his early life and the present pain of the departure of his high school senior friends to their future lives.

The doctor who helped Charlie see what was happening as he dealt with his pain gave him an excellent piece of advice that he remembered as he continued his life. She had said, "We can't choose where we come from, but we can choose where we go from there." He had come from circumstances from which he had never fully recovered. He had to face them, but the important part of the advice was to choose correctly for the future. Charlie's breakdown became the occasion for something good and essential to his life.

Likewise with Peter in the Gospel of Mark. Mark records that the cock crowed three times. That was all that had to be said. It was the occasion for Peter's understanding of what Jesus initially predicted, and what he had done. He could either find excuses for the choice he had made, or he could choose where to go from that moment on. His choice was the impetus that eventually led to the beginning of Christianity as we know it.

We all have a past. Some of it looms large in our memories, and unfortunately some of the memories are moments of pain--what we have done, what we have said. There are mistakes that have happened. Some of it was done to us, and we were not even responsible for it. Some of it may have been our fault. Whatever the circumstances, it is a fact that we can recover from the pain. As the doctor said to Charlie in the movie, "We can't choose where we come from, but we can choose where we go from there."

In many ways the movie closes with no resolution. How did Charlie react to his breakdown in the future? What were his three remaining years of high school like? What happened to his friends who had graduated, and had moved on in life? How much therapy would he still need? Did he turn to his Catholic upbringing a little more? From the movie, we really do not know the answers, but we know that Charlie finally had the tools that he needed. He had chosen where to go in his life, and one is hopeful that he pursued the advice he received.

Human nature is that way. We need the "push," but once we have made the choice to move forward with the proper direction, we can truly live well.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, we are well aware of our past. Give us the grace to study that past, correct it if necessary, and then to choose what is good and wholesome for our futures. Be with us, we pray.

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GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: "We can't choose where we come from, but we can choose where we go from there."

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(session: approximately 47 minutes)
1. What scene during this session of the movie is most striking? Why?
2. In the Gospel, at this time of his life, the apostle Peter is a mixture of courage--he is there following Jesus--and fear. What is the basic reason why "fear" is usually stronger than "courage"?
3. Peter denies Jesus a total of three times, and later in John's Gospel, Jesus gently reminds him of what he did (John 21:15-19). What is the best way to handle mistakes that have been made in our past lives?
4. What is the best way to deal with mistakes that others have done against you?
5. Why is it so difficult to deal with the pain of our early lives?
6. In general, how can a "breakdown" be considered something "good" in a person's life?
7.. In your opinion, what are the most difficult pains that people endure?
8. Given the things that Charlie learned at the end of the movie, in your opinion, what will his future high school years be like?
9. From the movie, one can see that Charlie's family is Catholic. How could his Catholic belief have helped him a little more than it did?
10. Scene analysis: Charlie lies about taking drugs. In general, do young people lie often? Yes or no and why?
11. Scene analysis: Charlie's "relationship" with Mary Elizabeth. What should he have done to break up the relationship?
12. Dialogue analysis: Patrick tells Charlie that there is "a history" between Sam and Mary Elizabeth. Why do people hold grudges against one another?
13. Scene analysis: One of the adults punishes his son for "acting out" in a homosexual way. In today's world, is the lifestyle of a homosexual accepted as a legitimate lifestyle? Yes or no and why?
14. Scene analysis: the fight in the lunchroom. Why do young people often give into physical fighting?
15. Analysis: Breakups are extremely difficult in high school. What is the "best" way to breakup with someone?
16. Analysis: "the real me". What is the meaning of the phrase, and how does a person express it to someone else?
17. Analysis: Candace calls the police to go to Charlie. How can young people help other young people who are obviously having major difficulties?
18. Analysis: why do young people often blame themselves when someone close to them dies?
19. Dialogue analysis: Charlie's closing remarks: "This one moment when you know you're not a sad story: you are alive, and you stand up and see the lights on the buildings and everything that makes you wonder. And you're listening to that song and that drive with the people you love most in this world. And in this moment I swear, we are infinite." What is most striking about the comment? Why?
20. What does the movie "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" teach young people?

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