TGIMMJanuary10

	WHAT YOU WILL

The Gospel

MARK 14:32-36

Then they came to a place named Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray." He took with him Peter, James and John, and began to be troubled and distressed. Then he said to them, "My soul is sorrowful even to death. Remain here and keep watch. He advanced a little and fell to the ground and prayed that if it were possible the hour might pass by him: he said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible to you. Take this cup away from me, but not what I will but what you will."

The Media -- "To Save A Life" (final session)

In this session of the movie "To Save a Life," Jake Taylor's world which had begun to look fairly stable begins to slowly fall apart. He had accepted the responsibility of doing what he could to help people after he had understood what caused tragedy in Roger Dawson's life. He even had accepted God into his life. But, as often happens in young people's lives, suddenly more than one situation began to overwhelm him. His parents divorced, and he drove his new friend Johnny away by a sudden coolness toward him, something he regretted. Above all, his girlfriend Amy was pregnant with his child, true hypocrisy given his sudden conversion to Christianity. As he analyzes what he could do, he finally understands that he must give up some of his own personal preferences. His decision was a further mark of his maturity.

The human Jesus became overwhelmed at times. At the end of his life, when he sensed the possibility of torture and death, he expressed the emotion of the moment. Mark's Gospel describes it well with the words "troubled," "distressed," and "sorrowful even to death." But, true to his call to teach us what to do, the human Jesus does the one thing that can help his stress: he gives up his own personal preferences. "Not what I will," he says, "but what you will." When human beings are able to give up personal preferences in order to understand the larger picture that includes others, then they can say that they are living the way they should.

Jake Taylor in the movie "To Save a Life" gives a perfect example of the way God works in our lives at times. It seems as though everything has finally calmed down, we are on our way to getting our lives back in order, and then more things happen. We see the control that we had disintegrate. We feel the onslaught of more depression. And it happens at times even after we have accepted God more into our lives.

Jesus tells us what to do, and Jake Taylor acts it out in his life--we have to make further adjustments to our lifestyles: we have to allow for others to have preference over what we want. Jake gives up what he wants most of all. He is able to continue it later on, and that may be part of our thinking, but the principle that should guide our lives is that at times we have to give up what we want in order to live a moral life. Our primary task in life not only revolves around being the best we can be for ourselves; it means caring about others, even as we try to care for ourselves.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, your Son was human as much as he was God. He taught us how to be more human as we strive to bring ourselves to you. One of his teachings dealt with giving up our own personal desires at times in order to bring about the life you want. Be with us, we pray.

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GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: If you truly care about others, you may have to give up your own desires.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(session: approximately 37 minutes)
1.What scene during this session of the movie is most striking? Why?
2. Jesus prayed frequently during his life. What is your definition of prayer? Do you think that Jesus had the same definition as yours? Yes or no and why?
3.Mark’s Gospel (and Matthew’s and Luke’s) all picture the human Jesus feeling pain as he anticipated his crucifixion and death. Explain how Jesus who was divine could also feel human pain. SeeCatechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, numbers 470-478.
4 .In general, do most people truly give to others? Yes or no and why?
5. It is possible to become very depressed when things continue to go wrong. What is the best way to handle depression?
6. What do people want most in their lives? Why?
7. Scene analysis: Amy decides to have an abortion. Christians believe that abortion is taking another’s life. In general, why do people seek an abortion?
8. Scene analysis: Jake’s parents divorce. From what you have seen, what was their principal problem?
9. Scene analysis: Jake prays. Jake’s prayer is an informal prayer. What is the difference between formal prayer and informal prayer? Do you think that one is better than the other? Yes or no and why?
10. Scene analysis: Johnny is close to suicide (like his friend Roger in the past). Sometimes things seem very bleak in our lives. Realistically, what should Johnny have done?
11. Scene analysis: Jake chooses to stay with Danny. Reaching out to someone in need is the most important part of showing forgiveness. Why is showing forgiveness so difficult?
12. Scene analysis: Amy chooses “adoption.” Why is adoption so difficult? Why is it the best solution for a premarital pregnancy?
13. What does the movie “To Save A Life” teach young people?

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