january9

Movie: "Total Recall" -- final session

THE CHOICE TO DO THE RIGHT THING

The Gospel

LUKE 6:43-45

Jesus said, "A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not pick figs from thorn bushes, nor do they gather grapes from brambles. A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil; for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks."

Gospelthink: Look carefully at what you are doing. If it is good, then you are thinking the right way. Not so with evil. What do my actions show?

In one of his stored memories that Carl Hauser discovered in the movie "Total Recall," his image tells him that "This is the chance to do something right." Guided by the new knowledge that he was an agent to help The Colony overthrow the evil leader of the United Federation of Britain, Vilos Cohaagen, Hauser and his friend Melina set out to do what is right. They had to deal with not only the evil of a larger "nation" wanting to eradicate another, but also with the evil of the people who desired the power of being in charge. It was a near impossible task since The Colony's resources were small, but they finally accomplished their goal.

Jesus wanted people to do the right thing. For him, it meant that his followers had to know well what the Jewish law was. Then he wanted them to accept his own nuances that he gave to that law, thus making it his law, "the law of Jesus." He wanted his followers to put that law into their hearts, and then draw on it to guide their moral activity, so that in his words, they could produce good "out of the store of goodness" in their hearts. In their actions, then, in the words of Carl Hauser in the movie "Total Recall," they were choosing to do something right.

"Something right" for the movie meant allowing the people of The Colony who were being oppressed by the leadership of the UFB to have their own existence and their own rights. Carl Hauser knew that his decision to be the catalyst to bring about change would not be easy. In fact, it might even mean his dying for the cause, but he was willing to make such a sacrifice.

Studying our own involvement in the different activities of our lives, we can easily sense that "doing the right thing" is not always as easy as it sounds. Sometimes the "right thing" is common sense and really does not call for courage in carrying it out. But at other times, it is very difficult, especially if our decisions will make some enemies of people who once considered us friends. In today's world, we especially sense the tension of doing the Christian "right thing" with our sexuality and the use of drugs such as alcohol and cocaine.

It is easy to think of "doing the right thing" when there is no personal involvement. But when we recognize that the "right thing" might also be something that will cause personal difficulty, then it becomes a different matter altogether. But the Christian must accept the challenge.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, your Son taught us to always do the right thing, that is, to follow his law. Give us the courage to carry through with his command even when things become very difficult. Be with us, we pray.

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GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: Doing the right thing is often the most difficult thing.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
(session: approximately 56 minutes)
1. What scene during this session of the movie is most striking? Why?
2. Jesus uses two images with the thought of fruit trees. Both demonstrate the thought that if a person has chosen Jesus as guide, it will be evident in their actions. In your opinion, do most Christians show that they are Christians? Yes or no and why?
3. Jesus talks of "goodness in the heart." What is the meaning of the phrase?
4. Jesus says "From the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks." What is the meaning of the sentence?
5. Scripture scholars point out that Jesus had a profound respect for the Jewish law, using it as a basis for his own thoughts. In general, do most Christians respect the law of other religions? Yes or no and why?
6. Project: the presenter may want to present some different religions and their laws, speaking about their principal elements.
7. What is the principal reason why people sometimes will not want to do "the right thing"?
8. Being a martyr for some cause is of course the highest statement of belief in a cause. In your opinion, are most people willing to die to bring about something right? Yes or no and why?
9. Project: the presenter may want to spend some significant time discussing the "right thing" with regard to sexuality and with regard to alcohol and other drugs.7. What is the most difficult challenge for the Christian today?
10. Do you think that there will ever be a time when someone could substitute false memories into the brain? Yes or no and why?
11. Analysis: there is much killing in the movie. In your opinion, does this affect the young mind in a negative way? Yes or no and why?
12. Dialogue analysis: "Everyone seems to know me but me." In your opinion, do people really know themselves? Yes or no and why?
13. Dialogue analysis: Matthias says: "It is each man's quest to find out who he truly is, but the answer to that lies in the present, not in the past." Do you think that this is a true statement? Yes or no and why?
14. Scene analysis: "The Fall" (the means of transportation from The Colony to the UFB) is destroyed, what is called the symbol of oppression for the people of The Colony. Why was it a symbol of oppression?
15. What does the movie "Total Recall" teach young people?

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