TGIMMyou

	TO FEEL GOOD

The Gospel

MATTHEW 2:9b-12

And behold, the star that [the magi] had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.

The Media -- "You Make Me Feel" (Cobra Starship)

"Girl, I’ve been all over the world looking for you. I’m known for taking what I think I deserve and you’re overdue. What I been missing in my life, what I been dreaming of, you’ll be that girl." The girl answers, I’ll be "everything you want. I’m the baddest baby in the atmosphere, tell me what you want so we can do just what you like. You make me feel that." His response is: "Get a little closer to me."

What are the things that make us feel good about life? There are probably many answers, some very simple, some quite profound. The magi of Matthew's Gospel were looking for something. They themselves probably did not quite understand what it was, but they sensed that the something was a person who may have been some type of royalty. When they discovered Jesus and offered him their gifts fit for a king, they felt overjoyed because they realized that he was indeed a king. But, much deeper than that, as they prostrated themselves before him, they understood that he was someone who ultimately would help their world.

The popular songs of our day often give answers to the question of what makes us feel good. The group Cobra Starship in their song "You Make Me Feel" sing a common answer as they sing the thought of what being together feels like. Their dance song makes it clear that the thing that they have been missing in life is being a little closer together. The video of the song conveys the thought perfectly as it shows young people enjoying each other's company.

Enjoying each other's presence is certainly something that makes us feel good about life. But, even as we enjoy the feeling, we often sense that there is so much more to really feeling good. It not only has something to do with each other; it has something to do with our deeper lives. We need something that can make us feel good about life in a permanent way that is more than a passing emotion.

Christians have always believed the feeling that the magi discovered. The person of Jesus Christ and what he stood for can direct us to true happiness. It is the ultimate answer to what can make us feel good about life.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, we know in faith that your Son can make us feel good about life, even as we enjoy ourselves in this world that you created. Help us turn to him more by studying his actions and learning from his words. Be with us, we pray.

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GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: There are some things in life that make us feel good all the time.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. Project: make a presentation on who the magi were, and what they represented in Matthew's Gospel. See, for example, the footnotes in The New American Bible for Matthew 2:9b-12.
2. The Gospel passage speaks of being "overjoyed." What are the things in our world that make people "overjoyed"?
3. In your opinion, what do the three gifts of the magi represent?
4. Text analysis: "I'm known for taking what I deserve." In your opinion, what do we "deserve" in life? Why?
5. What is missing in most people's lives?
6. What are the top 5 things that make us feel good?
7. It seems that one of the actions suggested by the magi story in Matthew's Gospel is that of paying homage to Jesus because he is God. In your opinion, do most people honor God well in their lives? Yes or no and why?
8. Philosophically, why do people dance?
9. The meditation suggests that we should think of our "deeper lives." In your opinion, what does this consist of? Why?
10. Besides the meditation's suggestion that we turn to the principles of Jesus, what are some other "permanent" ways to make us "feel good."
11. In your opinion, have most Christians truly accepted all the principles of Jesus Christ? Yes or no and why?
12. What does the song "You Make Me Feel" teach young people?

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