January 23


[media presentation “Crawling Back to You” (song) below]


GospelThink

Saturday, January 23

MARK 3:20-21

My Time to Help


Prayerthoughts

a. He came home. Jesus spent time at his home around people who knew him. Thinking of those people whom I know well, who should I pay more attention to at this time?

b. Who is the one person in my life whom I know well that I should treat better than I do?

c. Jesus gave of his time to others so much so that he gave up some personal things. Do I give my time and energy to others the way I should?

d. Jesus was criticized for spending too much time helping others. How well am I helping others right now? Perhaps I should think of some ministry of help to the poor or hurting.

e. My prayerthoughts…


Today, I will read Hebrews 9:2-3,11-14 and write an important thought from it.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT

+ There is beautiful theology in the Letter to the Hebrews today—

- the author makes the parallel between the high priest offering goats and calves for the expiation of sins

- and what Jesus did—offering himself as expiation of sins giving us eternal redemption

- redemption that the author says cleanses our consciences from that which will hold us back from truly being with God

- the whole discussion lends itself to see what is really important in life


+ Jesus knew what was really important as can be seen from the Gospel

- his life-work and therefore what was important to him, namely, preaching the kingdom of God, trying to lead others to be part of that kingdom

- his family did not understand his zeal in carrying it out

- thinking that he had to be out of his mind as the Gospel said, because he was so devoted to doing it


+ What is really important for us

- it is a good question as we understand what was important to the Lord

- and it should be the same answer, namely working to be part of the kingdom of God, that is, working out our redemption

- and the way to do it as we deal with our human natures is this:

- as we realize that we have life, total free gift from God, the tremendous Gift, life here leading to eternal life later, we also realize that

- because of our human natures, we need help while we are here—we need what Jesus came to give us: redemption


+ Our spiritual life-work, then,

- to accept the help that the Lord has given us through his redemptive process

- it is the familiar spiritual directive for us to follow Jesus as guide

- which means to be aware of what he said in the Gospels and New Testament

- and try to carry it out in our lives.






MEDIA PRESENTATION

Song: "Crawling Back to You" -- Daughtry

SWALLOWING PRIDE



 

The Gospel


LUKE 11:1-4

[Jesus] was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples." He said to them, "When you pray, say: 'Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread and forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us, and do not subject us to the final test.'"

Gospelthink: I taught my disciples to pray saying praise God, ask for God's help, forgive us, and be aware of your final end. Lord, may I pray always with meaning.

"Lessons learned, bridges burned to the ground, and it’s too late now to put out the fire; tables turned, and I’m the one who’s burning now. Well, I’m doing alright, ‘til I close my eyes, and then I see your face, and it’s no surprise: just like that, I’m crawling back to you just like you said I would. I swallow my pride; now, I’m crawling back to you. I’m out of my head, can’t wait any longer, down on my knees. I thought I was stronger." 

There is little doubt that the most common prayer that is said in the Christian churches is what we have come to call the "Our Father." The shorter form of the prayer in Luke's Gospel is probably closer to Jesus’s words according to Scripture scholars. The prayer is significant for the Christian because of a number of reasons, one of them being the stress that Jesus places on forgiveness. As he verbalizes the prayer, Jesus says that a principal part of our prayer to God must be asking for forgiveness, and at the same time, saying to our God that we will forgive others. In Jesus's mind, forgiveness, both asking for it and giving it, is among the most important directives for a Christian.

Examples of forgiveness are easy to see when one studies the romantic songs of our day. In Daughtry's song "Crawling Back to You," for example, the man in the relationship who had hurt the other intends to go back to the person he had hurt and on his knees beg for her forgiveness. If she were to act as a Christian, she would forgive him, although she might not want to re-establish the relationship.

There are two important points of meditation here for the Christian. First, Christians must truly recognize that they make mistakes. Too often we tend to blame others or give excuses for the things which we have done, and we must be willing to tell our God and others that the sin or fault is really ours. It is truly a difficult action.

Secondly, as we recognize that we truly makes mistakes, we know that other people do too. As we would not want our God to hold our mistakes against us, we must not hold others' mistakes against them. Christians must understand their need to forgive other people, whether they ask for it or not.

Our lives on earth are complicated because too often we "burn bridges" in Daughtry's words where we should not. They could become a lot less complicated if we swallow our pride and learn to practice forgiveness.

PRAYER

Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread and forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us, and do not subject us to the final test. Be with us, we pray. 

 

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: We must learn the virtue of forgiveness.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. Project: make a presentation on prayer as found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, numbers 2623-2643.
2. What is your definition of prayer?
3. Project: make a presentation on the different ideas in Luke's rendition of the "Our Father"
4. In your opinion, why did Jesus put so much emphasis on forgiveness?
5. Text analysis: "Lessons learned."  What are the most valuable lessons that should be learned as we grow? Why?
6. Why do people often say that they are just "fine" when they are not just "fine"?
7. Text analysis: "I thought I was stronger." What are the ways to make us stronger when it comes to romantic love relationships?
8. What are the most common "hurts" that a couple give to each other in a love relationship?
9. In your opinion, do most Christians live out what Jesus directed about forgiveness? Yes or no and why?
10. It is an important point to make concerning asking forgiveness and re-establishing the relationship. Just because one asks for forgiveness does not bring the relationship back. In general, what would the man in the relationship of the song have to do to re-establish the relationship?
11. What is the most common excuse when we have done something that is wrong?
12. In what areas do you see the sin of pride being practiced in our world?
13. What does the song "Crawling Back to You" teach young people?  

 

©2007 Capuchin Province of Mid-America
Fr. Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America