Fr. Robert J. Spitzer, S.J. Lesson Three Part 2

Transcription

1 Fr. Robert J. Spitzer, S.J. Lesson Three Part 2

2 Happiness, Suffering and the Love of God The Resurrection of Jesus and Jesus Revelation of the Unconditional Love of God The Love of God By Claude LeBlanc, M.A., Magis Center, 2017

3 Opening Prayer Lord Jesus, the more we learn about you, the more we find that we want to know you as you really are. Reveal yourself to us in a way that is unmistakable and will change our lives forever. Amen.

4 Supplemental Video 1: What Do You Think God is Like? Watch at:

5 Take It Home Review: Large Class Sharing What is your answer to the Question: What is God like?

6 Watch Video Episode Three: The Resurrection of Jesus and Jesus Revelation of the Unconditional Love of God, Part 2: The Love of God, taking notes on the handout: Video Comprehension Questions.

7 Video Comprehension 1. How does Jesus describe Heaven?

8 Video Comprehension 1. How does Jesus describe Heaven? He tells us that Heaven is like an eternal banquet of fellowship; a perfect community of family and friends full of complete joy absorbed into the very life and unrestricted love, goodness, and beauty of the Trinity.

9 2. How will we experience each other in Heaven?

10 2. How will we experience each other in Heaven? With greater clarity, with all the love, goodness, and beauty we uniquely manifest, without any ego or narcissism.

11 2. How will we experience each other in Heaven? With greater clarity, with all the love, goodness, and beauty we uniquely manifest, without any ego or narcissism. 3. When, in our human lives, do we get a glimpse of this complete joy?

12 2. How will we experience each other in Heaven? With greater clarity, with all the love, goodness, and beauty we uniquely manifest, without any ego or narcissism. 3. When, in our human lives, do we get a glimpse of this complete joy? When we are enjoying another s company so much that we lose track of time.

13 4. How does Jesus describe this kind of love for one another in the Gospel of John?

14 4. How does Jesus describe this kind of love for one another in the Gospel of John? Love one another as I have loved you. They will know that you are my disciples by your love for one another. (13:34)

15 5. What does the evidence from near-death experiences an overwhelming loving white light tell us about God?

16 5. What does the evidence from near-death experiences an overwhelming loving white light tell us about God? God is love.

17 6. What does Jesus tell us to call God the Father, and why?

18 6. What does Jesus tell us to call God the Father, and why? Abba or daddy, because God is an affectionate, gentle parent, who is very compassionate and trustworthy.

19 6. What does Jesus tell us to call God the Father, and why? Abba or daddy, because God is an affectionate, gentle parent, who is very compassionate and trustworthy. 7. What does St. Paul admit he finds difficult, but is able to do by the power of the Holy Spirit?

20 6. What does Jesus tell us to call God the Father, and why? Abba or daddy, because God is an affectionate, gentle parent, who is very compassionate and trustworthy. 7. What does St. Paul admit he finds difficult, but is able to do by the power of the Holy Spirit? To call God Abba.

21 8. How does Jesus use the Torah to illustrate God s love?

22 8. How does Jesus use the Torah to illustrate God s love? He equates the commandment to love God the greatest of all Jewish laws with that of loving one another, considered a much lesser law. He says these two commandments sum up the law and the prophets.

23 9. How then, does the Torah relate to God?

24 9. How then, does the Torah relate to God? Since Jews consider the Torah to be the perfect reflection of the heart and mind of God, God is unconditional love.

25 10. What would be a better name for the Parable of the Prodigal Son?

26 10. What would be a better name for the Parable of the Prodigal Son? The Parable of the Prodigal (or Loving) Father. (Prodigal also means, having or giving something on a lavish scale. )

27 11. Why the Prodigal (or Loving) Father?

28 11. Why the Prodigal (or Loving) Father? Even after the younger son (representing all of us) insults his family by demanding his inheritance early, disgracing them in front of foreigners, disgracing himself with dissolute living, humiliating himself by caring for and eating with pigs, and returning home only out of desperation;

29 11. Why the Prodigal (or Loving) Father? Even after the younger son (representing all of us) insults his family by demanding his inheritance early, disgracing them in front of foreigners, disgracing himself with dissolute living, humiliating himself by caring for and eating with pigs, and returning home only out of desperation; the father ( Abba ) who loves him unconditionally, runs to welcome him, not caring about the things he did, returns him fully back into the family (with sandals, a robe, and a family ring), and throws a party! Then, when the older son protests, the father begs him to come and join the party.

30 12. How is God like the Prodigal (or Loving) Father?

31 12. How is God like the Prodigal (or Loving) Father? God kneels down and begs and pleads with us to come into his kingdom.

32 12. How is God like the Prodigal (or Loving) Father? God kneels down and begs and pleads with us to come into his kingdom. 13. How has God already proven this unconditional love?

33 12. How is God like the Prodigal (or Loving) Father? God kneels down and begs and pleads with us to come into his kingdom. 13. How has God already proven this unconditional love? He allowed his Son to die for us.

34 Supplemental Video 2: Will God Forgive Me? Watch at:

35 Happiness, Suffering and the Love of God The beauty of the story (the Parable of the Prodigal Son) is that while the son turned his back on the father, the father never turned his back on the son. (From: Will God Forgive Me )

36 14. What is everything we learned so far (that we are transcendent, have a soul with five transcendental desires, and are destined for the resurrection and Heaven) been in preparation for?

37 14. What is everything we learned so far (that we are transcendent, have a soul with five transcendental desires, and are destined for the resurrection and Heaven) been in preparation for? Talking about suffering.

38 15. If we were made for a joyful and eternal banquet of love in a perfect relationship with others in the life of the unconditional loving Trinity, then what do we need to do?

39 15. If we were made for a joyful and eternal banquet of love in a perfect relationship with others in the life of the unconditional loving Trinity, then what do we need to do? Get to level four.

40 15. If we were made for a joyful and eternal banquet of love in a perfect relationship with others in the life of the unconditional loving Trinity, then what do we need to do? Get to level four. 16. How does suffering fit into this?

41 15. If we were made for a joyful and eternal banquet of love in a perfect relationship with others in the life of the unconditional loving Trinity, then what do we need to do? Get to level four. 16. How does suffering fit into this? Although tragic, it can be viewed as just a temporary part of the transformation that is required to get us there.

42 Supplemental Video 3: A Small Whisper, Watch at:

43 Happiness, Suffering and the Love of God When Jesus comes into our lives, he disturbs all the standards we have set up for ourselves. Our whole point of view and way of looking at things will be disrupted. (From: A Small Whisper )

44 Small Group Activity Discuss the Reflection and Discussion Questions chosen by your teacher, then share your thoughts with the class.

45 Take it Home Complete the handout, What Good is Suffering?, for the next session.

46 Closing Prayer Lord, we have come to understand what your unconditional loves means for us. May we learn to reflect just a little bit of that love to others so that they may get a glimpse of your love, too. Amen.

47 Next time we ll cover Lesson Four, Part 1: Jesus View of Suffering See You Then!