Editor's note: The Tidings is offering an at home retreat through Lent using Franco Zeffirelli's miniseries, "Jesus of Nazareth." This is the second segment.

This week we meet the fisherman and the publican, Peter and Matthew; see the miraculous catch of fish; hear Jesus preaching in Peter's house; and watch him healing a paralytic, inviting himself to Matthew's house, and confronting their enmity.

In these scenes, Jesus continues to attract followers, and calls them to himself. For some it seemed easy --- but not for Peter, as you will see. "You follow him…but leave me!" Peter yells. And maybe not easy for us either, as we respond to the call of Jesus to "follow Me" this Lent.

Jesus continues to preach about the Kingdom. See if you can catch what he is saying, again as if you had not heard any of this before. Later you can share your impressions with your discussion group. Note how Jesus uses images that are common to the people with whom Jesus speaks, and how rapt they are by his words.

Zeffirelli constructs an enmity between Peter and Matthew, as a new setting for the story of the Prodigal Son. But it gives us a chance to see what Jesus' story-telling technique must have been like, and the power it had. Watch the faces of the listeners, for instance. This new setting gives the story an immediate meaning. This is an example of the "meal ministry" of Jesus, who seemed to love eating out and good table talk.

Jesus tells his listeners to be aware of "the signs of the times." Many centuries later, that is still good advice for us.

Note how often Jesus speaks with his eyes. With Peter and Matthew, he said nothing after the story. He challenged them to respond by looking directly into their eyes, an their hearts. Note how often that happens in this series.

(In watching the video, begin with the call of John on the lakeshore of Galilee, through to the reconciliation of Peter and Matthew. On DVD, view Chapters 35 through 39. Less than 30 minutes total viewing.)

Discussion Questions
---Did the way Jesus invited himself to eat at Matthew's house remind you of another story in which he did this to another tax collector? Did this help you understand that story?

---The film changes the locale and situation of the telling of the parable of the Prodigal Son. Do you remember the original situation? Did you find it effective, setting it in the relationship of Peter and Matthew?

---How are the events (Healing the demoniac last week, the catch of fish, story of the Prodigal Son) all related to the "Kingdom of God/Heaven?"

---What aspect of the "Kingdom" is most challenging to you right now? What "signs of the times" make all of this so relevant for us this Lent of 2004?