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

The scenes we will view this week are spliced together around the challenge of accepting the Kingdom of God, especially as a disciple of Jesus. It is a challenge we face anew each Lent.

We see the reluctance of Peter to leave everything (look at his face as she sees his boat depart!), despite Jesus' promise of a hundredfold.

The preaching is interrupted by the story of Jesus raising the daughter of Jairus to life, and the challenge of Jesus to Thomas, "Do you have doubts about following me?" A rare bit of humor from Thomas, "I don't think I have!" Is he echoing our hearts? We will meet him again on the Second Sunday of Easter in John's Gospel.

We hear Mathew advise a still-doubting Peter, "You will never go back, never be the same again. And neither will the lives of everyone in the whole world." Amen!

The key to this whole segment is the next words of Jesus, "Seek first the Kingdom of heaven…. Do not worry about tomorrow." Even the Pharisee Joseph of Arimathea agrees, but not the rich young man.

Ironically, Judas comes to offer his services to Jesus, who seems to resolve his own doubts by telling Judas, "The tree is known by its fruits….Come!" But we know by what tree Judas ended his life.

The entire segments challenges our own understanding of "The Kingdom," and our own call to discipleship this Lent. Which Master are we trying to serve?

(In watching the video, skip the imprisonment of John and begin with the crowds welcoming Jesus from the boat, through the healing of Jairus' daughter, the call of Thomas, and dialog of Peter and Matthew. On DVD, view Chapters 41-44 and 49-50, to view Jesus' sermon about the Kingdom, the rich young man and Judas. Almost 40 minutes total viewing.)

Discussion Questions
---How do these scenes illustrate Jesus' words, "I came not to bring peace…."?

---How is the incident of the rich young man an illustration of the sermon Jesus had just preached?

---What do those words about the birds and the lilies mean to you, and the caution, "Do not be anxious about tomorrow"? How is that possible in these stressful days?

Next week: Who is this Jesus, who multiplies loaves and fishes, welcomes Mary Magdalen, admits he is the Messiah, preaches the Beatitudes, and makes his way to Jerusalem?