Getting Our Feet Wet
At yesterday's meeting, I washed the feet of the kids who were present, after watching the flashback scene where Jesus washes His disciples' feet. In the movie, Mel Gibson has Jesus tell His disciples that if the world hates and persecutes them, they must remember that it hated and persecuted Him first. But He also gives the promise of His Holy Spirit to strengthen them and lead them into the Truth. We then looked at the scenes of certain characters who had a life-changing encounter with Jesus on His way to the Cross...
Malchus--[0:11:50-0:14:05]
In the Garden of Gethsemane, when the mob comes to arrest Jesus, Peter, being the hot-tempered, quick thinking guy that he is, attacks one of the guards, and chops off his ear. When things are about to get really ugly, Jesus bends down, picks up the ear, and heals the guard in an amazing act of love. This love amazes the guard, who remains speechless, with a look of awe and wonder at the love and mercy of Jesus, who he has come to arrest.
Peter--[0:29:05-0:31:35]
At Jesus' trial, Peter is accused of being one of the disciples. Afraid for his life, he denies the accusations 3 times--and then remembers Jesus' prophecy that he would do just that. As Jesus looks right at him, Peter is filled with grief and shame, and runs away. He is stopped by Mary, Jesus' mother, who is with John and Mary Magdalene. Peter drops to his knees before Mary and tells her of his shameful crime, and then runs off to, as the Bible says, "weep bitterly" (Luke 22:62). Later in Scripture, we find that the Resurrected Jesus pays a special visit to Peter, to let him know that he is forgiven, and that Jesus has a special role for him (John 21:15-19). Even when we fail to stand up for Christ at a crucial moment, He doesn't just discard us, but we can find forgiveness and a second chance to live boldly for Him, as is evidenced by Peter's conversion--for it was he who stood up in front of the multitude on Pentecost, and preached so that 3000 people were saved on that day! (Acts 2:14-41)
Herod's slave--[0:44:15-0:45:05]
In this brief scene, we see Jesus, beaten and mocked, look over toward a slave, the only one not mocking Jesus. This beautiful scene shows the extent to which Jesus identifies with us in our humanity, as St. Paul wrote, "though He was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, He emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave…He humbled Himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross" (Philippians 2:6-8). Jesus' true majesty doesn't lie in His great power, but in His great humility, and in lowering Himself to our level, even to the level of a slave, He exalts all of us, even a slave, to His level as Sons and Daughters of God!
Barabbas (not quite)--[0:49:10-0:51:10]
In this interesting scene, even Barabbas' jubilation over being chosen over Jesus is calmed when Jesus' penetrating gaze meets his own. However, he shakes off Jesus' gaze and marches through the crowd. Whether Barabbas himself ever placed his faith in Christ, we won't know until we're in heaven, but in an allegorical sense, Barabbas stands for each of us, because, as we mentioned last week, our sins by rights get us the divine death penalty, but, like Barabbas, whose name means "The Son of the Father," we are redeemed by the true Son of the Father, and are made ourselves into true Sons and Daughters of the Father! (1 John 3:1)
Claudia--[0:46:20-0:47:10 / 0:59:45-1:00:30]
In these interesting scenes, Claudia, Pilate's wife, is depicted as being very concerned about Jesus' fate. The Bible describes her as having been troubled in a dream about Him (Matthew 27:19), and urges she Pilate not to condemn Him. There is serious speculation among scholars as to whether Claudia had become a secret disciple of Jesus, like Nicodemus or Joseph of Arimathea. She discusses with Pilate the concept of Truth, as he is haunted by Jesus' response to his questioning. Claudia's response to Pilate, that if a person will not hear the truth, then no one can tell them, highlights the fact that our salvation is only a result of the Grace of God, but that we have to be open to receive that grace. Claudia's own openness to God's grace is displayed in her compassion to the Virgin Mary as she gives her an armful of cloths to wipe up the Precious Blood of Jesus.
Mary Magdalene--[1:05:55-1:07:50]
Mel Gibson depicts Mary Magdalene flashing back to when she first encoun- tered the impossible love of Jesus, while she helps Mary, Jesus' Mother, clean up His blood. The scene that she flashes back to is that of the woman caught in adultery in John chapter 8--and while Mary Magdalene, biblically speaking, probably isn't the woman the story is about, Gibson decided to compact these stories for dramatic punch (He took his cue from Pope St. Gregory 1). However, the point remains profound, and that is the truth that, "Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little" (Luke 7:47). Because of the forgiveness and love of Jesus, Mary Magdalene became a loving and devoted follower, and stayed with His Mother and St. John as they followed Jesus all the way to the cross--even when all others deserted Jesus.
The guard on the road--[1:18:28-1:19:17]
When the guard sees the interaction between the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ on the road, their dynamic love for each other, and the courage she displays in following Christ to the Cross affects him. It is Mary's courage and faith that attract the guard to Christ, and seemingly to a faith in Him. This is Mary's role, as we'll discuss more next week--to present Jesus to people, and to bring people to Jesus.
Veronica--[1:23:35-1:24:40 / 1:27:00-1:27:15]
Tradition places Veronica on the Way of the Cross (station 6), as a woman who has compassion on Jesus' sufferings, and tries in her own small way to minister to Him. As a reward for her kindness, Jesus blesses her by leaving the image of His Face on the cloth with which she wiped His face. Veronica, whose name means "True Image", received the gift of Jesus' true image, and it is said that the veil is kept within a statue of Veronica in St. Peter's Basilica, in Rome--though there is some question as to whether the veil has survived...
Blessed Mother Teresa once talked about how she saw Jesus in every sick and poor person to whom she ministered in Calcutta. In this, she alluded to Jesus' parable in Matthew 25, where He judged people by how they loved "the least of [His] brethren" by saying that whatever we did to any of them, we were really doing to Him. Whenever we reach out to help the poor, the sick, or the lonely, Jesus says we are really reaching out to Him, and just as He rewarded Veronica with His Image, He rewards us with the Grace of knowing Him more as we compassionately love others.
Simon of Cyrene--[1:21:00-1:23:05]
When we first see Simon, he's disgusted by what's going on, and very opposed to taking up the cross and helping Christ. When he realises that he has no choice, he makes it very explicit that he has nothing to do with Christ--that he is innocent. [1:25:00-1:26:50] But in helping Jesus accomplish His work of salvation in helping to carry the cross, Simon begins to identify himself with Jesus, and by the end of the journey, the man who formerly wanted nothing to do with Jesus has to be forcibly driven away from Jesus [1:31:45-1:32:10].
At first we reject the cross of Christ, but persecution is an opportunity for us to become united with Jesus in a most personal and special kind of way, to share in the cross of our Lord. When we take on suffering that is given to us, especially when it's a result of our faith, we participate, like Simon, with Jesus' redemption of the world!
Dismas the Good Thief--[1:45:00-1:45:50]
The "Good Thief," Dismas, realises the truth, and even though he was a terrible criminal, his heart is still soft towards the things of God, and that is all God needs to bestow His love and forgiveness. Jesus' love and forgiveness of His torturers and murderers touches the thief's heart, and he humbly asks Christ to forgive him. The forgiveness of Dismas by Jesus gives all Christians hope in the saving power of faith.
Cassius the guard--[1:53:55-1:55:25]
Cassius is depicted as sympathetic to the plight of Mary, Jesus' mother. He is almost apologetic when he goes to pierce Jesus' side to verify His death. The key to Cassius' conversion is when he pierces Christ's side, and the blood and water pour out. While being a literal historical fact, Gibson dramatises the event by making it an outpouring like from a fountain. The Blood and Water from Christ's side have since earliest times taken on spiritual significance as representing both Baptism and the Eucharist (It is this notion that is the basis for the painting of the Divine Mercy). In this scene, then, Cassius is baptised quite literally and drops to his knees in awe and worship of Christ. The blood and water continue to flow like a fountain from Christ's side as a symbol that His Grace is available to all, a never-ending fountain, like one of my favourite hymns talks about, "There is a fountain filled with blood / drawn from Emmanuel's veins / and sinners plunged beneath the flood / lose all their guilty stains."
Each of these persons in Mel Gibson's movie teach us something about our own lives of continuous conversion and growth toward becoming more like Jesus. In the sacrament of Confirmation, Jesus' promise of the Holy Spirit that He gave at the last supper as He washed His disciples' feet, is fulfilled in each of us, as the Holy Spirit comes to live inside us in a new and powerful way, giving us the graces of strength and courage to live for Christ on a daily basis. It is the Holy Spirit in us that gives us the ability to take up our crosses daily, to die to ourselves and be united to Christ in His suffering. The Sacrament of Confirmation isn't just a one-time thing, but, like Baptism, opens the door to a greater experience of God as we live it out in our day-to-day lives. Always be open to His presence in your life.
God bless
Gregory
Malchus--[0:11:50-0:14:05]
In the Garden of Gethsemane, when the mob comes to arrest Jesus, Peter, being the hot-tempered, quick thinking guy that he is, attacks one of the guards, and chops off his ear. When things are about to get really ugly, Jesus bends down, picks up the ear, and heals the guard in an amazing act of love. This love amazes the guard, who remains speechless, with a look of awe and wonder at the love and mercy of Jesus, who he has come to arrest.Peter--[0:29:05-0:31:35]
At Jesus' trial, Peter is accused of being one of the disciples. Afraid for his life, he denies the accusations 3 times--and then remembers Jesus' prophecy that he would do just that. As Jesus looks right at him, Peter is filled with grief and shame, and runs away. He is stopped by Mary, Jesus' mother, who is with John and Mary Magdalene. Peter drops to his knees before Mary and tells her of his shameful crime, and then runs off to, as the Bible says, "weep bitterly" (Luke 22:62). Later in Scripture, we find that the Resurrected Jesus pays a special visit to Peter, to let him know that he is forgiven, and that Jesus has a special role for him (John 21:15-19). Even when we fail to stand up for Christ at a crucial moment, He doesn't just discard us, but we can find forgiveness and a second chance to live boldly for Him, as is evidenced by Peter's conversion--for it was he who stood up in front of the multitude on Pentecost, and preached so that 3000 people were saved on that day! (Acts 2:14-41)Herod's slave--[0:44:15-0:45:05]
In this brief scene, we see Jesus, beaten and mocked, look over toward a slave, the only one not mocking Jesus. This beautiful scene shows the extent to which Jesus identifies with us in our humanity, as St. Paul wrote, "though He was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, He emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave…He humbled Himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross" (Philippians 2:6-8). Jesus' true majesty doesn't lie in His great power, but in His great humility, and in lowering Himself to our level, even to the level of a slave, He exalts all of us, even a slave, to His level as Sons and Daughters of God!Barabbas (not quite)--[0:49:10-0:51:10]
In this interesting scene, even Barabbas' jubilation over being chosen over Jesus is calmed when Jesus' penetrating gaze meets his own. However, he shakes off Jesus' gaze and marches through the crowd. Whether Barabbas himself ever placed his faith in Christ, we won't know until we're in heaven, but in an allegorical sense, Barabbas stands for each of us, because, as we mentioned last week, our sins by rights get us the divine death penalty, but, like Barabbas, whose name means "The Son of the Father," we are redeemed by the true Son of the Father, and are made ourselves into true Sons and Daughters of the Father! (1 John 3:1)Claudia--[0:46:20-0:47:10 / 0:59:45-1:00:30]
In these interesting scenes, Claudia, Pilate's wife, is depicted as being very concerned about Jesus' fate. The Bible describes her as having been troubled in a dream about Him (Matthew 27:19), and urges she Pilate not to condemn Him. There is serious speculation among scholars as to whether Claudia had become a secret disciple of Jesus, like Nicodemus or Joseph of Arimathea. She discusses with Pilate the concept of Truth, as he is haunted by Jesus' response to his questioning. Claudia's response to Pilate, that if a person will not hear the truth, then no one can tell them, highlights the fact that our salvation is only a result of the Grace of God, but that we have to be open to receive that grace. Claudia's own openness to God's grace is displayed in her compassion to the Virgin Mary as she gives her an armful of cloths to wipe up the Precious Blood of Jesus.Mary Magdalene--[1:05:55-1:07:50]
Mel Gibson depicts Mary Magdalene flashing back to when she first encoun- tered the impossible love of Jesus, while she helps Mary, Jesus' Mother, clean up His blood. The scene that she flashes back to is that of the woman caught in adultery in John chapter 8--and while Mary Magdalene, biblically speaking, probably isn't the woman the story is about, Gibson decided to compact these stories for dramatic punch (He took his cue from Pope St. Gregory 1). However, the point remains profound, and that is the truth that, "Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little" (Luke 7:47). Because of the forgiveness and love of Jesus, Mary Magdalene became a loving and devoted follower, and stayed with His Mother and St. John as they followed Jesus all the way to the cross--even when all others deserted Jesus.The guard on the road--[1:18:28-1:19:17]
When the guard sees the interaction between the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ on the road, their dynamic love for each other, and the courage she displays in following Christ to the Cross affects him. It is Mary's courage and faith that attract the guard to Christ, and seemingly to a faith in Him. This is Mary's role, as we'll discuss more next week--to present Jesus to people, and to bring people to Jesus.Veronica--[1:23:35-1:24:40 / 1:27:00-1:27:15]
Tradition places Veronica on the Way of the Cross (station 6), as a woman who has compassion on Jesus' sufferings, and tries in her own small way to minister to Him. As a reward for her kindness, Jesus blesses her by leaving the image of His Face on the cloth with which she wiped His face. Veronica, whose name means "True Image", received the gift of Jesus' true image, and it is said that the veil is kept within a statue of Veronica in St. Peter's Basilica, in Rome--though there is some question as to whether the veil has survived...Blessed Mother Teresa once talked about how she saw Jesus in every sick and poor person to whom she ministered in Calcutta. In this, she alluded to Jesus' parable in Matthew 25, where He judged people by how they loved "the least of [His] brethren" by saying that whatever we did to any of them, we were really doing to Him. Whenever we reach out to help the poor, the sick, or the lonely, Jesus says we are really reaching out to Him, and just as He rewarded Veronica with His Image, He rewards us with the Grace of knowing Him more as we compassionately love others.
Simon of Cyrene--[1:21:00-1:23:05]
When we first see Simon, he's disgusted by what's going on, and very opposed to taking up the cross and helping Christ. When he realises that he has no choice, he makes it very explicit that he has nothing to do with Christ--that he is innocent. [1:25:00-1:26:50] But in helping Jesus accomplish His work of salvation in helping to carry the cross, Simon begins to identify himself with Jesus, and by the end of the journey, the man who formerly wanted nothing to do with Jesus has to be forcibly driven away from Jesus [1:31:45-1:32:10].
At first we reject the cross of Christ, but persecution is an opportunity for us to become united with Jesus in a most personal and special kind of way, to share in the cross of our Lord. When we take on suffering that is given to us, especially when it's a result of our faith, we participate, like Simon, with Jesus' redemption of the world!
Dismas the Good Thief--[1:45:00-1:45:50]
The "Good Thief," Dismas, realises the truth, and even though he was a terrible criminal, his heart is still soft towards the things of God, and that is all God needs to bestow His love and forgiveness. Jesus' love and forgiveness of His torturers and murderers touches the thief's heart, and he humbly asks Christ to forgive him. The forgiveness of Dismas by Jesus gives all Christians hope in the saving power of faith.Cassius the guard--[1:53:55-1:55:25]
Cassius is depicted as sympathetic to the plight of Mary, Jesus' mother. He is almost apologetic when he goes to pierce Jesus' side to verify His death. The key to Cassius' conversion is when he pierces Christ's side, and the blood and water pour out. While being a literal historical fact, Gibson dramatises the event by making it an outpouring like from a fountain. The Blood and Water from Christ's side have since earliest times taken on spiritual significance as representing both Baptism and the Eucharist (It is this notion that is the basis for the painting of the Divine Mercy). In this scene, then, Cassius is baptised quite literally and drops to his knees in awe and worship of Christ. The blood and water continue to flow like a fountain from Christ's side as a symbol that His Grace is available to all, a never-ending fountain, like one of my favourite hymns talks about, "There is a fountain filled with blood / drawn from Emmanuel's veins / and sinners plunged beneath the flood / lose all their guilty stains."Each of these persons in Mel Gibson's movie teach us something about our own lives of continuous conversion and growth toward becoming more like Jesus. In the sacrament of Confirmation, Jesus' promise of the Holy Spirit that He gave at the last supper as He washed His disciples' feet, is fulfilled in each of us, as the Holy Spirit comes to live inside us in a new and powerful way, giving us the graces of strength and courage to live for Christ on a daily basis. It is the Holy Spirit in us that gives us the ability to take up our crosses daily, to die to ourselves and be united to Christ in His suffering. The Sacrament of Confirmation isn't just a one-time thing, but, like Baptism, opens the door to a greater experience of God as we live it out in our day-to-day lives. Always be open to His presence in your life.
God bless
Gregory
Labels: Confirmation, Conversion, St. Andrew's, The Passion of the Christ
posted by Gregory at 1:00 p.m.
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