Fw: The Passion

[Guest guest]

Harvey's words:I really did not know what to expect. I was thrilled to havebeen invited to a private viewing of Mel Gibson's film "ThePassion," but I had also read all the cautious articles andspin. I grew up in a Jewish town and owe much of my ownfaith journey to the influence. I have a life long , deeplyheld aversion to anything that might even indirectlyencourage any form of anti-Semitic thought, language oractions.I arrived at the private viewing for "The Passion," held inWashington, DC and greeted some familiar faces. Theenvironment was typically Washingtonian, with peoplegreeting you with a smile but seeming to look beyond you,having an agenda beyond the words. The film was verybriefly introduced, without fanfare, and then the roomdarkened. From the gripping opening scene in the Garden ofGethsemane, to the very human and tender portrayal of theearthly ministry of Jesus, through the betrayal, the arrest,the scourging, the way of the cross, the encounter withthe thieves, the surrender on the Cross, until the finalscene in the empty tomb, this was not simply a movie; it wasan encounter, unlike anything I have ever experienced.In addition to being a masterpiece of film-making and anartistic triumph, "The Passion" evoked more deep reflection,sorrow and emotional reaction within me than anythingsince my wedding, my ordination or the birth of my children.ly, I will never be the same. When the film concluded,this "invitation only" gathering of "movers and shakers" inWashington, DC were shaking indeed, but this time fromsobbing. I am not sure there was a dry eye in the place.The crowd that had been glad-handing before the film was noweerily silent. No one could speak because words werewoefully inadequate. We had experienced a kind of art thatis a rarity in life, the kind that makes heaven touch earth.One scene in the film has now been forever etched in mymind. A brutalized, wounded Jesus was soon to fall againunder the weight of the cross. His mother had made her wayalong the Via Della . As she ran to him, she flashedback to a memory of Jesus as a child, falling in the dirtroad outside of their home. Just as she reached to protecthim from the fall, she was now reaching to touch hiswounded adult face. Jesus looked at her with intenselyprobing and passionately loving eyes (and at all of usthrough the screen) and said "Behold I make all thingsnew." These are words taken from the last Book of the NewTestament, the Book of Revelations. Suddenly, the purpose ofthe pain was so clear and the wounds, that earlier in thefilm had been so difficult to see in His face, His back,indeed all over His body, became intensely beautiful. Theyhad been borne voluntarily for love.At the end of the film, after we had all had a chance torecover, a question and answer period ensued. The unanimouspraise for the film, from a rather diverse crowd, was asastounding as the compliments were effusive. The questionsincluded the one question that seems to follow this film,even though it has not yet even been released. "Why is thisfilm considered by some to be 'anti-Semitic?" ly,having now experienced (you do not "view" this film) "thePassion" it is a question that is impossible to answer. Alaw professor whom I admire sat in front of me. He raisedhis hand and responded "After watching this film, I do notunderstand how anyone can insinuate that it even remotelypresents that the Jews killed Jesus. It doesn't." Hecontinued "It made me realize that my sins killed Jesus" Iagree. There is not a scintilla of anti-Semitism to befound anywhere in this powerful film. If there were, I wouldbe among the first to decry it. It faithfully tells theGospel story in a dramatically beautiful, sensitive andprofoundly engaging way. Those who are alleging otherwisehave either not seen the film or have another agenda behindtheir protestations. This is not a "Christian" film, in thesense that it will appeal only to those who identifythemselves as followers of Jesus Christ. It is a deeplyhuman, beautiful story that will deeply touch all men andwomen. It is a profound work of art. Yes, its producer is aCatholic Christian and thankfully has remained faithful tothe Gospel text; if that is no longer acceptable behaviorthan we are all in trouble. History demands that we remainfaithful to the story and Christians have a right to tellit. After all, we believe that it is the greatest storyever told and that its message is for all men and women. Thegreatest right is the right to hear the truth.We would all be well advised to remember that the Gospelnarratives to which "The Passion" is so faithful werewritten by Jewish men who followed a Jewish Rabbi whoselife and teaching have forever changed the history of theworld. The problem is not the message but those who havedistorted it and used it for hate rather than love. Thesolution is not to censor the message, but rather topromote the kind of gift of love that is Mel Gibson'sfilmmaking masterpiece, "The Passion." It should be seen byas many people as possible. I intend to do everything I canto make sure that is the case. I am passionate about "ThePassion."Please copy this and send it on to all your friends to letthem know about this film so that all go see it when itcomes out.P.S. From : My daughter, , tells me theylearned at her church Youth Group that Mel Gilbson statedhe did not appear in his own movie, by his choice, with oneexception: It is Gibson's hands seen nailing Jesus to thecross. Gibson said he wanted to do that because it wasindeed his own hands that nailed Jesus to the cross (alongwith all of ours