Movies about the Passion of
Christ are nothing new. Ever since I can remember, during holy week my mother
would let us kids watch various versions of the movie in the hopes of
instilling in us the value of Christ’ suffering – but for us kids back then it
was a convenient excuse for us to get away with watching TV without mom
pestering us to read or clean our rooms instead.
As we got older watching the
movie became a habit – a once in a year Lenten reflection if you will, but this
year the experience was quite different.
For its Lenten activity the SFC
CLP had a film showing of the latest and probably the most controversial film
about the final period in the life of Jesus. First released in 2004 and
directed by Mel Gibson with dialogues reconstructed in Aramaic and Latin - The Passion of the Christ depicts the
last 12 hours of Jesus’ life according to the New Testament Gospels of Matthew,
Mark, Luke and John.
It was halfway thru the CLP and I
was at that point in my life where I was reassessing my faith thus it seemed
like I was seeing every aspect of Christian life in a new light, so though I had
watched the film when it was first released (probably because my mother told us
to) I could not remember being as emotional back then as I was when I watched it
again during the CLP Lenten activity.
It was different from all the versions
I have watched before. I could not remember a movie wherein Jesus (and Mother
Mary too for that matter) was depicted as ‘normal and as human’ as he is shown
in the movie. Watching the scene where Jesus was good naturedly joking with
Mother Mary about his carpentry work was very different from the often serious
demeanour he is portrayed. It made me more confident in knowing that Jesus is
not an unapproachable heavenly deity to be scared of - the image of Jesus as my
friend and confidant – someone who will always care, protect and be there for
me (as what was discussed in talk 2: Who is Jesus Christ) became even more
valid to me.
Without need for too many words,
Mother Mary’s pain too was evident. I could just imagine how it must have been
heartbreaking for her to watch her innocent son tormented, but she knew and
accepted what Jesus had to do and all through it all her strength and faith
never faltered.
What struck me most about the
movie was how brutally graphic and powerfully real Jesus’ sufferings were
depicted. Sure we’ve all seen movies and pictures of the same scenario but
never as viciously clear and bloody as this. I was moved to tears at the humanity of Jesus’
agony.
As I see how Jesus was gruesomely
tortured, all sorts of feelings and self reflection came to mind.
Every whip, every beating and
every harsh word thrown at him was piercing at my conscience – it was because
of us, because of all the transgressions we have ever and will commit that
Jesus was suffering, they might as well have handed us the whip.
The scourging scene was
particularly heart wrenching to watch, at times I had to turn away and close my
eyes whilst thanking Jesus in my heart of hearts for paying the ultimate price
for the atonement of my sins.
The last scene showing Jesus’
resurrection was a simple yet powerful one – it made me feel joyful, happy and
determined to better myself. Despite
being stained with sin I am washed clean and made whole again by the blood of
Christ. I am saved, I am loved, I am called to repent with open arms and all I
have to do is walk towards God’s loving embrace.
