Paul
Harvey's Words:
I
really did not know what to expect. I was thrilled to have been
Invited to a private viewing of Mel Gibson's film "The
Passion," but I had also read all the cautious articles and
spin. I grew up in a Jewish town and owe much of my own faith
journey to the influence. I have a life long, deeply held
aversion to anything that might even indirectly encourage any form of
anti-Semitic thought, language or actions. I arrived at the
private viewing for "The Passion," held in Washington, DC
and greeted some familiar faces. The environment was typically
Washingtonian, with people greeting you with a smile but seeming to
look beyond you, having an agenda beyond the words. The film was
very briefly introduced, without fanfare, and then the room darkened.
From
the gripping opening scene in the Garden of Gethsemane, to the very
human and tender portrayal of the earthly Ministry of Jesus, through
the betrayal, the arrest, the scourging, the way of the cross, the
encounter with the thieves, the surrender on the Cross, until the
final scene in the empty tomb, this was not simply a movie; it was an
encounter, unlike anything I have ever experienced.
In
addition to being a masterpiece of film-making and an artistic
triumph, "The Passion" evoked more deep reflection, sorrow
and emotional reaction within me than anything since my wedding, my
ordination or the birth of my children. Frankly, I will never be
the same.
When
the film concluded, this "invitation only" gathering of
"movers and shakers" in Washington, DC were shaking indeed,
but this time from sobbing. I am not sure there was a dry eye in
the place. The crowd that had been glad-handing before the film
was now eerily silent. No one could speak because words were
woefully inadequate. We had experienced a kind of art that is a
rarity in life, the kind that makes heaven touch earth.
One
scene in the film has now been forever etched in my mind. A
brutalized, wounded Jesus was soon to fall again under the weight of
the cross. His mother had made her way along the Via Della
Rosa. As she ran to him, she flashed back to a memory of Jesus
as a child, falling in the dirt road outside of their home. Just
as she reached to protect him from the fall, she was now reaching to
touch his wounded adult face. Jesus looked at her with intensely
probing and passionately loving eyes (and at all of us through the
screen) and said "Behold I make all things new."
These
are words taken from the last Book Of the New Testament, the Book of
Revelations. Suddenly, the purpose of the pain was so clear and
the wounds, that earlier in the film had been to difficult to see in
His face, His back, indeed all over His body, became intensely
beautiful. They had been borne voluntarily for love.
At
the end of the film, after we had all had a chance to recover, a
question and answer period ensued. The unanimous praise for the
film, from a rather diverse crowd, was as astounding as the
compliments were effusive. The questions included the one
question that seems to follow this film, even though it has not yet
even been released. "Why is this film considered by some to
be 'anti-Semitic?"
Frankly,
having now experienced (you do not "view" this film)
"The Passion" it is a question that is impossible to
answer. A law professor whom I admire sat in front of me.
He raised his hand and responded, "After watching this film, I do
not understand how anyone can insinuate that it even remotely presents
that the Jews killed Jesus. It doesn't." He continued,
"It made me realize that my sins killed Jesus."
I
agree. There is not a scintilla of anti-Semitism to be found anywhere
in this powerful film. If there were, I would be among the first to
decry it. It faithfully tells the Gospel story in a dramatically
beautiful, sensitive and profoundly engaging way. Those who are
alleging otherwise have either not seen the film or have another
agenda
behind
their protestations.
This
is not a "Christian" film, in the sense that It will appeal
only to those who identify themselves as followers of Jesus Christ. It
is a deeply human, beautiful story that will deeply touch all men and
women. It is a profound work of art. Yes, its producer is a Catholic
Christian and thankfully has remained faithful to the Gospel text; if
that is no
longer
acceptable behavior than we are all in trouble. History demands that
we remain faithful to the story and Christians have a right to tell
it. After all, we believe that It is the greatest story ever told and
that its message is for all men and women. The greatest right is the
right to hear the truth.
We
would all be well advised to remember that the Gospel narratives to
which "The Passion" is so faithful were written by Jewish
men who followed a Jewish Rabbi whose life and teaching have forever
changed the history of the world. The problem is not the message but
those who have distorted it and used it for hate rather than love.
The
solution is not to censor the message, but rather to promote the kind
of gift of love that is Mel Gibson's film making masterpiece,
"The Passion." It should be seen by as many people as
possible. I intend to do everything I can to make sure that is the
case. I am passionate about "The Passion."
Please
copy this and send it on to all your friends to let them know about
this film so that all go see it when it comes out."
P.S.
From Julie: My daughter, Kristin, tells me they learned at her
church Youth Group that Mel Gibson stated he did not appear in his own
movie, by his choice, with one exception: It is Gibson's hands seen
nailing Jesus to the cross. Gibson said he wanted to do that because
it was indeed his own hands that nailed Jesus to the cross (along with
all of ours.)
