Relooking The Passion of
Christ
by Laura Chua, Parishioner, Christ the King Church
It has been almost 2 months since the movie The Passion of The
Christ started screening in local cinemas. The movie premier,
organised by the local Catholic Church, counted Archbishop Nicholas
Chia, as well as members of his clergy among the attendees. While
various Protestant churches had clamoured to organise this movie
premier, the distributor of the movie had rationalized this
Catholic link as fitting since the films producer and director,
Mel Gibson, is a Catholic.
Certainly, the movie, which focuses on the last 12 hours of
Christs life, leading to his ultimate death on the cross,
presented an aspect of the Christian faith that is intimately
familiar to most Catholics. The heart wrenching scenes of intense
affliction that Jesus had patiently suffered for love of God and
Man, have unfolded with great devotion in the hearts and minds of
Catholics, through the decades, as they meditate on the sorrowful
mysteries of the rosary. Christs Passion and death is also
commemorated with great devotion in the Stations of the Cross,
particularly during Lent, as Catholics prepare themselves
spiritually to celebrate the resurrection of Christ at
Easter.
These meditations on Christs Passion and death, have provided an
abundant source of spiritual solace and inspirations to Catholics
over the years. Through these devotions, we are constantly reminded
of the immeasurable depth of Gods immense love for us. And for the
crosses that we have to carry in our own lives, we are reminded to
patiently bear these with faith and trust as Christ did more than
2000 years ago.
For all the media hype this controversial movie had generated even
prior to its screening in Singapore, The Passion naturally drew not
only the pious but also the curious. Interestingly, one major group
drawn to the box office was Protestant Ministers who were
enthusiastically snapping up tickets wholesale for their
congregations. Members of their congregations either received free
tickets or paid nominal rates, perhaps as an added incentive to
evangelize non Christian friends and relatives through the
movie.
So is The Passion bringing about a shift in perspective within a
Christian group which, at the most radical moment of its history,
had discarded the crucifix and cross as idolatrous images, citing
the 2nd commandment as the basis for their stand? Well, The Passion
certainly did not cause them to shy away from the box office. Let
us hope this is not simply a knee jerk reaction to popular
moods.