I was having coffee with my friend Suzanne this morning, when she suggested that I dust off my blog this Lent.
"What? You mean I might not have to give up sugar and could just write about the things I'm doing instead?" I secretly connived.
That sounded like a pretty good idea to me. And though I didn't know whether anyone would be interested in reading it, I thought that I could at least offer it to God as my Lenten sacrifice and then see where it goes from there.
In the past few years I have tried to do something less predictable when Ash Wednesday rolls around. One year I had the brilliant idea to give up saying "No" for the forty days leading up to Easter. It was truly an adventure to do that, and while my family didn't suspect a thing for several weeks, it all came crashing down at the end. I don't think I'll ever do that one again now that I've seen up close and in person why discernment is a good and necessary thing!
To kick off Lent in Veritas (our 11th and 12th grade youth group at St. Mary Magadalene Catholic Church) last Sunday, we decided to show "The Passion of the Christ" by Mel Gibson. If you've never seen it, the movie is a very graphic and powerful depiction of the last hours of Christ's life. To prepare for the event, I watched the movie at home three times last weekend. First I decided the movie was too bloody to show in its entirety. Then I heard from our youth minister Liz that there is a "Re-Cut" version that tones down some of the more difficult scenes by using different camera angles and music that is less intense. So I ordered "The Definitive Edition" of the movie on Amazon and watched it again. While the movie seemed a little less shocking, I was surprised that the director kept the worst scenes intact. Then I realized that the DVD I ordered actually contains both the first edition of the movie and the re-cut version on the same disc! So, I had watched the first edition, but had become a little bit desensitized to it after one showing! Next I watched the re-cut treatment of the more objectionable scenes and found that while they were indeed toned down, you could still get the full effect of what was happening even though the camera may have moved from the action to the faces of those watching it. Still too intense to show in full to our teens, I thought. So we ended up showing the re-cut version for the first 60 minutes, ending in the middle of the scourging when Mary the mother of Christ comforts Mary Magdalene.
So, I thought I'd pass that along if anyone else is interested in seeing The Passion of the Christ this Lent. It is a powerful way to better understand just how much God loves us and wants to set us free...free from the things that distance us from Him and His PASSIONATE LOVE for us!
"What? You mean I might not have to give up sugar and could just write about the things I'm doing instead?" I secretly connived.
That sounded like a pretty good idea to me. And though I didn't know whether anyone would be interested in reading it, I thought that I could at least offer it to God as my Lenten sacrifice and then see where it goes from there.
In the past few years I have tried to do something less predictable when Ash Wednesday rolls around. One year I had the brilliant idea to give up saying "No" for the forty days leading up to Easter. It was truly an adventure to do that, and while my family didn't suspect a thing for several weeks, it all came crashing down at the end. I don't think I'll ever do that one again now that I've seen up close and in person why discernment is a good and necessary thing!
To kick off Lent in Veritas (our 11th and 12th grade youth group at St. Mary Magadalene Catholic Church) last Sunday, we decided to show "The Passion of the Christ" by Mel Gibson. If you've never seen it, the movie is a very graphic and powerful depiction of the last hours of Christ's life. To prepare for the event, I watched the movie at home three times last weekend. First I decided the movie was too bloody to show in its entirety. Then I heard from our youth minister Liz that there is a "Re-Cut" version that tones down some of the more difficult scenes by using different camera angles and music that is less intense. So I ordered "The Definitive Edition" of the movie on Amazon and watched it again. While the movie seemed a little less shocking, I was surprised that the director kept the worst scenes intact. Then I realized that the DVD I ordered actually contains both the first edition of the movie and the re-cut version on the same disc! So, I had watched the first edition, but had become a little bit desensitized to it after one showing! Next I watched the re-cut treatment of the more objectionable scenes and found that while they were indeed toned down, you could still get the full effect of what was happening even though the camera may have moved from the action to the faces of those watching it. Still too intense to show in full to our teens, I thought. So we ended up showing the re-cut version for the first 60 minutes, ending in the middle of the scourging when Mary the mother of Christ comforts Mary Magdalene.
So, I thought I'd pass that along if anyone else is interested in seeing The Passion of the Christ this Lent. It is a powerful way to better understand just how much God loves us and wants to set us free...free from the things that distance us from Him and His PASSIONATE LOVE for us!
Shalom!
ReplyDeleteHow did the young people respond to the film?
I know someone who was given the penance of watching the film for his confession. I think it was effective for him.
For me, I've recently tried to 'do' something extra for Lent rather than delete something for Lent. Either way, it's always a rewarding exercise in spirituality and personal growth in Christ.
PAX
Hi Andrea. The teens were attentive and responsive throughout. I think that being able to experience the life of Christ in a movie environment helps to bring the events of the past into sharp focus for all of us today.
ReplyDeleteThat's excellent. Seems it was more relateable visually. Some folks relate better through vision than spoken or read word. And, of course, the film is very well done. Good start for the season.
ReplyDeletePAX