Evangéliumi Hírnök, 2004 (96. évfolyam, 1-3. szám)

2004-03-01 / 3. szám

March, 2004 Page 9. THE PASSION by Paul Harvey 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 1 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 glad­handing 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 Revelation. Suddenly, the pur­pose of the pain was so clear and the wounds, that earlier in the film had been so 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 filmmaking 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.” You will be as well. Don’t miss it! KATONA RÓZSIRA 1925 - 2003 2003. augusztus 12- én szólította az Úr az örök honba Katona (sz. Biszák) Rózsika tv-nőt. 1925. Szeptember 14-én született Hertelen falván, Torontál vármegyében. Férjével, néhai Katona Lajos lelkipásztor tv-el együtt tértek meg és merítkeztek be Pacséron, Pintér Sándor lp. testvér által. 10 évig szülőhelyükön szolgálták Megváltójukat; nővérünk az énekkarban gyönyörű hangjával és szavalatokkal. 1961. májusában a Katona család Argentínába költözött és ott a Buenos Ai­­res-i gyülekezetben szolgáltak, előbb Molnár Antal lp testvér, később a fentebb említett Pintér testvér idejében. 1969-ben Ausztráliába vezette őket az Úr. Melboume-ben a helyi Baptista Szö­vetség kérelmére megalakították az Ausztráliai kontinens Első Magyar Bap­tista Gyülekezetét, mely ma is virágzik. 1977-ben Kaliforniába költöztek Vadász testvér segítségével, hogy ott a kezdő San José-i magyar missziót fel­karolják. Két és fél év után átköltöztek Los Angelesbe és ott az Alhambrai ma­gyar gyülekezet tagjai lettek. 1984-ben az Adelaide-i küszködő magyar gyülekezet visszahívta (amit mint misszió állomást kezdtek mielőtt Amerikába költöztek volna) és így újból Ausztráliában szolgáltak. Katona tv-t az Úr haza szólította 1990. januárjában. Nővérünk haláláig ebbe a gyüleke­zetbe járt, itt is lett eltemetve. Temetése kérelmére magyarul folyt. Debreceni Sándor tv. szolgált vigasztaló szavakkal, és sógora, Kerekes Sándor tv. tartott búcsúbeszédet. (Kerekes Sándor tv. családja volt az első édes gyümölcs az Adelaide-i misszióban, akiket Katona testvér merített alá 1977-ben.) Nővérünket gyászolja a kiterjedt család - gyermekei és unokái - és a gyülekezet. Ifj. Katona Lajos ÉSAIÁS KÖNYVE 62.63. 649 5. £s o xnegsebesittetett * btlneinkért. megmutatott a mi vétkeinkért, békes­ségünknek büntetése rajta várt, és az ő si'TCivel gyógyulunk m»g~' ............* Bak 4.ÍS.1 Kot. 15, S. 1 Pét. i, 24. 6. Mindnyájan, mint jnhok eltévelyed­­tunk, kiki az ö útira tértünk: de az Űr mindnyájunk vétMiJL. ő reá veté. 7. Kínoztatott, pedig alázatos volt és szájai nemTrflfotta.meg, * mint íaníny, mely mészárszékre...vitetik, és mint juh, mely'megnémül az Őt nyirok előtt; és száját nem nyitotta meg! * tóit« 2«, S3. C*#!. 8,32-33.

Next

/
  • Layout
  • Zoom
  • Rotation
Thumbnails
Contents