Lk 9:18-24
18Once when Jesus was praying in solitude, and the disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” 19They said in reply, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, ‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen.’ ” 20Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said in reply, “The Christ of God.” 21He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone.
22He said, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.”
23Then he said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”
THE CROSS UNSANITIZED: Mel Gibson’s The Passion of The Christ has, by now, become a landmark in Hollywood’s movie industry, and—many would add—in modern pop culture. Since its opening in the United States, it literally has stirred passion in people’s hearts. Some critics see it as an anti-Jewish film and fear that it would revive anti-Semitism that sent to death more than one million Jews in Hitler’s concentration camps. Others, repelled by the film’s unrelenting bloodletting, call it “The Goriest Story Ever Told,” in reference to one of the earliest films about Jesus: “The Greatest Story Ever Told.” But many share that watching the movie is once-in-a-lifetime experience. They do not feel they are watching a movie, but entering into an experience on a level of primary emotion. People do not get up at the film’s conclusion; they are sobbing—feeling and apologizing for having played a part in the passion of Jesus. It is not just a “movie” they see; they are being confronted with the reality of the cross—unsanitized.
One who has watched The Passion will see in a different light the words of Jesus in today’s Gospel: “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.” One would share the horror of Peter upon hearing these words, making him rebuke Jesus—as we read in Mark’s account (Mk 8:32). For crucifixion was one of the most heinous among the torturous penalties meted in the ancient world. The Greek and Roman philosophers thought of it as inhuman, not even to be mentioned among the civilized. The Romans would impose it for those of lower status—dangerous criminals, slaves, rebellious populace of foreign provinces. The Jews, in turn, considered that “anyone who is hung on a tree is under the curse of God” (Dt 21:22-23).
The “message of the cross,” according to the Apostle Paul, is a “stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles” (1 Cor 1:23). The idea that Jesus could or would have gone through such a passion is unthinkable. But in God’s mysterious plan, this is how far the Beloved Son would go in order to show God’s love for mankind. Paul could only marvel in the paradox: “The foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength” (1 Cor 1:25).
One reason Peter and the disciples are so scandalized by Jesus’ passion prediction is that Jesus says that they, too, will have to take up their cross and follow after him. The invitation applies for all time. How would we react to this invitation after watching Mel Gibson’s film?
A friend shares her reflection: “Many of us would have the attitude of Simon of Cyrene when the guards commanded him to carry the cross of Jesus. Yes, we would help Jesus carry the cross for the time being, but let it be known to everyone that we are no criminals; we had nothing to do with that man’s punishment. We had nothing to do with the sufferings of other people. We have our own lives.
“Simon, in the film, helped Jesus with the cross until the end. One wonders what changed in this man after that. Many times, I encounter Jesus in the people around me and many times, I succumb to the temptation to revert to my old, comfortable existence, not wanting to know, not wanting to be inconvenienced.
“Every scene was beautifully crafted and every word Jesus uttered was full of meaning, meaning that needed to be lived and shared. I am asking for your prayers that I might be able to live and share it.”