Our waning passion for "The Passion"

In planning the Holy Week programming at our church, I was commissioned to facilitate our Maundy Thursday service. So last night we presented a variety of reflections on Easter, including a clip from Mel Gibson's epic film, The Passion of the Christ. (I'm assuming you've seen it, but if not, it's a must-see.)

I remember the first time I saw that film. Jean and I were attending a conference here in Indianapolis in the fall of 2003, in which they were showing a special screening of a rough-cut version of the film prior to its national release in February of 2004. The controversial nature of the piece had generated considerable media buzz. And because this was one of the first public screenings of the film, a sense of heightened anticipation hung in the air (fueled also by the rumored possibility that Mel Gibson himself might make a cameo appearance during the screening, but that never did materialize).

I remember sitting with a thousand other people in that great hall at the convention center and being gripped from start to finish. The detailed depiction of Christ's suffering--the abandonment, the insults, the excruciatingly-vivid beatings, the finality of the crucifixion. And yet, the hint of victory in the very last scene revealed that Christ's passion was not the end, but only the beginning. The palpable reaction at the end of that screening was extraordinary. It was emotional, worshipful, and reverent, and it literally evolved into a spontaneous worship service that did not end until nearly 1:00 a.m.!

As I was driving home last night, it occurred to me how much the journey of The Passion has gone the way of every other film--the initial buzz and weekend box-office records giving way to virtual non-existence, buoyed only by the occasional attention received at the movie rental store and passing references in pop culture conversation. Once a cultural phenomenon, it is now, just three years later, a fading memory in our collective mind.

What was particularly striking as I reflected on this was not necessarily the shelf life of The Passion as much as the parallel I see in our approach to the events it portrays. The crowd at our Maundy Thursday service was about what I expected--a handful of the faithful saints in our church whose presence is a constant at church functions--and I anticipate our Good Friday service tonight will be much the same way. Why is that? Where is everyone else? Are there other things more pressing? Perhaps.

Now, to be fair, the paltry attendance during the Holy Week events indicts me as much as the next person. Truth be told, I would probably struggle to attend if I didn't feel some obligation to be there as a pastor at the church. And God is using this regrettable epiphany to convict me about my Christian walk in general. How often do I allow the  primacy of God to be supplanted by seemingly-more pressing endeavors in my daily routine? At what point did my fervent devotion to God devolve into a languid attempt at ritualistic routine?

Pastor or not, that is the human struggle within the Christian faith--to allow the pursuit of God's priorities to be the driving force in our life. To maintain our focus in that direction requires intentionality. And so I have committed to watch The Passion each year, not because I particularly like watching it the way I would some of Mel Gibson's other movies (like Braveheart, for example. Which, by the way, I mistakenly took a date to see when it first hit the theaters. Ouch!), but because I must as an annual reminder of that horrific, yet victorious, event. With each viewing I cannot bear to watch, and yet, I cannot turn away. I dare not turn away. God forbid my passion for Christ's passion wane. For it is Christ's suffering and death for me that opens the possibility for salvation--a gift of which we all are undeserving, but that God, in His infinite grace, has seen fit to offer us. Let's not take it lightly. On this Good Friday take some time away from the chaos of the usual busyness and reflect on the significance of the Easter season in your life. It's the very least we can do when we consider what Christ has done for us.

UPDATE: Just after completing this post, I stumbled upon an essay by Gerard Baker of The London Times which is one of the most eloquent and thoughtful elaborations on the Easter story that I have ever read. Take the time necessary to read this gem and pass it along to those who need it most. (Don't be surprised to see me quoting from it in the next day or so. :)

Comments

[Dana]

Thanks for the reminder John. My husband and I have three kids under the age of 4, and it is SO easy to get distracted by secular Easter preparations, like buying things for their Easter baskets, planning egg hunts, even cleaning the house for our family that will be visiting this weekend from out of town.....that I often forget to carve out time to reflect on why we are celebrating Easter.

We own a copy of "The Passion" and you have inspired me to find a few hours this weekend, and sit down and watch it..... although, if my out of town guests want to know why my house is dirty Easter day, i'll be forced to blame "The daily detour" =)

Thanks for the perspective, John.

[Dave]

I, for one, am happy to hear about your lack of dating abilities. It landed you with the right girl!

[andy bullock]

I'll be honest, I've not seen the film. I'm too afraid. Some day...