[MarMema]

The faith and the fury

"Father Dan Suciu, pastor of St. Sophia's Greek Orthodox Church, said focusing on one day in Jesus' life, however important the day was, could miss the broader context of his life and ministry

But for a generation heavily influenced by media images, and for doubters, "The Passion" could be a very powerful instrument to shake them up and remind them that God's promise of redemption is no myth, as much of the modern world assumes.

"Crucifixion was so bad that horrendous words would be uttered by those on the crosses, and the soldiers were told to cut their tongues out," Suciu said.

"In that context, Jesus' words, 'Father, forgive them for they know not what they do,' had an indescribable impact. That's why the Roman centurion said, 'Truly, this is the son of God.' He was a pagan, and yet he was overcome by such peaceful words."

[conservonator]

This cuts to the heart of the matter; too many Christians don't want to be reminded of the price paid for our sins. We are too weak to be reminded what we did to Christ so we hide it and drag it out on Good Friday, maybe, and then hide it while we focus on the "good stuff", redemption, salvation and heaven. I am very troubled by the reaction of some believers to this movie. What do we have to fear? If confronted with the terrible price of our crimes don't you think that some of us just may actually seek to understand more fully the broader message of Christs ministry? Don't you think that the believer, stirred by a guilty heart will seek forgiveness and repent and in so ding seek the true path, crave loving obedience to Christ as an act of contrition for past sins and as armor against temptation?

I am overjoyed at the prospect of Christians gaining a better understanding of the price of sin. I am heartened that this will lead to a deeper and abiding love of Christ. I see this as a chance to do away with he vending machine god that owes us something because we put in our time at church or reading scripture. I see this hammering home the message that He doesn't owe us anything, He paid the price in full and in so doing offers us, free for the taking the free gift of salvation, a gift we can only be deserving of because of His love and sacrifice. He asks so little and yet we feel so burdened. How far we have fallen.

We focuser to much on the good stuff, the empty cross. We need to be reminded how it came to be empty.