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The X-Games™ have always been the place where over-the-edge athletes throw down adrenaline-pumping stunts that blow the minds of spectators. Those who really excel at these death- defying sports often embrace a dark and murky culture of dissent, dissatisfaction, and dissing anything that resembles rules or conformity.
But a few of these dare-devils have been raising an uncomfortable stir. Sponsors and organizers are nail-biting over what fans will think when they learn their bad-boy, rebel heroes have embraced Christianity. In this lesson we’ll find out who some of them are, and how it happened…

x-treme biker

When motocross racing newcomer Brian Deegan won the1997 LA Coliseum Supercross, he astonished the crowd by hopping off his moving bike at the finish line. It launched riderless into the air. That was to be the first of many shocking stunts from Deegan that would rock the motocross world. The move was immediately banned by motocross authorities and racing rebel Brian Deegan found his bad boy niche.

Deegan was 12 years old when his parents divorced. He found a vent for his anger in dirt biking, and turned pro by age 17. He left small town Nebraska for Southern California, FMX headquarters, promising his father he would come back home and go to college if he didn’t make it.

Brian soon switched from motocross racing to freestyle motocross (FMX), which is more about stunts and tricks than riding laps. He soon joined up with other riders who wielded the same revulsion for authority. With Larry Linkogle, Deegan co-created the “Metal Mulisha”, an FMX team that would eventually compete and perform around the world.

In an interview with Phil Bartsch of the Courier Mail, an Australian newspaper, Deegan said “We formed the Mulisha because we wanted to have our own group of guys who stood up against the (motocross industry) establishment. We’re against people trying to make you do things you don’t want to do, like dress and look how you don’t want to look.”

The Mulisha became known for their raucous, destructive behavior, shaved heads, tattoos, wild parties and busted hotel rooms. Deegan chose a skull with a Nazi helmet for the Metal Mulisha emblem, marketing the symbol in a multimillion dollar clothing line.

x-treme talent

The X Games (formerly known simply as “X-treme Sports”) began to include Freestyle Motocross in 1999. Deegan has taken 3 Gold and 7 Bronze medals, competing in at least one X Games event annually.

He was the first ever to do a 360 in competition – an aerial back flip on the motorcycle while ramp jumping. The trick was named the “Mulisha Twist”. Deegan became internationally known for his willingness to invent new tricks risking everything to entertain an audience.

x-treme attitude

“For me, I would say my whole life was being a rebel; trying to form an image of this guy who has done a lot of sins, a lot of bad things. (I was) trying just to build a name – basically glorifying being a bad person…” Deegan goes on to express his growing emptiness he felt inside. “ I just was hurting the people I loved and doing the bad things.”

x-treme pain

The Metal Mulisha packed stadiums wherever they went. But ripping on a bike in FMX competition has the potential to rip the rider’s body as well as take his life. Like ancient gladiator games, spectators are as eager to see a crash as they are thrilled with a successful death-defying trick.
In May of 2005 Brian Deegan attempted a back flip for the MTV cameras filming Viva La Bam. He tried to slice through a 40 mph crosswind. The jump went bad. He took the handlebars in the gut, exploding his kidney, lacerating his spleen. He crash landed and writhed in pain on the ground.

x-treme promise

“In my head, I knew I was dying.” recalls Deegan. Rushed to hospital, the surgeon told him that he might not make it. Then and there he made a promise to God. “That was the final moment when I said, ‘You know what? If I live through this, I am going to fully follow Christ.’”
The day after his surgery, his wife Marissa fueled his desire to live by announcing that she was pregnant with their second child.

x-treme change

In an interview with Chris Palmer of ESPN Magazine Deegan said, “ That was be being a dumb kid. I tried to uphold an image and shock people. We had to be gnarly all the time. When I realized how stupid that was, people called me a sellout. But I didn’t owe them anything.” He also said, “It took me years to realize that I was a [expletive removed] idiot. It took me another 2 years to get away from it.”
True to his promise, as soon as he recovered he found a church for his family to attend and began opening up his home for a bible study and faith sharing for his biking brothers.

x-treme influence

Soon other members of the Metal Mulisha joined Deegan in his search for God. “I was able to bring Jeremy Lusk into our bible study. Twitch was in our bible study, just our close friends that we really cared about and it started to grow.”
They started taking heat for expressing their Christian faith in a culture that despises religion. But they found strength to stand up for their beliefs in each other. “I think the main thing,” said Deegan, “ is finding people that you can associate with. I continued to grow. Through that, we (all) really started to learn about God and the bible. That was pretty much how our walk started advancing.

x-treme loss

Jeremy Lusk was one of Deegan’s closest friends and a teammate, and he had recently been baptized. On February 9, 2009, while performing a back flip trick called the “Hart Attack” at a show in Costa Rica in front of thousands of motocross fans, he crashed and crushed his skull. The Metal Mulisha were devastated, but continued in their public outpouring of faith.

x-treme wake-up

“At this point, I’d say Jeremy Lusk passing away – you know I see my best friend, and just seeing him laying there – you know after he passed, down there in Costa Rica, I was just like, you know what? I go, this has to be the strongest awakening for me going, ‘You better figure it out, you better just follow Christ from this day on.’ It just really made me see how short that life can be and you don’t know what is going to happen the next day, and so why not live your life to where when you’re gone, you can be like, ‘Man, I lived the best life I could possibly live. I affected people in a positive way.’

x-treme witness

Deegan, when asked about his making his faith public, told The New York Times, “In the end I said, ‘who’s more radical than us?’ Everything we do is full-on. Once we went to church, we were full-on Christians, too. And we’re going to go for it. On the mic, I’ll say it. On TV, say it. The next thing you know, I have way more people pumped on me.”
So many fans began to question what it meant to give one’s life to Christ that Brian Deegan was moved to share his faith with his fans in an interview posted on YouTube called “Faisst Pastor PJ and Deegan Gospel” part 1 and part 2.

x-treme struggle

Brian De­­agan spends a lot of time up in the air flipping motorcycles. But his life is becoming grounded in Christ. He strives to be a better person with God’s grace. “You know we had our ups and downs. We have done a lot of bad stuff and it still happens. I am still a sinner, I’ll admit it. I have my moments. I’m not happy for the things I’ve done. I feel bad the next day and I don’t want to do it again. The thing is, I am trying to become a better person, a better dad, a better husband, a better friend.

x-treme sacrifice

X-treme motocross has something in common with the real Cross. When an FMX biker, rally car racer, or any other extreme sport athlete performs, they offer every bit of themselves to their sport. Risking great injury and maybe even death, they pour it all out on the altar of that dirt track; to feed their fans hunger for a rush, and to gain their prize: the medal, respect, and money.
When such radical people come face to face with the intense, “full-on” love, giving, and selfless sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross (and we witness at Mass), they have a deep understanding of what it takes to do that. They get it, they respect it, and want to follow it.
God’s love for us, and giving that love to others, is the missing element that they were searching for but could never satisfy with an adrenaline high. Their desire to be unique is answered by Christ’s individual love for each of us. And as they continue their Christian walk, they find themselves more radical and different than ever before.

Saints and Heros

St. Joseph Cupertino

Joseph was born in 1603, to a very poor family. Joseph was prone to sickness and injury, which made him an expensive child to take care of. He was also prone to daydreaming and getting lost in his thoughts, and this made him so unreliable that he couldn’t even accomplish the simplest chores. So his mother sent him away to live with an Uncle who was a Franciscan priest. His uselessness made him unwelcome there as well, but his humility earned him another chance.
Joseph struggled with his problems and found humble tasks to do in the stable. Through his sufferings, Joseph grew closer and closer to God. Though he was a terrible student, in Seminary he was miraculously only asked questions he knew and the Bishop skipped over testing him at the final exam, so he graduated and became a priest.
Over time, the poor and sick became aware of this special, humble man and flocked to him. Rumors spread that he could heal the sick. Afraid that Joseph would become a circus act and embarrass them, his order and the Bishop tried time and again to hide him away.
No matter what, people found him and listened to him and brought their sick for healing. IOnce when the shepherds he prayed with were too busy to come to the chapel, he called the sheep and they all came and actually said “Bah” when it was time to respond to the prayers. All the while, Joseph continued to accept the ridicule and censorship put on him by his brothers.
Joseph was also known to do aerial stunts, although he didn’t use a dirtbike. When he prayed sometimes he would get so excited to talk to God that he would literally float in the air. Once some men were trying to set up a very heavy crucifix at an outdoor chapel. Joseph saw them struggling, flew over and picked up the cross that many men could not lift, and flew it to the top and set it in place for them.
Joseph lived a hard and troubled life, but was always humble and concerned for others. He was not afraid to be radically different or to embrace the cross. H­e is the patron saint of air travel and people with mental disabilities.

Mother Dolores Hart, OSB

Dolores Hicks was born to aspiring Hollywood actors, and says that she always wanted to be part of the Hollywood scene. Dolores’ childhood was marked with pain due to her parents marital troubles. She was an exceptional young girl though, and at a a very young age she was already on her way to being a movie star.
She had gone to college, and was engaged but realized that the marriage wasn’t right for her, so she broke it off.
Her biggest break came when she was cast alongside Elvis Presley in a movie. She instantly became a teen icon with the stage name Dolores Hart.
She was shooting two movies in Rome, and met the Pope. He had a profound effect on her, as did being in ROme and playing St. CLare in a movie about St. Francis. While starring in a broadway show, she began taking trips from NYC to Connecticut to visit a famous Benedictine Monastery of nuns there on her breaks. She was in love with the peace she found there. The extraordinary woman who was in charge of the abbey helped Dolores realize that her heart was longing to be more closely united to Jesus. Even though she loved movies and acting, she loved the peace and joy of being with Jesus more. So in 19…. she left it all behind and joined the convent, and has been there ever since.
Dolores has continued to reach out to fellow Hollywood stars, sharing her experience and wisdom with them. She devotes her time to giving the gift of theatre to her local community, and is currently the only nun who is a voting member forbv the Oscars®.

Bible Blurbs

“…the LORD declares, ‘… I will honor those who honor me…’”

1 Samuel 2:30

“I gave them your word, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the evil one.”

John 17:14-16

“Every athlete exercises discipline in every way. They do it to win a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one.”

1 Corinthinans 9:25

“For the Son of Man has come to seek and save what was lost.”

Luke 19:10

Catechism Clips

1432 “The human heart is heavy and hardened. God must give man a new heart. Conversion is first of all a work of the grace of God who makes our hearts return to him…”

440 “the true apostle is on the lookout for occasions of announcing Christ…, either to unbelievers… or to the faithful.”

1229 “From the time of the apostles, becoming a Christian has been accomplished by a journey…”

1285 “…[the baptized] are… as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed.”

Pope Quotes

“Be prepared to put your life on the line in order to enlighten the world with the truth of Christ; to respond with love to hatred and disregard for life; to proclaim the hope of the Risen Christ in every corner of the earth.”

Pope Benedict XVI,
Message for World Youth Day 2008

“…the Spirit of Fortitude and Witness… gives us the courage to live according to the Gospel and to proclaim it boldly.”

Pope Benedict XVI,
Message for World Youth Day 2008

“Those who allow themselves to be led by the Spirit understand that placing oneself at the service of the Gospel is not an optional extra, because they are aware of the urgency of transmitting this Good News to others.”

Pope Benedict XVI,
Message for World Youth Day 2008

“But you, my dear young people, do not be afraid to proclaim the Gospel of the Cross on all occasions. Do not be afraid to go against the grain!”

Pope John Paul II, April 4, 2004,
Palm Sunday Address to Youth

Virtuous Verbiage Verification

adrenaline – a stimulant chemical produced by the body to help it cope with stress or trauma. It has many effects on the body and brain, including raising the heart rate and extreme mental focus

awakening – a moment when one comes to a new understanding of things they didn’t know or care about before.

baptized (baptism) - the first sacrament of initiation into the church, when someone is accepted into the family of God, the stain of original sin is washed from their soul, and they become a Christian.

bible study – when a group of people get together and read, discuss, and learn more about the bible. Usually the people talk about how to really use what is said in the bible in their daily life.

dissent – conflict or division when one or a few members of a group of people disagree with the popular opinion or rebel against what the group thinks is normal.

faith sharing – when people discuss with each other their experience of God and their faith, and how God has touched their lives.

gnarly – beyond extreme, totally outside of what is normal or expected, even in a grotesque way, but also interesting and demanding attention.

image – a way someone portrays themself, the way someone wants others to see them.

motocross – when a witness tells their story about what they saw or experienced.

radical – extreme, beyond the normal.

raucous – loud, rough, rowdy, disturbing the public peace.

revulsion – violent feeling of disgust.

selfless – more interested in the good of others than in one’s own good.

Discussion Questions

1. Brian risked his reputation, losing his teammat­­es, alienating his fans, and ruining his career when he took his faith “public”. What are some things we might risk if we spoke up publicly about our faith? Are they as big of a risk as Brian took? Does it give you hope that in the end Brian didn’t lose anything, but actually gained support for his faith?
2. Brian and his fellow Metal Mulisha members, as well as many people involved in Xtreme Sports, often take unnecessary risks in their quest for a thrill or a rush. Is this risky behavior healthy? What are some other ways people act out this kind of risk-taking behavior? What are some healthy ways we can feed the desire for that adrenaline rush, without putting ourselves in danger?
3. Brian Deegan attributes his entrance in to dirt biking and extreme sports as a release for anger he felt when his parents divorced. Do you, or does anyone you know, engage in risky behavior out of anger? Is this a good way to handle anger? Who ends up really getting hurt if we respond this way when someone makes us angry?
4. Brian’s story, how he ignored God and faith until he was faced with death and then had a change of heart, is not uncommon. Many times people don’t see a need for faith in their lives until they come face to face with death. Is it the best thing to put God off until tragedy strikes? Wouldn’t it be smarter to have a strong faith all along? What if we put God off until later, and never get the chance to turn to God until it is too late?

Activities

1. Host your own “X-treme Believer” awards… Make a list of people you know or know of who make their faith public and aren’t afraid. They can be your priest, teachers, parents, grandparents, or even famous people. Collect the ballots, vote, and give some sort of award or certificates to the winners. You might even find a place at your church or school where you can publicly post the results.
2. If you have a facebook™ or MySapce™ account available, see if you can find a page for Brian Deegan or Metal Mulisha, and post a comment that you appreciate their openness to sharing their faith.

Journal Writing

Pick one of your favorite celebrities. Write a fictional story about what might happen to them and their career if they turned to God and spoke out about it. How would the media respond? And their fans? What kind of positive influences might they have? How would it affect you?

Debate

Split in two teams. The topic for the debate is:

Should we start believing and following Jesus now, or will there be plenty of time for that later, after we do what we feel like?

Be sure to use information from the lesson, the Bible, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, your Parish priest, and other reliable resources to back up your arguments.

When the news broke last month that the captain of an American cargo ship had been captured by pirates, it is likely that many people didn’t realize how dangerous and terrifying that really was.

Johnny Depp as Capt. Jack Sparrow. CNS photo from Walt Disney.

Arrr… Danger ahoy!

From Peter Pan to the Pirates of the Caribbean, everyone loves a good pirate story. But real pirates aren’t silly swashbucklers like the romanticized treasure hunters we know from movies and books.

On Wednesday, April 8, 2009, four ordinary-looking Somali fisherman, all less than 20 years old, used grappling hooks and rope ladders to board the merchant vessel ship Maersk Alabama. Armed with AK-47 assault rifles, they were seeking to take control of the ship and its crew at gunpoint.

Some armed Somali pirates. US Navy photo - Public Domain.

The ship was off the coast of Somalia, carrying medical supplies and food destined for refugee camps. Some of these things belonged to Catholic Relief Services.

Violence breeds violence

Somalia is probably best remembered from the movie Black Hawk Down. Recently, however, this north-east African country has been in the news for many of these types of pirate attacks.

Years of civil war and unrest have left the country very poor, and so many people there turn to violent means of providing for themselves and their families.

A Map of Somalia

Somalia has hundreds of miles of coastline along very busy shipping lanes in the Indian Ocean. Ships here are an easy target for these pirates. Sometimes the pirates are interested in stealing the cargo on the ships. However, most of the time they are looking to get ransom money.

Walking the plank

When they learned that there were pirates on board, the crew went below deck and locked themselves in safe rooms. They had managed to capture one pirate. Only the captain and one other crew member stayed on deck to negotiate with the pirates. What happened next is what makes this particular story very different from the other cases of piracy in the news lately.

The captain of this ship, Captain Richard Phillips, was so concerned about the safety of his crew that he did something unthinkable… He asked the pirates to take him as their prisoner, and in return let his crew take the ship and go free. Once the ship and crew were at a safe distance, they would exchange Captain Phillips for the captured pirate.

The lifeboat on a crane. US Navy photo, Public Domain.

Tide turns against him

The three armed pirates liked the idea. Capt. Phillips led them to one of the ships small lifeboats, climbed in it, and had it lowered into the water. Captain Phillips was in close quarters with the men who could easily have killed him at any moment. He showed them how to operate the boat. And then the plan went horribly wrong.

The crew of the Alabama, as they had agreed, brought out the injured pirate for the trade. But now that the pirates had their friend, they didn’t release their prisoner. They kept Capt. Phillips as a hostage, and were holding him for ransom.

For five days these bandits held him under constant guard. There was water and food, but there were no bathrooms or showers. It was unbearably hot in the enclosed lifeboat; so much so that Capt. Phillips said he dreaded the sun coming up in the morning. The captain and his captors sat, waiting. The pirates weren’t sleeping and were becoming agitated.

Real Navy aerial surveillance photo. US Navy photo, Public Domain.

At one point, Capt. Phillips even tried to escape. He pushed one of the pirates guarding him overboard, and dove in the water and swam away. He swam towards a US Navy ship, the USS Bainbridge, that was following them. But it was nearly a half mile away. Before long, he was caught again; only now the pirates were very angry with him.

Real Navy aerial surveillance photo. USS Bainbridge keeps watch (above) over Capt. Phillips in the lifeboat (below). Public Domain.

Is Davey Jones comin’?

By this point, the outcome didn’t look too bright for Captain Phillips. “It was just settling everything. Getting ready to die and just settling everything. You know, saying my last thoughts. Andrea, the kids.” He no longer believed he would leave that boat alive. He wondered why the pirates were dragging things out when he was certain they would kill him in the end anyway.

He had known when he went with them that there was a chance he would die. But he had been willing to take that chance freely, to spare his crew. Now, faced with what seemed certain death, he was at peace with his decision.

Mrs. Phillips tries to stay strong as she holds a picture of her husband. (AP Photo/Toby Talbot)

Watching and waiting

Thousands of miles away, in a tiny town in Vermont, the Phillips family was experiencing the turmoil of wondering what was happening to their husband and father. “We did not know what Richard was enduring while being held hostage on the lifeboat, and that was really the hardest part… the wondering,” said Mrs. Andrea Phillips.

Fr. Danielson interviewed at St. Thomas Church. (Photo: Daria Bishop - dariabishop.com)

Mariah, the captain’s 19 year old daughter, expressed the shock of learning that this had actually happened to her family: “This is something that happens to other people. Obviously, I am other people.”

They received visits from Fr. Danielson, their parish priest, who prayed with them and told them not to lose hope.

Captain Phillips was unaware that there were other forces at work in his story. There was prayer power gathering and there was planning by the US Navy.

Living the mystery

Jim Caviezel as Jesus in the movie The Passion of the Christ. (CNS Photo)

These events came about at a very appropriate time of year. The day Capt. Phillips was captured was the Wednesday of Holy Week. The time he made his escape attempt was probably around the time we remember Jesus’ agony in the garden.

On Easter Sunday morning, Fr. Danielson told the Phillips’ friends and neighbors that they should pray more intensely for Capt. Phillips. Father said he believed Capt. Phillips’ story would serve as an example; just like Christ Jesus’ suffering led to His Resurrection, once again God and His goodness would triumph over evil in the end.

Members of USS Bainbridge's Visit, Board, Search and Seizure team. (US Navy Photo: Public Domain)

A Storm breaks loose

Later in the evening on Easter Sunday, things became extremely tense on the little life boat. One of the pirates had gone aboard the USS Bainbridge for medical treatment, and to try and arrange the ransom payment. When the other three pirates hadn’t heard from him in a while, they got restless.

They climbed out of the hatch of the life boat in plain view, and began firing warning shots in the air. The Bainbridge and the lifeboat were both moving, and the waves were bouncing them up and down in the darkness.

2 US Navy SEAL's. (US Navy photo, Public Domain)

Capt. Phillips had no idea what was going on. As he heard the shots, he dove to the deck and got as low as he could. He thought perhaps the pirates were fighting against each other. Or perhaps they were getting ready to kill him.

Salvation is from the SEAL’s

US Navy SEAL snipers took advantage of the opportunity, firing one perfect shot at each pirate. After what felt like a long time, but was only a few seconds later, Capt. Phillips heard the beautiful sound of a US Navy SEAL’s voice, asking him if he was alright. He was saved.

Daniel, Mariah and Andrea Phillips smile with joy and relief as they relay the good news at a press conference. (AP Photo, Toby Talbot)

Capt. Phillips hugs and kisses his wife Andrea after being reunited with her at the airport. CNS photo/Herb Swanson, Reuters.

“Hi, Honey…”

A short time later, back at home, Mrs. Phillips, their daughter Mariah, their son Daniel, and their whole family were relieved and elated to hear Captain Phillips himself, on the phone, telling them he was safe.

Mariah said, “You never know how strong your family can be when something like this happens.”

In a statement about how they survived the emotional torture of the five day ordeal, Mrs. Phillips said, “My family and closest friends held onto our faith knowing that Richard would come home.”

Capt. Phillips made the cover of People magazine.

The town made a welcome home sign. (Photo by Daria Bishop - dariabishop.com)

“I need a hero…”

What makes Captain Phillips a hero? Is it in conquering or strength? No. Like Jesus, his willingness to surrenderhimself as a prisoner, to suffer, and accept even death is where we find his true heroism.

Captain Richard Phillips is an example of love and respect for life. The lives of his shipmates meant so much to him, that he would offer up his own to save them. This is the ultimate sign of love and sacrifice. Whether he realized it at the time or not, Capt. Phillips was imitating Jesus Christ, at the very time when Jesus made the sacrifice that saves us all. He willingly offered himself to save others. He spent a few days in a little “tomb-like” capsule, and on Easter Sunday he got to taste a little bit of Jesus’ Easter victory.

Capt. Phillips is welcomed home by his wife Andrea, daughter Mariah, son Daniel, and mother Ginny. (CNS photo/Herb Swanson, Reuters.)

Just doing his job

Captain Phillips does not consider himself a hero. For him, what he did was just part of his job. He had accepted the job as a captain, and that meant putting the safety of his crew above his own. Yet there is something we admire about this attitude. When we see his example, we know we have met a real man, a man who puts others first.

True manhood is about service and sacrifice. These are qualities we also admire in so many women, especially our own moms (Happy Mother’s Day to all our moms!), but there is something we typically think of as particularly masculine about the willingness to face danger and take a huge risk for others. Men were designed by God to be protectors. They are called to protect their family and protect their communities. They are designed by God to overcome the fear of danger, because sometimes real life is dangerous. Sometimes risk is necessary for really important things.

Daniel Phillips follows as Mariah Phillips holds tightly to her father. (AP Photo/The Burlington Free Press, Alison Redlich)

Imitating Christ

Jesus Christ was a real man. He overcame his fear of danger. He put our safety above his own. Christ, by his life and death, helps men discover what it means to be a man. Let’s ask Christ to raise up more real men today.

For those of us who are guys, we can make a resolution to learn to love others so much that we are willing to sacrifice for them.

For girls, let’s start thanking some of the real men in our lives for what they do for us, starting with our own dads, or those other men who help keep us safe. And let’s show the guys that we also know how to sacrifice with courage, putting our hearts and lives at the service of goodness and love. The world will be a better, safer place.

Christ wants us to help him do this. It’s part of the call to love that he makes to each of us.

Bible Blurbs

“I am the good shepherd… and I will lay down my life for the sheep… No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own.”
John 10:14,15, & 18

Jesus answered, “…if you are looking for me, let these men go.”
John 18:8

For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
Matthew 16:25

Catechism Clips

618: …He calls his disciples to “take up [their] cross and follow (him)”, for “Christ also suffered for (us), leaving (us) an example so that (we) should follow in his steps…”

616: It is love “to the end” that confers on Christ’s sacrifice its value… He knew and loved us all when he offered his life…

609: …Indeed, out of love for his Father and for men, whom the Father wants to save, Jesus freely accepted his Passion and death…

610: Jesus gave the supreme expression of his free offering of himself… [when he] transformed this Last Supper… into the memorial of his voluntary offering to the Father…

Pope Quotes

Every witness of faith lives this “greater love” and, after the example of the Divine Teacher, is ready to sacrifice his life for the Kingdom.
Pope Benedict XVI, April 7, 2008, St. Bartholomew’s, Rome

“Only the commandment of love, a love that becomes a total gift of life, is the secret of the Resurrection. “
Pope John Paul II, February 6, 1997

“No one can take [Jesus’] life from him: he lays it down by his own free decision… He gives his life and he takes it [up] again in the resurrection, so as to be able to share it for ever. “
Pope Benedict XVI, Holy Thursday, April 9, 2009

Saints and Heroes

willing to lose her head for her people…

Esther, Queen of Persia

(Lived and died around 500-450 BC)

The Jewish people had been captured and brought to Babylon as slaves. The Persians conquered Babylon and freed the Jews, but the Jews were still not treated as equals.

Xerxes. the Persian king, was a fierce man and demanded complete respect from all of his subjects, even his wife. The Persian people also had very strict laws about women’s roles in society which were very oppressive. In fact, Xerxes banished his own wife for not allowing him to use her and show her off like a trophy.

He demanded that all the most beautiful women in his kingdom be brought to him. If he liked one of them, he would make her his new queen.

Hadassah was brought to the king because she was beautiful. She told no one of her Jewish heritage, and changed her name to Esther, the Persian word for star. The king instantly fell in love with Esther because she was not only beautiful, but also intelligent and brave. He made her his new queen.

Not long after, Esther’s uncle Mordecai heard that someone was plotting to kill the king. He sent word to Esther to warn the king. The king made a record that Mordecai should be rewarded one day.

At this same time, one of the Persian princes who hated the Jews was gaining favor with Xerxes. His name was Haman. Xerxes liked Haman so much, he gave him complete rule to do whatever he wanted in the kingdom. Haman decided to plot with his friends and use this new authority to exterminate all the Jews in Babylon, and all of Persia.

Esther and her people were terrified. She wanted to ask the king for help. But she knew that because of the laws restricting women in this place and time, if she went to the king without being invited, she could be killed for disrespect.

The Jewish people all fasted and prayed. Three days later, even with the possibility of being executed, Esther went before the king. Xerxes was so happy to see her that he welcomed her instead of having her beheaded. She asked if she could prepare two banquets for the king and his friend Haman. The king accepted.

At the second banquet, Esther bravely spoke out of turn, announcing that she was a Jew, as was Mordecai, the man who saved the king. She also told Xerxes of Haman’s plan to execute them along with all of her people. Xerxes was outraged that Haman would plot against the queen and her uncle. He ordered Haman to be hanged on the very gallows he had prepared for Mordecai.

Esther offered herself, her own life, to save her people out of love for them and love for God and his covenant with them. She is remembered by the Jewish people, as well as Catholics as a great heroine of the Old Testament.

(See the Bible for the Book of Esther. The picture is Tiffany Dumont playing Esther in the movie: “One Night with the King”)

The first saint with his own radio station

St. Maximillian Kolbe

(entered Heaven August 14,1941)

Baptized Raymond Kolbe in 1894, he was the second son of a very poor family.

In 1907, both Raymond and his brother entered studies at the Franciscan Junior Seminary. Here he would be taught and also have the possibility of becoming a priest. As he studied his professors found that he had a tremendous ability in science, military history, and strategy. He thought about leaving the seminary to join the army to fight for his country.

While Raymond knew how much his earthly mother wanted him to be a priest, he also realized he had a special call from his Heavenly mother to fight for her, and for her Son. So he decided to stay in the seminary and join the Franciscan Order. When he took his habit (the robe Franciscan Friars wear is called a habit) he also took a new name: Maximillian.

He always had an intense devotion to Mary, especially devoted to her under the name “The Immaculate”. He founded some of the largest friaries and seminaries in the world, both in Poland, and Japan. He published a magazine called “Knight of the Immaculate,” devoted to teaching people about truth and faith. He publicly denounced groups and societies that were attacking the beliefs of the Church. He founded radio stations dedicated to spreading the Gospel through words and music.

Even though he was still young his health failed; but he persisted in his rigorous work for the Church.

When the Nazis began to invade Poland, he spoke out against them, encouraging his readers and listeners to hold on to the truth. He helped Jewish refugees and others displaced by Nazi cruelty. Because of this, he was arrested and sent to a concentration camp.

While a prisoner, he was a shining light of hope in an otherwise dismal place. Every one who saw him in the prison camps was impressed by him, and he heard confessions and gave sacraments secretly.

This made his captors even more violent towards him, and they eventually moved him to one of the most infamous death camps: Auschwitz, Poland. Because of his faith, peace, love, and positive effect on the other prisoners, he was treated most harshly there.

Then one day three prisoners escaped. In retaliation, the Nazi commander decided that ten men would be starved to death. One of the men picked had a wife and family. Fr. Kolbe told the commander that he would go to the starvation bunker in this man’s place. The guards and commanders all hated Fr. Kolbe, so they were happy to make the switch to get rid of him.

From the bunker, the sounds of hymns being sung and the rosary being prayed were heard. After two weeks, Fr Kolbe was the only one left alive, so one of the criminal henchmen injected him with poison.

After his death, word of his herosim spread all over. He gave hope to a nation under siege and oppression.

(source: www.ewtn.org/saintsholy. The photo is L. Difilipis as St. Kolbe in the play: “Maximillian, Saint of Auschwitz”))

Study Guide

CNS photo/Disney)

Virtuous Verbiage Verification:

Holy Week – the week right before Easter, when we celebrate the time that Jesus gave us the Eucharist at the Last Supper, was betrayed, gave himself over to death, and brought the just souls waiting for Heaven into God’s presence.
Peace – a fruit of of the Holy Spirit. Inner peace is a calmness of soul and reliance on God. External or worldly peace, is both the absence of war or unrest AND the active pursuit of justice and charity for all.
Piracy – traditionally, hijacking a ship in the open sea by force, and stealing it or the goods on board. Often the passengers of the ship are harmed or killed. Piracy has always been considered one of the worst forms of robbery.
Ransom – the price paid to ensure someone’s life or safety.
Sacrifice – offering something one owns or holds dear to give honor to someone else, or for the good of someone else.
SEALs – stands for SEa Air Land… a group in the US Navy specializing in secret or dangerous operations. They have become well known for their rigorous training, near-perfect execution, and daring rescue mission.
Surrender – to give oneself freely and without a fight.

Discussion questions:

1. Do you think what Captain Phillips did was extraordinary? Is it something many people would have done? What might you have done differently?
2. Often times in today’s world we see leaders, in governments, companies, etc…, who are selfish and use their position for their own gain. Can you find any examples of this? How do you think these individuals might have done better if they acted like Capt. Phillips? Do you think Capt. Phillips’ example can help to change the hearts of leaders around the world?
3. The news media chooses to focus on Capt. Phillips’ courage rather than his self-sacrifice. Why is that? Does our society like to talk about sacrifice? Is it a popular idea? Do you think people in our society avoid sacrifice? Why? Why would people focus on one aspect, his bravery, but want to leave out focusing on his willingness to give of himself?

US Navy photo - Public Domain

Journal Writing:

Imagine there are pirates or kidnappers looking to capture you. Someone you know offers themselves to the kidnappers in your place. Write about what might be going through your mind at this time. What do you feel? What do you think about this person? How might this change you? Would you act any differently, or treat people any differently, now that you have been treated with such amazing love?

Debate:

Divide in two teams. One team argue that to be a real “man” Capt. Phillips should have attacked the pirates and started a brawl. The other team argue that what he did, peacefully surrendering himself, actually took more strength and courage. Email us at info@ourfaithinaction.net and tell us who wins and what their arguments were.

Activity:

Write a letter to someone who you feel has laid down their life for you or made sacrifices for you, especially someone like a father or grandfather. If you like, email it to info@ourfaithinaction.net and we may publish it on our website!

Fr Jason Smith gave us this awesome Podcast on the Passion of Christ… Check it out…

It is a large file, so be aware it may take a minute to get started…

A doubt can be powerful. The devil used it against Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. He tried to make them doubt that God loved them. It worked. We’re paying for it. The Da Vinci Code, written by Dan Brown, may not be as smart a hoax as the devil’s lie in the garden, but it has confused many people. Now the novel is coming out as a movie. The good thing is that many Christians are uniting in a strategy to respond: education on what our faith in Christ is really about. In this lesson we present a few ideas you can use to educate others about some of the The Da Vinci Code’s mixed-up ideas.

THE CONSPIRACY PLOT

Everyone loves a conspiracy story, and the book immediately captures the reader by opening with a mysterious murder. The clues to this puzzle are hidden in the paintings of the Renaissance artist Leonardo Da Vinci, and are revealed little by little to keep the reader’s interest. In the meantime, an explanation unfolds of a secret plot by the Catholic Church to cover up the “true” story of Jesus through murder and deceit. Ultimately, Brown uses this story to present his idea of the “real Jesus”. This Jesus was a prophet, but not God, and was married to Mary Magdalene. He wanted to start a new religion dedicated to appreciating the “sacred feminine” in the world, and he intended Mary to head it up. Brown claims that Jesus never rose from the dead, and that he could do nothing when Peter stole the power from Mary Magdalene, and forced her to flee. Thus, the apostles built the Church on their own ideas, making up a story about Jesus’ divinity and covering up the marriage. Da Vinci was one of the few who passed on Mary’s secret through the ages through codes in his paintings.

FACT OR FICTION?

Dan Brown’s book has a strong effect, because the opening page of the book claims that all of the descriptions are true. The main characters, Robert Langdon (played by Tom Hanks in the movie) and Dr. Leigh Teabing (played by Sir Ian McKellan) , use phrases throughout the book such as “historians have always known …” and “scholars know …” to make the reader think that the ideas are the fruit of serious research. Yet, many of the “facts” are actually disproved by scholars in art, history, architecture and theology. Some “facts” are so easily disproved that you hardly have to be a scholar at all to fi nd the fl aw. For example, the story claims that Jesus does not have a cup (chalice) in Leonardo’s painting of the Last Sup per. But if you count the chalices in the painting you will see that Jesus does have a cup. However, the average reader is not going to spend time looking up the details, and Dan Brown banks on this. Brown did use sources for his research, but they are mostly make-believe stories which twist the truth in an inaccurate or hypothetical way.

IS JESUS REALLY GOD?

The Da Vinci Code claims that early Christians saw Jesus as only a mortal, but they voted 300 years later to call him God, only for the sake of political unity under Emperor Constantine. Not true. Look at the Gospels. The Gospels were written between AD 50-100, shortly after the death and resurrection of Jesus (approximately AD 30). They show in many different verses that Christians always believed Christ was the Son of God, equal to God. One central example is Peter’s profession of faith in Jesus: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God,” (Mt 16:16) Christ confi rms that Peter has understood correctly when he says “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For fl esh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father” (Mt 16:17) The Council of Nicea was actually called in AD 325 by Constantine in response to Arius, one man who was creating turmoil by proposing his own idea that Jesus was not really equal to God. He had a clever way of phrasing things that confused some people. But he was going against what the Church already believed. 

Brown claims that it was a close vote. In fact only two bishops voted for Arius, while at least 218 voted to affirm what Christians had always believed. Close? Check your facts, Mr. Brown.

The fruit of the Council was the “Nicene Creed” which Catholics recite every Sunday, professing that Jesus is “God from God, light from light, true God from true God.” The Council simply clarified what the New Testament teaches and the Church always believed. The Council didn’t invent anything.

CAN WE TRUST THE SCRIPTURES?

Another claim that The DaVinci Code makes is that Constantine destroyed “thousands” of other reliable texts that show the human Jesus, and that there were 80 other Gospels that showed a different truth about Christ. In other words, our New Testament is not the truth about Christ, but rather someone’s personal opinion in a sea of other opinions.

It is easy to conjecture. But The DaVinci Code “scholars” don’t seem to have studied very seriously. Over 200 years before Constantine, Christians were already referring to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John as the only reliable ones. They were the ones used in Mass, and they were the ones quoted by the bishops and saints. 

One element in the Gospels that inspires trust is their honesty about the weakness of the apostles. They show clearly how the apostles abandoned Christ during his suffering. If the apostles were going to fake their authority they would not have said this. Yet the Gospels are honest in telling the story as it really happened.

OTHER GOSPELS?

The other texts that The DaVinci Code calls gospels were writings produced by groups that did not believe what the Christians believed or mixed Christian ideas with non-Christian ones. They were heretical texts. Many were produced much later than the Gospels. Recently some of these texts have made publicity again, such as the “Gospel of Judas.” They do not show the true Jesus, and they are being used again today to confuse people about Christianity. 

MARY MAGDALENE 

The DaVinci Code claims that Mary Magdalene was hated by the Church, and was therefore thwarted in her mission to begin a different religion to honor the “sacred feminine”. In fact, the book proposes that we should abandon Christianity and adopt a more pagan worship of the creature rather than the Creator.

But it is hard to say that Mary Magdalene is hated by the Church if she is honored as a saint. She has her own feast day. She has inspired devotion throughout the centuries. She is mentioned in the Gospels as the first person to see the risen Christ. She is sent to tell the apostles about the resurrection. She has a prominent place. She is not hated.

WAS JESUS MARRIED?

Although he has no real evidence, Brown concludes that Jesus must have been married because Jews and Jewish rabbis had the custom of always marrying.

A real Scripture scholar would be able to name several men in the Bible who did not marry in order to dedicate themselves to God: Jeremiah, John the Baptist, St. Paul. A Scripture scholar would also tell you that around the time of Jesus there was a Jewish group called the Essenes whose members did not get married. Celibacy (not getting married) did exist, and gained more popularity throughout the history of Christianity. 

It is in the example of Christ that a priest takes the solemn promise of celibacy, to be fully dedicated to God’s work and to serving others as he was. 

IS THE CHURCH TRUSTWORTHY?

The DaVinci Code accuses the Catholic Church of being a type of murderous mafia that despises women and sexuality and is only concerned with keeping its power.

It is one thing to accuse a human organization of being corrupt, but in accusing the Church as a whole, Brown is forgetting the millions of martyrs who gave their lives for others, the history of female leaders and saints, and the status given to the sacrament of matrimony. The Church has an amazing history. Becoming familiar with Church history and doctrine can inspire a sense of awe at its greatness, and can be a convincing testimony of God’s hand working within it.

And it is hard to say that the Church despises women if Mary the mother of Jesus has such a strong role in the Church. She is already present in the Gospels. She had to say “yes” in order for Jesus to become a man. She and Mary Magdalene are among the few brave souls that do not abandon Christ when he is captured and condemned to death. She is treated with tremendous veneration by every Christian generation throughout history.

DECODING DA VINCI

The real-life conspiracy of The Da Vinci Code is a plot to challenge Christianity, make some people lose their faith, and confuse many who do not know otherwise. 

For those who can decode it, who can pick out the important details and the inaccurate half-truths, it is a chance to evangelize. It is a chance to start up a conversation around a hot issue and talk about Christ and his Church. It is a chance to educate ourselves so as to educate others. People need to know what the Gospels teach. They need to know about Christ, the real Christ. 

We can start by reading the Gospels. We can continue by reading some of the other resources available. We can be especially effective by trying to be like Christ: both bold and humble, loving yet courageous.

He is here to help us. With him on our side, we have nothing to fear.

Bible Blurbs

“I too have decided, after investigating everything accurately anew, to write it down in an orderly sequence for you, … so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings you have received.” (Luke 1:3-4)
“Mary of Magdala went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and what he told her.” (John 20:18)
“Now I am reminding you, brothers, of the Gospel I preached to you… Through it you are also being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.” (1Corinthians 15: 1-2)
“I am amazed that you are so quickly forsaking the one who called you by the grace of Christ for a different Gospel (not that there is another). But there are some who are disturbing you and wish to pervert the Gospel of Christ. (Galatians 1:6-7) 

Pope Quotes 

“Jesus yes, Church no”, is totally irreconcilable with the intention of Christ. This individualistically chosen Jesus is an imaginary Jesus. We cannot have Jesus without the reality he created and in which he communicates himself. (Pope Benedict XVI, March 15, 2006)

“The Jesus of the Gospels is quite different, demanding, bold. The Jesus who makes everything okay for everyone is a phantom, a dream, not a real figure. The Jesus of the Gospels is certainly not convenient for us. But it is precisely in this way that he answers the deepest question of our existence…” (Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI), On the Way to Jesus Christ, p. 8) 

Catechism Quotes 

“The Church holds firmly that the four Gospels, whose historicity she unhesitatingly affirms, faithfully hand on what Jesus, the Son of God, while he lived among men, really did and taught for their eternal salvation, until the day when he was taken up.” (n. 126) 

“What Christ entrusted to the apostles, they in turn handed on by their preaching and writing, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to all generations, until Christ returns in glory.” (n.96)

Saints and Heros

ST. MARY MAGDALENE: 

Contrary to Dan Brown’s claims that she is despised, Mary Magdalene is honored as a saint. Her feast day is celebrated on July 22. She was healed of seven demons by Christ, and stayed close to Christ during his crucifixion, when almost all the apostles abandoned him. She was the first one to see Jesus after he rose from the dead and was then sent to tell the the apostles. Tradition has it that she lived with Mary, Jesus’ mother, in Ephesus until she died. Centuries later her relics (her bones) were apparently brought to France. 

ST. PETER CANISIUS: 

(1521-1597) St. Peter lived in a time of controversy. He helped bring back much of southern Germany to Roman Catholicism after the spread of Protestantism He was born into an important family in Holland. While he was doing university studies in Belgium he went on a retreat directed by St. Peter Fabre, a Jesuit priest, and decided to become a Jesuit himself. He gave everything to the poor and dedicated himself totally to his vocation. During his lifetime he traveled constantly, preached many retreats, founded Catholic schools and colleges, participated in many debates with Protestants, and wrote a very large number of books. His most influential book was a Catechism which was very highly read and was reprinted numerous times. He is often called “the Second Apostle of Germany.” He was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1925.

Vocabulary:

Celibacy – Not having sexual relations; usually done in order to dedicate oneself more completely to God and others

Clarify – Make more clear and explicit

Devotion – Reliance on or invocation of a saint or holy person

Doctrine – Official teaching

Educate – Teach; instruct; develop the knowledge

Evangelize – To teach and spread the good news of Christ to others.

Heretical – Religious teaching that is incorrect or opposed to Church doctrine

Hoax – Deceit, deception, lie

Honesty – Speaking and acting in the truth

Hypothetical – Only in theory; make-believe

Matrimony – Marriage; sacrament in which a man and a woman give themselves to each other out of love.

Pagan – Non-Christian; ungodly 

“Sacred feminine” – Worship of women as goddesses 

Discussion Questions

1. Where would you fi nd sources of fact, fi ction, or something in between? How do you know, for example, if something you read on the internet is fact or fi ction?

a. First we need to ask ourselves if the author/source is claiming to be fact or fi ction. In the case of the book the Da Vinci Code, you will fi nd the book in the “fi ction” section of libraries and books—although on one of the 1st pages of the book, Dan Brown presents a “facts” page, which itself has untruths. The devil can take a kernel of truth and spin/manipulate it as a tool of deception.

b. As for how do we know if something we read- whether it be on the internet, newspaper, etc. is actually true and not a slanted version/half truth, here are several tools to decipher a writing’s credibility:

i. Is it a trustworthy source? If you don’t know for sure yourself, ask someone who you trust and who has in depth knowledge on the topic

ii. Cross check the information with other reliable sources

iii. If possible, go to original docu ments/sources (in this case the Bible and Catechism, for example) to fi nd the raw data, or original material-not someone else’s reporting/interpreta tion of the material iv. Don’t assume just because you read something, that it is true.

2. How can you say that Jesus is really God?

• a. He did miracles
• b. He taught with authority. He claimed to be God.
• c. He forgave sins, which only God can do.
• d. He was totally unselfi sh, dying for us on a cross
• e. He was holy, not committing any sin f. Death could not defeat him. He rose from the dead. He has power over life and death, which only God has.

3. How do we know that we can trust the Scriptures?

• a. Because God guarantees their truthfulness through the Church
• b. Because the Gospels are honest about the failings of the apostles.
• c. Because the teachings of the Bible, especially the New Testament, help to make us the best human beings possible: more compassionate, unselfish, holy, courageous, centered on God and the important things, generous, etc.

4. What kind of a person was Mary Magdalene, and what kind of relationship did she have to Christ?

a. Mary Magdalene was cured of seven demons by Christ. After that she followed him wherever he went. (Luke 8: 1-3) She was constantly learning from Christ and she was faithful to him even when he was abandoned by the others. (Matthew 27: 55-61; Mark 14: 40-47; Luke 23: 49-56)

b. Some saints thought she might have been the same woman in the Gospels who was caught in adultery (John 8:1-11) or who cleansed Jesus´ feet with her tears. (Luke 7:36-50) Some thought she might also be Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Martha.(Luke 10:38-42) This is possible, but the Gospels don’t explicitly say these women were Mary Magdalene, so one is free to think either way. The Christian tradition from the Middle East and from the Orthodox Church does not identify her with the adulteress or the woman who cleansed his feet with her tears. 

c. Mary Magdalene is called “the apostle to the apostles.” She was given the task of telling the apostles about Christ’s resurrection before the apostles actually saw the risen Jesus.(Matthew 28:1-10; Mark 16:1-11; Luke 24:1-11; John 20:1-18)

d. Her relationship with Christ was one of faith. She believed in him. She loved him in a spiritual way, not a physical way, since she understood that he was holy, the Son of God.

5. How can we really say that Jesus was not married?

a. Because he was totally dedicated to his Father and to the spiritual good of souls.

b. He taught clearly that some people can choose to remain celibate for the sake of God and for dedicating all their heart and soul to save souls. It is clear by his lifestyle that he chose this.

c. If he were married, the Gospels would have said this. They tell about the other people who were close and important to him. They never talk about a spouse because his spouse was the Church.

d. He needed to be totally open to everyone, so he did not have an exclusive relationship.

6. How do we know that the Church is trustworthy?

a. Because so many martyrs have given their blood to defend the truth she teaches.

b. Because so many saints have given such tremendous examples of charity and holiness

c. Because the Church has not been afraid to proclaim the truth even when this has brought her misunderstandings and persecutions.

d. Because the Church has preserved its doctrine down through the centuries without changing.

JOURNAL WRITING:

1. Nobody likes to be lied to and to be seen as gullible. Describe a time when someone took advantage of your ignorance, and how you felt afterwards. Or, describe a time when a movie you saw affected your life and the way you thought about things.

2. Imagine that you are in the Gospel scene with Jesus when he asks his Apostles “Who do you say that I am?” Write about who Jesus is for you. Do you know the real person of Jesus? Write at least one way you can get to know him better.

ACTIVITIES:

1. Plan a movie night as an alternative to The DaVinci Code. Take a group of friends to see another movie, and go out for pizza to discuss it. (Over the Hedge is a good one).

2. Put together a classroom special reserve collection of books in the school library related to these topics: Constantine, the Council of Nicea, Lives of the Saints (with Mary Magdalene, etc.) Offer extra credit for the students who read one of these books and present a short summary report to the class.

3. Invite a visiting speaker to the class to bring a copy of Leonardo DaVinci’s painting of “The Last Supper” and to talk about the artistic significance of it. Or, have someone bring the painting in, and present the facts from the USCCB website (below) about the artist and his intentions behind the painting.

4. Establish a weekly time in which students can ask questions about the faith and receive answers. Encourage the students to bring up the questions that others may have asked them, even if they think that they gave a sufficient response, so that the rest of the class can benefit from knowing the answers. The teacher can invite a guest speaker or the pastor to answer the questions, or correspond by email to other scholars if necessary.

FURTHER FORMATION

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church 

126 “We can distinguish three stages in the formation of the Gospels: 

1. The life and teaching of Jesus. the Church holds firmly that the four Gospels, “whose historicity she unhesitatingly affirms, faithfully hand on what Jesus, the Son of God, while he lived among men, really did and taught for their eternal salvation, until the day when he was taken up.”99 

2. The oral tradition. “For, after the ascension of the Lord, the apostles handed on to their hearers what he had said and done, but with that fuller understanding which they, instructed by the glorious events of Christ and enlightened by the Spirit of truth, now enjoyed.”100 

3. The written Gospels. “The sacred authors, in writing the four Gospels, selected certain of the many elements which had been handed on, either orally or already in written form; others they synthesized or explained with an eye to the situation of the churches, the while sustaining the form of preaching, but always in such a fashion that they have told us the honest truth about Jesus.”101 

RESOURCES:

• Amy Welborn, 

- De-Coding Da Vinci: The Facts Behind the Fiction of the Da Vinci Code 

- De-Coding Mary Magdalene: Truth, Legend and Lies, 

- The Da Vinci Code Mysteries: What the Movie Doesn’t Tell You

all from Our Sunday Visitor Publications.

• Steven Kellmeyer, Fact and Fiction in the Da Vinci Code, Bridegroom Press

• Carl Olson and Sandra Miesel, The Da Vinci Hoax, Ignatius Press

• Mark Shea and Ted Sri, The Da Vinci Deception: 100 Questions About the Facts and Fiction of The Da Vinci Code, Ascension Press. (www.DavinciAntidote.com) 

• www.JesusDecoded.com (USCCB website about the book and movie)

We like to think that we are really grown up when we can do our own thing. Jesus Christ challenges that assumption. Obedience to God is where the real power lies. It is a different kind of power: the power to set men free.

“By his loving obedience to the Father, ‘unto death, even death on a cross’ (Phil 2:8), Jesus fulfils the atoning mission (cf. Is 53:10) of the suffering Servant, who will ‘make many righteous’; ‘and he shall bear their iniquities’ (Is 53:11; cf. Rom 5:19)”

Obedience is not easy for us. It wasn’t for Christ as a man either. In Mel Gibson’s film, “The Passion of the Christ”, there are many moments in which Christ’s obedience to the Father stands out. Let’s talk about three especially powerful ones.

Agony in Gethsemani
“Let this cup pass… not my will but Thy will be done.” (Lk 22:39-42)

The Gospel of Luke gives a detailed account of the Agony. In the dark, Jesus has his battle about the apparent futility of the Passion.

First, what he is about to undergo seems useless because it is a suffering that human nature automatically rejects; for no one likes the idea of pain. Christ knows he is about to go through the worst type of pain that man can dream up for another man.

Second, Christ’s agony is increased because he realizes that his sacrifice would not work for some souls- those who refuse to obey God and their conscience.

Finally, the gratuitous nature of the Passion makes it seem senseless. It could have happened in another form. However, God wanted to show His love for us in this extreme fashion and wanted Christ to give us the maximum example of obedience: “unto death, death on a Cross” (Flp 2:8).

Back in the beginning of his public ministry, Jesus had been tempted by the devil in the desert. (Lk 4: 13). Jesus had been victorious over the devil in the desert, and the Gospel says that the devil had “departed from him until an opportune time”. That opportune time is now, when Jesus is to make His final decision to obey the Father to the last consequences.

That decision was made in prayer, as must our decisions. Here we find our Lord giving the perfect example of how to live our lives. Prayer is not a superfluous addition. Prayer is essential to human existence because we are creatures of God, in need of Him. We are not doing God a favor when we pray, but we are receiving heavenly favors from Him when we pray. This is called grace.

There was certainly the temptation of the devil for Jesus to abandon the idea of the Cross and obedience. The movie shows this very well. Jesus overcomes the devil again because He will obey God the Father. The devil always goes for disobedience.

The Scourging
“Father, my heart is ready” (Cf. Mt 27:26; Mk 15:15; Lk 23:16; Jn 19:1).

There are many moments to comment in this moving scene. First, Jesus does not resist when they fasten Him to the pillar. He is not fighting against the Passion, because of His love for us. He willingly accepts suffering to save us from eternal condemnation. He doesn’t scream and kick, or cause a scandal while they literally rip Him apart with their diabolical instruments of torture. It is horrible what my sins have done to Jesus.

There is an especially moving moment which meaningfully demonstrates Christ’s obedience. After the first round of bruising that they give Him with their switches, Jesus falls to the floor. That is the way the body reacts. When they relent from that onslaught, He realizes He is down and lifts Himself back up. “Father, my heart is ready”, He says. Jesus knows that this is the ransom for sin, and He is no sissy. Christ’s love for us is incalculable. “Why, one will hardly die for a righteous man — though perhaps for a good man one will dare even to die. But God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us” (Rom 5: 7-8). Loving obedience and obedience for love, that is the mystery of the Christ’s passion and death.

Christ’s death on the cross
“Father into Thy hands I commend My Spirit. (Lk 23:46).

Some perhaps surrealistic happenings during the crucifixion and death of Jesus are depicted in “The Passion”. These are the attempts of an artist to show that all of creation was trembling due to the fact that God, the Author of life itself coming as Man, was being put to death by men. Though this happened in a specific place in the world, it was the sins of all of us that crucified Jesus.

The devil was thinking (his mind so obscured by pride), that this was finally the moment of his victory over Jesus and God. What a dreamer! Jesus, through His humility and obedience was willfully winning our redemption.

Jesus knew he was winning, even though winning meant living all the pain and loneliness that man feels in his soul when he sins. For this reason Christ quoted Scripture from that excruciating position: “My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me” (PS 22)? Then to fulfill the Scripture said: “I thirst”. He is obeying the Father, even through what was written about Him in the ancient Scriptures (because inspired by God) was horrible and full of pain! Jesus is able to recognize God’s will wherever it may come from.

Then He finally says the words the audience is awaiting Him to say: “Father into Thy hands I commend My Spirit.” By that time the tension is overwhelming. When will this torture finish? You feel it is not soon enough; too weighty the expectation.

Jesus wanted it that way. He does not measure out grudgingly his love for us and for the Father. He is not petty but magnanimous, because that is not the way his Father is. Jesus shows the depth of true love. No fair mixing in egotism or personal pleasures. Love is obedient and long-suffering. There is no valid substitute. Either it goes all the way to giving one’s whole life, or it is not true love. Small pieces of the heart will never pump life-supplying blood.

Definitions
Obedience- the virtue of submitting our will to the will of God.

Humility- the moral virtue that restrains the unruly desire for personal greatness. Humility leads us to an orderly love of self based on a true appreciation of our position with respect to God and neighbors; the virtue of being without pride.

Discussion Questions
Do you think that God’s way of saving us (the Passion, death, and resurrection of Christ) makes God still seem distant and uncaring about man? What do you think this way of saving us shows about how much man is worth to God?

Do you think that God wants to force us to love and obey him? Does the Passion of Christ force us to love God? How does it help us to love and obey God?

In what other moments of Christ’s life can we see His obedience? Why is obedience important in the role of the Redeemer?

As a Christian, to whom should I be obedient? God? Our parents? Teachers? Boss? Husband?

Like Jesus, are my decisions made in prayer?

Personal Reflections/Writing
1. What specific incidents in my life have I been disobedient? Is there a pattern in these? Was it pride that kept me from being obedient? What concrete things can I do to root out my pride?

2. Write a page about the Christian virtue of obedience. Be sure to include some Scripture passages. Cite example of saints living out obedience.

Resolution Idea
Mediate on one of the Bible passages below. How does it speak to me and my life?

Biblical texts on obedience (see a concordance) essential passages: 1Sam 15:22; Jn 5:19; 8:29; Rm 5:19, Flp 2:8; Heb 5:8; 10:6.

After seeing Christ’s self-giving love in the movie “The Passion”, we are compelled to ask how do we individually define love, and what is our society’s view of love?  Love is a word whose meaning has been spun so weirdly in our time that it has in many ways lost connection with the divine meaning. In 21st century America, loving someone means making them feel good, emotionally or physically. Feel good, but don’t bind. The fundamental idea of love binding a man and woman together for life is difficult work, so in a culture that promotes self-gratification, we have chosen to cast it aside.

We’ve broken it not because love is wrong, but because there is something we value more than love- our personal freedom. Freedom has become our absolute good, the highest value humanity strives after. If love binds one person to another, it limits personal freedom. See the quandary?

Everyone knows Jesus is all about love, but all he does in “The Passion” is suffer. In the Garden of Gethsemane, his anxiety and fear press him so intensely that he sweats blood. Is that loving? Lashed by the whip, his flesh ripped by the torturer’s cruel instruments, Christ sags to his knees, blood spattering the pavement. Stupidly, insanely, he struggles to stand, and freely chooses to do so-is that loving? The two torture specialists are driven demonic by this display of courage and nobility, and they unleash all the fury their brawny muscles and metal-tipped leather can inflict. How does this brutality relate to love?

Freedom fulfilled through love

Pope John Paul II teaches that freedom is not greater than love, but rather freedom is fulfilled in self-giving love. Freedom is not man’s absolute goal, love is. Freedom without love is useless, like so many wheels free to roll anywhere; the wheels are useless without a vehicle to harness them-love is that vehicle. Love is far greater then freedom, for a person can be happy without freedom as long as he loves.

Freedom intensifies love, proves it genuine. That is where suffering plugs in. Because genuine love must be freely given, love’s intensity is seen by the amount of suffering it bears-because everyone hates suffering and strives to avoid it. So if a person freely chooses to suffer for someone else, for love, then that love is great. Suffering is a thermometer, which shows love’s temperature, the degree of its reality.

That is why watching “The Passion” moves us to admire and love Jesus Christ. He chose freely to undergo his unfathomable suffering, which forever marks the zenith both of a man’s love for other men, and God’s love for man. This is a love that is best defined as self-giving, as St Paul writes: “He poured himself out for us.” Viewed from the perspective that Christ’s Passion affords, our understanding of love and freedom changes radically. Instead of love giving me something like enjoyment and fulfillment, I look to give of myself, to bring fulfillment and joy to others by serving them, even if in serving others I endure suffering.

Love transforms

Revolutionary- that is Christ’s love. It ignites, breaks up and shakes up our lives. Look at the individuals who were touched by Christ’s love-they all bought a share in suffering, and discovered love. Pilate’s wife Claudia could not prevent Jesus’ scourging; the only thing she can do is offer Mary linen cloths with which to wipe her son’s blood from the pavement. Her sharing in Mary’s own agony upon watching her son flayed alive, opens her to an act of love, offering her friendship to Mary through a humble gesture. Simon of Cyrene’s sharing in carrying the cross opens him to understand the self-giving nature of Jesus’ sacrifice. Simon will not be crucified, is not beaten, but his closeness to Jesus Christ while carrying the cross reveals to him Jesus’ patience, humility and overpowering love for the very men who kill him. Simon’s world is blown to bits, for instead of avoiding suffering, he wants to take it on in order to protect this man Jesus whom he has not known but has experienced.

Freedom’s purpose is revealed in love motivating us to serve others.  Suffering intensifies and purifies love, makes it genuine, real, solid. And the ultimate experience of love IS Jesus Christ, but he is a challenge, the rock against whom the waves of every generation crash and are divided: some follow Christ along the path of self-giving love, others reject Him in the hopes of discovering a self-fulfilling love.  The reality of the resurrection shows us that if we choose Christ’s path of self-giving love, then we will find true peace and everlasting life.

Virtue Verification:

Freedom – the power, rooted in will and reason, to perform (or not) deliberate actions on one’s own responsibility.
Love – the theological virtue by which we love God above all else for his sake, and other people as ourselves for love of God.
Suffering – experience of pain, distress, injury. Suffering with Christ is sharing in his redemptive sacrifice of crucifixion.

Discussion Questions

1. One person commented after seeing the movie, “I forgot. I forgot how much Christ loves me- individually, so much so that He suffered immensely to save me.”
   Did seeing the movie change your perspective on Christ’s suffering for your salvation, and the degree to which Christ loves you?
2. What can we do on a daily basis to remember Christ’s sacrifice for us and his love for us? (Potential discussion tips: contemplate Christ’s suffering in daily prayer, especially through the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary; make a point of remembering Christ’s suffering for us every time we have an opportunity to give of ourselves for another person.)
3. What does the popular culture teach us about love?  Let’s discuss specific things that  we can do in our daily lives to counter these images within our families, schools, and places of work.

Personal Reflections/Writing

1. Consider a time in our lives when someone else freely chose to sacrifice to help us.  How did this act of self-giving love affect us?
2. When suffering is imposed upon us, how do we approach our cross?   Do we run away from the cross?  Do we remember how Jesus accepted the cross?   Do we pick up the cross, and if so, do we do it joyfully? Do we run toward the cross?

Resolution Ideas

1. The next time we have an opportunity to serve someone in a way that involves true sacrifice, we will choose to do so with a joyful heart, remembering that it is an opportunity to imitate Christ’s self-giving love.
2. The next time suffering is imposed upon us, we will choose to accept our suffering with a joyful heart, embracing it is an opportunity to freely offer our suffering in self-giving love for the redemption of other’s sins.

The passion of Christ – both the historical event and Mel Gibson’s film – begins with the Agony in the Garden. In the film, the devil is watching Christ as he prays, agonizing over the indescribable suffering he is about to undergo to redeem humanity. From beneath the devil’s foot emerges a snake that slithers over to Christ, who is shedding tears and sweating blood. He seems not to take note of the serpent until it is directly beneath him; he then stands and crushes the serpent’s head under his foot.

The crushing of the serpent’s head is but one way Christ conquers evil. For a better understanding of this mystery and the hope it gives us, let’s take a look at some of the manifestations of evil in “The Passion of the Christ” and what the characters’ interaction with evil shows us about temptation, sin, death, and salvation.

Overcoming Temptation

The snake as a symbol tells much about temptation and evil. It is low, sneaky, and deadly, lurking in shadows until it is time to strike. It does not roar, but hisses; temptation – especially a first temptation to violate one’s innocence – is not a loud cry in the open but a whisper in the shadows. If we let it, it can wrap around us, making escape all but impossible, strangling us and cutting off feeling. To be the captive of the tempter is to dull one’s senses, particularly the moral sense, one’s conscience.

So how does Christ deal with the tempter? He crushes it underfoot. He allows it to come just close enough so he can kill it. Throughout the ages, the Church’s symbolic language has assured us that Christ is not alone in this victory: his Blessed Mother in painting and sculpture is almost always portrayed with a serpent underfoot. The sinless Virgin Mary is party to her Son’s conquest over temptation and death.

These symbols are fruit for prayerful meditation: What temptations slither in our lives? Do we try to resist temptation on our own? Or do we invite Christ into our lives, asking Him for courage and resolve, with confidence in his victory over evil?

Maintaining hope amidst suffering

Another striking manifestation of evil comes as Judas Iscariot faces what he has done. He betrays Christ with a kiss but soon suffers deep regret. He tries to give back the thirty pieces of silver and have Jesus freed, but it is too late; he cannot change the course of destruction that he has set in motion. Overwhelmed by his sin and lacking faith and hope in the mercy of God, Judas decides the only way to free himself is by suicide.

From one point of view, Jesus and Judas end up the same way: hanging dead on an old tree. But Judas died at his own hand because he had no hope. He had betrayed his Lord and left himself with nothing but anguish, regret, and despair. The despair is key, because it signifies the total absence of hope.

Christ, on the other hand, suffers an even worse death than Judas except for this: he never loses hope. He is hope. He, God, has decided to accept a brutal death as a way to change forever the meaning of suffering and even death. By offering His suffering as payment for our sins, Christ turns suffering into a means of salvation. By rising from the dead Christ defeats the most radical of all evil — death itself.  This radical transformation renders the devil’s work meaninglessness if we will but “believe, take up the cross and follow” Christ by uniting our suffering with the suffering of Christ.

In our lives, let us resolve to unite our suffering with the suffering of Christ, for the redemption of our own sins and the sins of the world.  And during those times when it appears there is no hope, we can remember to place our hope, our confidence in Christ’s resurrection and His victory over evil.

Confronting cruelty with forgiveness

Another manifestation of evil in “The Passion” is the laughing cruelty of Christ’s torturers. In the face of evil imposed by others, Christ calls on us to ” forgive them, they know not what they are doing” (Luke 23:24). Christ is truly the king of mercy.  The Passion teaches us that if Christ can forgive others whom have inflicted horrible pain on him, can’t we forgive those that hurt us?

Confronting cruelty with humility

The mob’s calling for Christ’s death is another manifestation of evil.  Jesus had all of the power of heaven and earth to stop the madness of the crowd, yet humbly chose to follow the Father’s will.  His silence, his resolve to bear the cross, is the ultimate act of humility: God-made-man choosing to suffer the most despicable of deaths.

How often in our lives do we become “part of the mob” out of peer pressure and the desire to be accepted by a group, by saying or doing hurtful things to others?  And when we are the victims of hurtful comments and actions, do we imitate Christ by “forgiving those whom have trespassed against us” and by approaching difficult situations with humility?

Evil will always exist in our fallen world. Christ is the model for how we as Christians should confront evil with hope in the resurrection, forgiveness towards others that hurt us, and humility in obeying God’s will.

Virtues Highlighted

Faith- the theological virtue by which we believe in God all that He has revealed to us, and that the Holy Church proposes for our belief, because he is truth itself.

Hope- the theological virtue by which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness, placing our trust in Christ’s promises and relying not on our own strength, but on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit.

Humility-the moral virtue that restrains the unruly desire for personal greatness. Humility leads us to an orderly love of self-based on a true appreciation of our position with respect to God and neighbors.

Prayer: Christ, as we face temptation and evil in our own lives, may our faith and hope in the resurrection lead us to resist temptation and evil as You did.

Discussion Questions

1. Mel Gibson said in an EWTN interview: “That’s how the devil is, to me….It’s frightening that it can be deception itself  — that it takes the form of something harmless, but there is a ravenous beast underneath.”

Discuss the status of our culture today:

What temptations does our culture promote, which may at first appear harmless, but in reality cause great damage? Consider TV shows, movies, music, magazines, internet usage, our dress, and our activities.

What are the virtues that we can focus on to resist some of these temptations?

Personal Reflection/Writing

1.  Have there been times in our lives where we were part of a “mob psychology” in just going along with the crowd, not standing up for what we know is right?

What was the root cause of our going along with the crowd? Fear? Wanting to be accepted? Lack of moral courage to be counter cultural?

Was it out of laziness?

2. What situations in my life am I most vulnerable to this type of temptation? Standing up for a person? Standing up for a belief? Standing up to defend my faith?  What virtues can I work on to rid myself of this weakness?

3. Christ deals with the tempter by crushing it underfoot.  What temptations slither near my foot?  Do I crush them or let them take control? At these times of temptation, is my immediate response one of asking for God’s help and looking to Christ my inspiration and hope in resisting the temptation?

4.  When I fall to temptation, am I truly sorry for my sin and do I humbly seek God’s mercy?

Resolution Ideas

Make a nightly examination of conscience considering each day what specific temptations you faced, and whether you were successful in resisting them.

Make a commitment to identify someone who has harmed you in some way and forgive them, both in your heart and through a personal approach.

The next time we face a difficult situation, pray for the virtue of hope, contemplating the reality that by uniting our suffering with Christ, our suffering has redemptive value.

Resolve to go to confession on a more regular basis.

A product of the Roman military, Pilate is a “results-oriented” ruler who finds himself in a most uncomfortable situation; he must determine Christ’s fate.

Should he give the enemies of Christ the blood they desire?  Should he stand up for the rights of an innocent man?  A pragmatic man to whom everything is relative, he simply does not know.  His political skills face a moral dilemma and come up wanting.

For Pilate, the ends justify the means.  He wants to keep peace, to prevent civil unrest.  In his final analysis, the death of an innocent man is an acceptable price to achieve his goal.

Are there Pilates in our own time?

The film compels us to ask whether there are Pilates in our world today.  We have all seen and heard politicians say and do just about anything in the hope of getting votes.  In the 2004 election cycle, some candidates have openly stated that their views will reflect the wishes of the majority, even if those wishes run counter to their personal moral or religious beliefs.  Like Pilate, they hope to give the people what they want.

Corporate executives face the pressure of meeting shareholder expectations, and face the personal temptation of throwing out ethics to maximize personal financial gain.  Some  have given into these pressures and temptations by misstating  financial statements, and in some cases eliminating jobs with little consideration for the value and dignity every person deserves.

A little Pilate in all of us?

In the movie, Pilate is torn.  He thinks Jesus is innocent.  His wife, Claudia, tells him that Jesus is a holy man and should not be punished.  Jesus has many supporters, who will be angry if he is harmed.  On the other hand, the church leaders want Jesus to be crucified; if they are not placated, Pilate might have a revolt on his hands.  And a revolt would displease Pilate’s boss, Tiberius.  How often in our lives do we place strategic objectives such as power, money, or even the desire to be popular ahead of truth and doing what is morally correct?

The Roman Governor doesn’t turn to the law or a moral code of right or wrong to help him.  He sits and hangs his head, asking “what is truth?”  He hasn’t a clue.

Pilate truly is between a rock and a hard place.  And without a sense of truth, he tries everything he can think of to weasel out of a decision.  He sends Christ to Herod; Herod sends him back.  He scourges him; the crowd asks for more.  He offers to release him; the crowd wants Barabbas freed.  In our lives do we at times place too much importance on pleasing others, instead of focusing on the truth and doing what is morally correct?

Pilate washes his hands, literally, of the affair.  But he looks to be a broken man.  Deep within, he knows that he cannot escape his part in Jesus’ fate.  Washing his hands will not bring him peace, will not erase the pain he feels, will not bring him closer to the definition of truth.

He feels the emptiness we all feel when we make a decision without relying on the truth,  without determining what is right and sticking with it.  Like Pilate, we can decide to make a decision that seems to maintain the peace.  But if it isn’t based on the truth, can it really give us peace in the long run?

Definition:

Truth— John 18: 37  “For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth.  Every one who is of the truth hears my voice.

THE SPLENDOR OF TRUTH shines forth in the works of the Creator and, in a special way, in man, created in the image and likeness of God  (cf. Gen 1:26). Truth enlightens man’s intelligence and shapes his freedom, leading him to know and love the Lord. Hence the Psalmist prays: “Let the light of your face shine on us, O Lord”  (Ps 4:6). – Veritatis Splendor

Discussion Questions

1. Pilate believes Christ is innocent, but still allows him to be tortured and killed.  Why didn’t he release him?
2. Pilate tried to satisfy everyone.  Did he satisfy anyone?
3. Pilate asks, “What is truth?”  What does this suggest about his decision-making process?
4. We have witnessed major business scandals in the past several years and business schools are increasingly concerned with teaching ethics.  Are there parallels between Pilate and modern corporate executives who have become embroiled in financial scandal?
5. At times we all find ourselves between “a rock and a hard place”.  Let’s discuss hypothetical and real-life scenarios where doing the right thing may be unpopular.

Personal Reflections/Writing

Pilate joins a very select group of named personages in the Nicene Creed:  The Father, the Holy Spirit, Christ, Mary – and Pontius Pilate.  “For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate.”  He was one man, but was he in some ways a proxy for all men?  Think about Pilate’s dilemma and how it led to his infamous role in history.

Review times in your life when you made a decision just to keep people happy.

Did it work out?

Would it have been better to simply play it straight?

What choice were you confronted with?

What was the motivation behind your decision?   What were the ethical dimensions of the choice? (why each option is right or wrong)

Resolution Ideas

I will meditate on an area of my life in which I have acted like Pilate, and take a concrete measure to correct this weakness.

There are numerous university websites that offer articles and case studies on business ethics.  A reading of the history around cases such as Enron can give insight to the ultimate results of executives not acting morally.

Do a biographical sketch on Pilate and what happened to him after his encounter with Christ.

Resource Links

For biographical information about Pontius Pilate www.newadvent.org/cathen/12083c.htm

Business Ethics magazine’s site has numerous articles:  www.business-ethics.com/

Loyola Marymount University’s Center for Ethics and Business has a wealth of information about business ethics:  www.ethicsandbusiness.org/

For the history and text of the Nicene Creed:  www.newadvent.org/cathen/11049a.htm