Les Miserables

[Valjean (Hugh Jackman) was caught stealing, which if it the law finds out he will be sent back to prison for good, possibly even executed. Valjean was sheltered by the Monsignor the night before.]

This is a very moving scene, and is to have repercussions for the entire film.  Why is that this scene is so important?  This is the scene where the Monsignor "has bought his soul for God."  It is this act of saying that he was not a thief, and going so far as to give him even more silver.  It is this complete act of surrender that unnerves Valjean.  This man has only to say one word and then it was the end for Valjean.  

It is a true act of charity on behalf of the Monsignor.  What value is a gift if it costs us nothing?  Pope Francis has told us as much that true charity, true love costs something.  We must die to ourselves for the sake of the other.   It is in caring for those placed in our path that we love the Lord.  Often times people wonder how they are to serve God, here is your answer.  Love those who come to your path.  Show them love, mercy, compassion.  

I assure you this is no easy task.  Just watch the faces of the women when the Monsignor goes to give him the candlesticks too.  They are horrified, that the Monsignor is going to give Valjean more silver after he had already made the choice and robbed them the night before.  People are scandalized by this complete and utter abandon for the Lord.  It is the Monsignor's job to shepherd souls and try to bring them to the Lord, as is all our jobs as Christians, and this man does it heroically.  May we find the courage to have this type of love for those that God places in our path this day, and tomorrow. 

Jurassic Park

[John Hammond (man in white) has created dinosaurs and is trying to get the dinosaur experts to sign-off on it, and he is in for a rude awakening.]

Even though we are talking about a hypothetical situation, it brings up a very good point that our society often forgets.  There is a difference between knowledge and wisdom.  Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) talks about how John did not take the time to think about whether or not he should do an action.  Often in our world we think about one aspect of a choice, the pleasure of the experience, and disregard the other factors surrounding the choice.  When we look at making choices like this we end up with consequences we are not prepared to face, as in the case of this movie with all the loss of life that happens later.  

We can have the knowledge of how to kill somebody, but should we?  The question about knowledge should not really be the point.  It is true humanity that shows forth when wisdom is chosen.  Wisdom to decide what should be done, and what should not.  John Hammond re-created a new species (dinosaurs) who have been extinct for a long time.  The other "dino-experts" are hesitant to say this is a good thing, because they talk about the fact that  there really is no way to foresee the outcome of this new technology.  I think they would be ok with checking this out on a much smaller scale.  It seems that before they even knew what they had they starting creating and moving.  

This is also how some students respond to stress, and homework as well.  Before then even knew what they had accomplished they are on to the next thing, forgetting what they had just learned/done.  I imagine that the scientist behind the scenes helping creating Jurassic Park were doing exactly what Malcolm said. 

Children of Men

[In a world were there have been no children for 18 years, some infertility defect, Theo (Clive Owens) protects a woman who has just given birth.  In this dystopian future there seems almost always battles going on.]

In a world where there have been no babies crying for 18 years this woman miraclously gives birth, and the child survives.  It is horrifying to stop and ponder what if there was no more new life in this world.  We could literally say that the moment that happens is the moment humanity starts dying.  

Now here in the midst of this battle Theo protects Kee(the mother) who is walking out to try and find safety for her and her child.  You can see the transformation in the people as they witness that there is a child.  Some people reach out and try to touch the baby, the new life.  They are so in awe of life.  Where has that gone in our society?  Even the people with guns stop and give pause to recognize the sanctity of new life.  The one military man ordered a cease fire, and everything pauses in their world to give thanks and praise for the new life.  

As often the case, we go from experiencing this euphoric moment and pause in wonder of the world we live in to the daily grind.  At the end of the clip the battle rages on again.  What is it in us that we so quickly forget the joy that we experience that one crystal clear moment.  Here this woman was walking through war, and the baby reminds people that life is sacred, it is precious, and yet the end goes right back to killing, the exact opposite of the sanctity of life. May we pause this day, if only for a moment even as these people did, and give God thanks for the sanctity of life, and that we get to participate in the continuation of life.   

Hitch

[Hitch (Will Smith) had his heart broken earlier in the film by Sara (Eva Mendes), yet until then the were having the best relationship either had ever had. This is Hitch's attempt to get her back.]

Awww, so romantic.  Can you guess why I placed this clip on the blog?  Am I encouraging you to jump onto cars?  Well not necessarily, but it does illustrate a point.  Love is messy, it can be painful, and wonderful.  Through various circumstances earlier in the film Sara and Hitch had broken up.  They both had things that they had done wrong, but in the end it was Hitch who said no, you are worth to much, I'm not going to let you leave.  To love at all is to risk.  This is what Hitch was doing when he jumped on the car, when he went to see Sara.  His analogy at the end about the rock is so adequate to what it feels like when the love is not returned.  It is risky to love, but it is completely worth it.  If we just accept fine as the best we can do then we will never experience the fullness ready for us.  It is this fullness that we are made for.

Now I am not encouraging you to jump on cars, but I am encouraging you to risk something in your love.  If it requires nothing out of you then what you had is not really love.  Love is sacrificial by its very nature.  Christ taught us this on the cross.  This is the pursuit to which God loves us.  He loves us fully, and completely.  He will run after you, jump on cars, anything to hold you in His arms.  Our God is a God of action, romance.  He does not sit idly on the sidelines waiting for your affections, He is seeking after your heart.  The question remains are you open like Sara to being the beloved of your Seeker?  Allow God to love you this day, and shower His kindness and love on you this day. 

The Amazing Spider-man 2

[Harry Osborn (Dane DeHaan) is dying, and has thought that maybe the blood from Spider-man, a superhero might save him.  So he asked his friend Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) to ask Spider-man for him. Peter Parker, who is Spider-man, is really good friends with Harry.] 

The hero is supposed to save people, right? But at what cost?  Spider-man tells Harry that he cannot give him his blood because it could be dangerous.  Peter earlier in the film learned that his blood is special, and that it was this special blood that allowed him to be Spider-man actually.  He knows that if he adds his blood to Harry's with no tests, no background work done that Harry could turn into a monster.   This is a testament to the motto that is popular from the Spider-man comics and the guiding principle of Spider-man, "with great power, comes great responsibility."  Peter has to not only think about his friends interests, but the world at large.  Imagine what would happen if Spider-man was responsible for creating a monster.  He needs time to think about the full implications of what might happen if he gives Harry his blood. 

The second thing we can learn from this clip is the point of being in a wiser seat.  We might look at some issues that are hot button topics, but people cannot see from a clear perspective.  Spider-man is trying to actually care for Harry in this scene.  He loves his friend and wants to help him, but what his friend wants at this time is not what is best for him, or for others possibly.  "To love is to will the good of another." (St. Thomas Aquinas)  It is this fact that Spider-man in good conscience cannot fulfill the desires of Harry.  Sometimes to love somebody means to not given into their wants.  This understanding though is a fine line.   We can become dangerous tyrants if this quality of knowing what is right for others is left unchecked.  This is what any totalitarian regimes do, implementing their world view.  The question though that has to be asked often is what is the world view, is it a good one, and is it actually for the good of mankind. I believe that Peter makes the right decision here, it is sad that through trying to love Harry, he creates an enemy.  You can almost see the pain in Spider-man's mask as he hears the desperation, and hatred he has for Spider-man.  This is a spiritual work of mercy though, "bear wrongs patiently."  

Here is link if you are curious about the rest of the works of mercy. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10198d.htm

Remember the Titans

[Coach Yoast (Will Patton) has been promised that he will be in the football hall of fame as long as he goes along with the people who are "throwing" the game.  Coach Boone (Denzel Washington) was placed as head coach over him earlier in the film.]

Courage.  Courage is the quality that is shown here.  Coach Yoast had been put in an awkward place when Coach Boone was placed over him as head coach earlier in the year.  He had been nominated too for the High School Football Hall of Fame.  It seemed that everything was going fine until the issue of race was brought in.  So the powers that be, white people, stated that if they allow Coach Boone to lose the game that things will go back to the way things were.  

Coach Yoast you can see is debating in his mind what to do, he wants to be in glory, he wants to be in the Hall of Fame.  But he knows that will come with a cost.  Yoast is not happy with the cost, because he knows that a victory won through ill-goten means nothing.  

It takes tremendous courage to go out to the ref during the game and tell him to call the game fair, even if it requires that he goes to jail too.  Yoast is willing to put his name, and his future on the line for the sake of doing the right thing before God, and man.  It takes courage to go against the grain.  This is a great film to show forth that example.  How often do we accept the status quo of society?  They say that greed is good, that there is nothing wrong with gay marriage, or even that conception is perfectly normal and good?  It takes courage to stand up and say that they are wrong.  It is hard to stand up to the bullies in our schools, since that is an issue as well.  Lets take a cue from Coach Yoast, who is teaching us more than football, but teaching us about how to be fully human. 

A Beautiful Mind

[John Nash (Russell Crowe), a brilliant awkward genius, is meeting his girlfriend, Alicia (Jennifer Connelly), for dinner and he is late because of work.]

How often are we in this situation?  The person we love is angry at us because we screwed up again.  The difference here is that John makes up for it by reminding her that he was listening to her, that she is worth the attention, the "love" he has.  

Now take away the awkwardness of his proposal, he brings up a point that the world seems to emphasize often.  John is looking for proof, empirical data, irrefutable data, that points to that they should get married, a long term commitment. Alicia brings up the counter point of how does John know that the universe is infinite?  He says the data points that way, but it is not absolute in the sense that he can put it under a microscope or write a mathematical proof that it does.  It is what is called a reasonably held position.  He is absolute in certainty of this fact.  

The question becomes how certain are we that God is out there? or amongst us?  Can we prove He exists?  No, but the data is there that it is a reasonably held position.  That is the beauty in how God created the world, there is just enough data that it makes sense that we can believe He is there, but not so overwhelming that you have no alternative.  Which brings us to a very important aspect of our lives, choice.  

Alicia tells John that he does not know if she wants to marry him.  And that is the correct understanding, but he had a reasonable hope that she would say yes.  His question involved risk, which is the nature of all relationship because it involves another autonomous being.  We can choose to make that leap of faith, to make that assertion that God is there, and that He loves us, cares for us, or not.  We can remain in the world of only empiricism, but it becomes a very bland, dull world.  It is the risk that makes life worth living.  John Nash later states in the movie that "it is only in the mysterious equations of love that any logical reasons can be found."

The Brother's Bloom

[Penelope (Rachel Weisz) grew up as a recluse because her mother believed her to be sick, which later found out she wasn't really, but then Penelope stayed to take care of her dying mother.]

Penelope brings out a great point about perspective.  Given her childhood and the way she was treated she could have felt cheated, that she had a wasted life, but she didn't.  Why?  Penelope recognizes that you can actually have a meaningful life that it is all a matter of perspective.  Some people would look at her life and say that is was useless, pointless since she spent all day indoors not doing anything of merit.  People might draw the same conclusion about cloistered religious, as I sometimes do.  But why is it that their life is considered wasted, or cheated?  Just because I cannot see the meaning there, does not mean that there is not meaning.  It is a matter of perspective. 

She also brought up the point of telling her own story, which is important, but we must also remember that there is a grander storyteller than ourselves, namely the Creator, God.  It is God that asks us to participate in our own story.  This is the very premise of C.S. Lewis' conception of Heaven and Hell in his book the Great Divorce.  He describes the difference between the two as perspective.  When we, hopefully, get to heaven it has a retroactive effect that all the things in our life, even the bad stuff, have lead us exactly to here.  Hell is retroactive as well, but in the negative.  Our life will have lead us there, and we will come to realize that even the good stuff were sources of pain, bringing us to the reality of hell.  So you see it is matter of perspective.  

Do you like out on your life and see a victim who has been acted upon?  Or do you see a hero, somebody to act?  God made us to be the hero in our own story, not somebody to be cheated, or wasted.  How much time do we waste blabbering on about what we have lost, or how so so acted? "When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, 'Lord, what about him?' Jesus said to him, 'What if I want him to remain until I come?  What concern is it of yours? You follow me.'" (Jn. 21:22)  The only persons actions, and ultimately salvation, we have control over is our own.