A few months ago a few million other people and I watched Mel Gibson's "the Passion of Christ". Why would I, a pacifist, (Yes, I am; really) do such a thing? I think I was dragged along. I knew that I would spend the greater part of that film with my eyes, ears and teeth clamped shut. (I'll show you how that is done sometime if you like.) Later on, one of our "Lovely" Christian ladies and I were comparing notes on the film and she said she had been just as moved by the written gospel accounts. I agreed. I did not see the bits of bone and metal rip into my Saviors back until the blood flowed down His legs. I did not see the flail expose his bones or catch on His eyelids. But in my minds eye I saw all that and felt the deep sorrow of knowing that my sins were the cause of His suffering. If there is a sequel to this film I hope they call it "RESURRECTION!"

I expected the film to have much Catholic tradition and it was so. But I wish the writers had shown more positive parts of this great Biblical account. Positive? How so? Well, for instance, where was that "angel who appeared from Heaven strengthening Him"? (Mt.22: 43) We in the cinema only saw that strange Sinead O'Connor looking creature with a worm crawling out of his/(her?) nose, taunting the Savior, enjoying His tears of agony. In fact, the only part we film-goers saw of the Father's involvement in "the Passion" was a gigantic tear falling from heaven as Jesus took His last breath. Indeed Jesus own words in the gospel account were "Eloi, Eloi, Lama Sabachthani? that is, My God, My God why hast thou forsaken me?" (Mt.. 27:46)

How do you suppose Jesus came up with that fortitude to go through this great pain and agony? Especially since He was enduring this as a man who feels all things as we do. I would suggest that Jesus knew the resurrection. Many people at that time had seen Jesus lift Lazarus and others from their grave or deathbed. Jesus believed in it (In. 2: 19 and 5:28-29); the prophets spoke of it (Ps. 16:8-10). Jesus taught it, lived it and He died with the full assurance that both He and His followers would experience it. Grand thought! We shall rise to be with Him; we who have fallen asleep in Jesus! (I Thess. 4:14)

In some Eastern religions the teaching is that each person lives his life with the hope of reincarnation. You might at one time be born as a simple creature - say a mosquito. Each time you die, if you have lived a good life, you are raised up again as a higher life form until you are raised in your final 9th life in a state of Nirvana. This is definitely NOT based on the word of God! What a blessing that the Christian has he only has to enter this world once, obey the word of God, be baptized, live for God. Then when that terrible sting of death is over the Christian has the promise of a resurrection in a new body. A body that will never feel pain again. We may confidently say with the apostle Paul "0 death, where is your victory? 0 death, where is your sting." And "thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (I Cor. 15:50-57)

We have so much to hope for, so much to live for. Did you ever hear older Christians echo Paul's voice "to live is Christ, to die is gain" (Phil. 1:21) i.e. "I want to go HOME"! The resurrection of Jesus tells us, we will never be alone suffering death in agony as the hopeless do. The last words my husband said to that great Warrior, Lanning Courtney included these: "God is good". "YES" came back Lanning's strong voice "God is good!"

"not Patti"