Without a sure knowledge of God’s Love for them, mankind may despair and give up hope.
I was watching a movie today and I had an idea of a way of looking at sharing the Gospel message. The movie was “Angel Eyes”, with Jennifer Lopez …. as Sharon Pogue and James Caviezel …. Steven ‘Catch’ Lambert.
The story is about Jim Caviezel’s character being involved in a car accident where he was the driver and his wife and small son died. Jim “Catch” as he is known in the movie has shut out the accident from his mind and is living his life without any concrete knowledge of what happened the day of the accident or his life before then.
He meets Sharon, played by Jennifer Lopez, a Chicago Police Officer. They fall in love with each other. Catch doesn’t share much about his life and Sharon falling in love and wanting to know more about Catch finds out about the accident.
She decides on her own to try to shock him out of his denial of the truth of his life by confronting him with the truth at the cemetery where his wife and son are buried.
Back to my “idea” on whether we should “evangelize”.
Some people watching this movie would think that what she did was the correct thing. Catch was living a good life, yet not a full, vibrant life. He was not living the best life that he could. Sharon could have left him in the “dark”, so to speak, about his former life and what many people would count as his “real” life or “reality”. Yet others would say; “Who is she to just indiscriminately decide that Catch should be brought to the “truth”.
What Sharon did she did out of love of Catch.
In some way this movie demonstrates Christianity and evangelization. It does this by the way the character Sharon brought Catch to the knowledge of the Truth with Love. Catholics become missionaries to bring the “best” life to others. To show those who want to know… “reality”, because the ultimate reality is mankind’s relationship with God.
CCC 843 The Catholic Church recognizes in other religions that search, among shadows and images, for the God who is unknown yet near since he gives life and breath and all things and wants all men to be saved. Thus, the Church considers all goodness and truth found in these religions as “a preparation for the Gospel and given by him who enlightens all men that they may at length have life.”332
844 In their religious behavior, however, men also display the limits and errors that disfigure the image of God in them:
Very often, deceived by the Evil One, men have become vain in their reasonings, and have exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and served the creature rather than the Creator. Or else, living and dying in this world without God, they are exposed to ultimate despair.333
For more on the subject of Christian Evangelization…
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February 4th, 2007 at 7:35 p02
Nice comparison between the two.
Point of contention for me though is when you said “who want to know…”
In the movie he didn’t want to know and the truth in this case could have totally destroyed what little he salvaged of his life. Its been awhile but if I remember the movie right it did, or almost did ruin his life.
It could be the same with religion. Just look what radical Islam does for Muslims. And they arent alone, though they are the most extreme view. I have a friend who keeps trying to “religi-cate” (religion educate ) me so to speak. But he himself admits how lucky I am Not knowing all the “rules” of my religion, because as he says “what i dont know can’t be held against me”. So why the heck would I want to know more? And have all that added responsibility and increase chance of sinning? Knowing all that my friend knows about his religion would ruin my life. I see all the tough decisions he must make that I dont have to. I have to problem teaching a religion to those who want to learn, but they should come and ask.
February 4th, 2007 at 7:35 p02
Is it enough for someone to “know Gods love for them” or do they have to be Catholic
February 4th, 2007 at 7:35 p02
Isn’t J-Lo hot! I love her voice. I could listen to her talk forever
February 4th, 2007 at 7:35 p02
Thank y’all for your comments. I appreciate all contact, that is shared ‘with love’, even if I disagree.
As to #1:
In the case of the movie I personally do not think it almost ruined his life. It certainly ’shook things up’. But there was a ‘happy ending’. I always like happy endings. Life is hard enough.
If your friend told you that you are lucky because you do not know the truth, he doesn’t sound like much of a friend. Perhaps he meant that ignorance makes you less culpable. [culpable - http://tinyurl.com/2rmxl8]
However everyone is responsible for their actions and inactions.
The reason to ‘know more’ about reality and truth is so people can have a better life, of course. Why would anyone not want to know the truth?
As to sharing where you are invited, The Catholic Church has always followed the teaching of Jesus Christ, it’s founder and head. Luke 9:1 He summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal (the sick).”
Luke 9:5 “And as for those who do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them.”
Jesus never told His followers to wait until they are invited. Rather, He taught that they should carry the Gospel message to the ends of the earth.
#2
If you know that someone loves you would want to know all about them and their love for you. This can only be “fully” accomplished through the Church He established on earth, that is, the Catholic Church.
Why would anyone settle for less, than all the love?
#3
Jennifer Lopez is an excellent actress. I thought that her role as “Sharon” in this movie was convincing.
February 5th, 2007 at 7:35 p02
OK, I can go with maybe he said “ignorance makes you less culpable”, whatever. I dont recall the exact words. You know human nature allows us to hear what we want to hear, instead of what was said. I guess its our safety net.
Either way tho, ignorance as you put it is still better way to be because I will be less culpable, thus less liable, accountabble, less of a sin than if I had known it was a sin or how big a wrong it was.
February 5th, 2007 at 7:35 p02
Why would anyone not want to know the truth?
SIMPLE
The truth hurts
February 5th, 2007 at 7:35 p02
Why would anyone settle for less, than all the love?
ALL?
because that would constitute greed and greed is a sin, a serious sin if I remember correctly
February 9th, 2007 at 7:35 p02
My comment to:
#5
Only justifiable ignorance would get you completely off the hook.
In other words, if you are ignorant through no fault of your own then you are ‘not guilty’, otherwise… “you will be put in prison; 26 truly, I say to you, you will never get out till you have paid the last penny.” [Mt 5:25-26]
For more on “ignorance”: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07648a.htm
#6
The “truth” also heals… and can bring about the ultimate healing of our separation from God!
#7
Greed also known in Catholic circles as “Avarice” is one of the Seven Deadly Sins, however you misunderstand the meaning of avarice.
avarice: reprehensible acquisitiveness; insatiable desire for wealth
Thank you for your comments.