Of Gods and Men
‘We draw closer to Jesus in poverty, pain and death’
I have just been to see the film Of Gods and Men, an
uplifting tale about a community of French Trappist monks living in
the Atlas Mountains in Algeria. The community live in harmony
with the people from local Muslim village, joining them in their
celebrations and on one occasion for prayer. One of the monks,
Br Luc, is the community doctor with over 100 consultations per
day. However, the peaceful existence is shattered when a group
of extremists threaten the community, who are faced with a
decision: to stay where they are under threat of attack, or to
leave and return to France.
As the monks struggled with their decision the film showed scenes
of the community in discussion, and most powerfully at prayer
– the words of the liturgy speaking directly to their
situation.
There is a most poignant scene, where the monks celebrate a supper
together with a guest, Br Bruno, who has arrived with supplies and
gifts. As they gather around the table the elderly Br Luc, the
doctor, emerges with two bottles of wine and plays Tchaikovsky’s
Swan Lake on a CD player. In silence the monks savour the wine
and one by one the camera takes in a close up of their face as they
break out in smiles of unadulterated joy. The joy does not last
however, as the pain of the situation takes hold, the joy dissipates
and tears start to flow. One cannot help but be reminded of the
Last Supper Jesus celebrated with his disciples and the pain that
followed at Gethsemane.
This is a microcosm of the journey we take as Christians with
Christ in the Holy Week liturgies. The joy of the Last Supper
and the Institution of the Eucharist fades into the background as we
journey with Christ to Gethsemane and along the road to Calvary.
Just when all hope is lost we follow Mary to the tomb, which she
finds empty. Where is Jesus’ body? Have they stolen it?
Br Christian, the leader of the community, utters a line in the
film: ‘Remember that love is eternal hope’. The empty
tomb on Easter morning is the sign of this hope. The greatest
act of love in the history of the world is the one which gives all of
humankind hope. The love of God is so great that it conquers
all, even death, and provides us with a hope of resurrection and
eternal life.
I wish you Easter blessings.
Francis Cousins (Editor)
