Intercom Editorial

Home Up
.

Intercom Editorial

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)

This editorial originates at http://www.veritas.ie/intercom/page.aspx.  Intercom is a pastoral and liturgical resource magazine published by Veritas Group, an agency of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Commission on Communications.  Its editor is Francis Cousins, Catholic Communications Office, Columba Centre, Maynooth, Co Kildare, Ireland

 

Point of Contact

The Parish Moderator
165 Old Cleveland Road
Coorparoo
Postal:  PO Box 1051
COORPAROO  DC  4151
Telephone:  (07) 3397 1671
Facsimil e:  (07) 3394 3409
E-mail:  osastjames@bne.catholic.net.au

All queries about the contents of this site should be directed to:
The Parish Administrator  -  Fr David Austin OSA