“the rise and fall of many in Israel” and that he was to be a sign of contradiction. And if that wasn’t enough to warm a mother’s heart, he didn’t forget to mention that her own heart would be “pierced by a sword”! Not exactly words of comfort for the young mother.

While Simeon’s words seem cold and out of place at face value, in reality they were not.  Acknowledging that the Messiah must suffer, he was still filled with joy.  His words not only marked the woes to befall mother and child, but also the great work of salvation wrought jointly through their lives.  He proclaimed that this child was the “salvation, which (the Father) had prepared in the sight of all people”.  Simeon’s great joy is then understood as the hope and expectancy of Israel and all humanity are fulfilled in this one child, the Christ. 

Unlike Simeon, not all were happy to witness Christ’s coming.  Nor did they share Simeon’s belief in Jesus’ true identity. Herod tried to kill him, Jesus’ townspeople tried to stone him by thrusting him over the “brow of the hill”, and the Pharisees often sought to trick him in the hope of bringing false charges against him.  From his birth to his death, Jesus remained a ‘sign of contradiction’. 

And a ‘sign of contradiction’ he remains to this day. Just as Simeon prophesied two thousand years ago, the world is still embroiled over the identity of Jesus.  Loved by many, hated by some, and misunderstood by others, no man has caused more reflection and soul-searching than this Nazarene.  

Reflecting on the testimony of the Gospels, actor/director Mel Gibson has sought to produce an authentic cinematic portrayal of Jesus Christ.  The Passion of the Christ seeks to follow in humanizing detail the last 12 hours of Christ’s life, interweaving graphic images of the crucifixion with scenes from Jesus’ childhood and public ministry.  Gibson has financed and directed his newest film, which has quickly become the most anticipated film of the year. 

However, The Passion will not roar into its release date unscathed from attacks.  Receiving media scrutiny for well over the past year, Gibson has both been praised as a visionary and denounced as a bigot.  A number of political activists, biblical scholars, and Jewish leaders have proclaimed the film anti-Semitic and fodder for Jewish hatred.  Gibson and other Christian leaders counter that the movie is an accurate account of the Gospels, which places blame for Christ’s death on all mankind, not just those present 2000 years ago. 

After the filming, no distributor was willing to market a movie recorded in dead languages and enveloped in controversy.  Some Hollywood insiders insisted the film would become a “direct to video” flop.  In a reversal of fortune due to a groundswell of grassroots support, primarily from Catholics and Evangelicals, The Passion received a distribution deal from New Films, Inc. and is now expected to open in 2000 theaters. 

Gibson’s film rises in stark contrast to the decadent movies and media surrounding us today. This decay makes itself evident as the media has appealed more and more to our appetites and less to our intelligence.  Even the Superbowl, long considered a safe haven of family television, was recently marred by a tasteless halftime show that most remember better than the game.        

The Passion moves against the overwhelming tide of Hollywood media that attacks fundamental American values.  Hence, the scathing reviews and condemnation used against this movie and its director are not so surprising. 

Realizing that the battle to release The Passion and make it a blockbuster hit demands hard work and a good fight, many Protestant and Catholic Christians have been working diligently to ensure its success. 

One such person is Father Damien Cook of Freemont, Nebraska, a priest of the Diocese of Omaha.  Seeking to capitalize on the film’s powerful portrayal of Christ, Father Cook organized a “theater takeover” for his parish of St. Patrick’s.  “I wanted our parish to watch the movie together, and I realized that from a practical standpoint we would need our own place.”  To facilitate parishioners’ faith experience, Father Cook has organized a post-movie get together at the parish where parishioners will be able to process and discuss their experience of the film. “From what I’ve heard and read, this movie is going to be a spiritual powerhouse!”   

Father Cook is not alone in his observations of The Passion, nor his plans to facilitate its viewing.  In New Orleans, the Theology Department of Jesuit High School, led by chairman and chaplain Father Richard Hermes, SJ, has purchased 350 tickets for its students and their families.  The Ash Wednesday showing of The Passion will be followed by distribution of ashes in the Chapel of the North American Martyrs on Jesuit’s campus. Jody Fortunato, a theology teacher at Jesuit, commented on the inability to meet the demand for tickets by students and the movie’s influence on society: “Mel Gibson’s movie is bold and courageous in a time when Catholics need to be bold and courageous.  The exciting demand of tickets by our students is a clear indicator of the Church’s springtime. What an exciting time to be a Catholic!” 

College students are getting involved, too.  At Loyola University of New Orleans, members of Compass, a national organization of Catholic college students, have committed to “renting out” a movie theater for a showing of The Passion.  Dave Theis, a sophomore from Houston, is co-president of the Loyola chapter of Compass and has seen The Passion.  He spoke highly of the movie and its potential impact on college students: “It’s rare to get such a great movie out there so we wanted to make the most out of this opportunity.  Honestly, I’m just worried that our theater won’t be big enough.” 

Jenica Tramantona, a junior psychology major, and also a member of Compass at Loyola, screened The Passion in Boston with Passion producer Stephen McEveety.  Her thoughts on the movie: “It’s profound. I cried from start to finish asking myself ‘Why is Christ doing this?’  And the answer was made clear, because he loves me.  You get the reality of the Cross and it made me want to go and do more about my faith.” 

People, young and old, from across the country are getting excited about this film as its release approaches.  With Gibson and the producers’ work finished, the responsibility now lies with the faithful who seek to transform our culture through Christian art.  This is especially true of young adults who are always the base of great social movements. 

We need to ask ourselves: “What can I do?”  Taking a friend, speaking to others about the film, or purchasing blocks of tickets for youth groups are just a few ideas for helping this film succeed.  

Taking a stand in our society is often a risky endeavor for our ego.  Some may say to themselves, “what if this movie is a flop?” or “what if my friends don’t like it?”.  But the questions we ought to ask are “how much can I help Christ? The Church? And how much does our culture need my help?”   

In a world where life is threatened and hope is fading, a light is needed.  The solution to the world’s ills is Christ the Savior.  And today more than ever, new Simeons are needed to rise up and proclaim the salvation that is Christ Jesus to the world: “Glory for your people Israel and light of revelation to the Gentiles”.