This movie is meant to help us look at the topic of sin and forgiveness and to take a step forward in faith, specifically but letting go of what may hold us back in life. It’s also about family. Each of us has one and sometimes they are complicated. We go through life collecting burdens and just like we’ve seen in other movies, we’ve got a choice to make with each one. We can go through life weighed down, or we can try our best to keep letting them go. Knowing we are loved an accompanied by God helps us to live with fortitude and forgiveness.
Scripture Passage
Do not call to mind the former things, Or consider things of the past. Behold, I am going to do something new. Now it will spring up; Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert. – Isaiah 43:18-19
Catechism Quote
Sick, our nature demanded to be healed; fallen, to be raised up; dead, to rise again… Closed in the darkness, it was necessary to bring us the light; captives, we awaited a Savior; prisoners, help; slaves, a liberator [… these things moved] God to descend to human nature and visit it. #457
Quotes to Ponder
Jesus is born for a humanity searching for freedom and peace; he is born for everyone burdened by sin, in need of salvation, and yearning for hope. On this night God answers the ceaseless cry of the peoples: Come, Lord, save us! His eternal Word of love has taken on our mortal flesh. “Your Word, O Lord, came down from his royal throne”. The Word has entered into time: Emmanuel, God-with-us, is born. – Pope Saint John Paul II, December 24th 2002
It is not by sidestepping or fleeing from suffering that we are healed, but rather by our capacity for accepting it, maturing through it and finding meaning through union with Christ, who suffered with infinite love. – Pope Benedict, Spe Salvi
Go to Jesus: he likes you to tell him these things!” He forgets, he has a very special capacity for forgetting. He forgets, he kisses you, he embraces you and he simply says to you: “Neither do I condemn you; go, and sin no more.” That is the only advice he gives you. After a month, if we are in the same situation … Let us go back to the Lord. The Lord never tires of forgiving: never! It is we who tire of asking his forgiveness. Let us ask for the grace not to tire of asking forgiveness, because he never tires of forgiving. Let us ask for this grace. – Pope Francis, March 17, 2013
Reflection Question:
There is no homework for this class. You are only asked to watch the movie clips and then take some time to seriously consider the following:
Did you catch what the dad was listening to? Moby Dick… the story of one man’s relentless pursuit of revenge. Ahab’s never ending search for the great whale who attacked him and took his leg, and who in the end, after mortally wounding the whale with a spear is dragged along with him to death because he gets caught up in the harpoon line. I think this perfectly sums up the movie. Each character, whether they acknowledge it or not, is holding onto something. Holding onto a hurt, a mistake, a wound… and we get to see them struggle with it and finally let go, symbolized in the final “tap” at the end of the movie. What are we holding onto and what will it take to get us to a place where we too “tap” and let go? How does God factor into this? How can I let him into my life a little more this Christmas?
SMA Confirmation 