Were I to say to any man between the age of 18 to 60, “Leave the gun, take the cannoli,” I would venture to say that 99% would know exactly what I was taking about. Don’t you?
Of course, I am quoting “The Godfather.” Any self-respecting dude has memorized almost every line of that movie. It is our mutual cultural reference point. If I say to someone “You gotta go to the mattresses,” they automatically understand that I am encouraging them to fight with everything they have and to bring that fight to the enemy.
I was working overnight on a major systems upgrade. Some colleagues and I were sitting around while the systems engineers did their voodoo. Somehow the conversation turned to religion. A colleague of mine said he didn’t believe. After a little discussion, he dropped what he thought would be a trump card on another fellow in the group.
“If Jesus was God, why did he say ‘“My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?’ Doesn’t that prove that even Jesus didn’t think he was God.”
I waited for the other guy to respond as the question was directed at him but I could see from the look on his face that he had never considered this question. The questioner had a look of victory on his face. I jumped in.
“I can answer that. Leave the gun, take the cannoli.”
I got the desired reaction, blank stares.
“Let me clarify. Take it to the mattresses.”
More blank stares.
“When I say these things to you, what am I quoting?”
“The Godfather,” they all responded at once.
“How do you know?”
“We just do. Everybody knows those lines.”
“Exactly. As 21st century Americans, I can pretty much count on the fact that we all have the same frames of cultural reference. So when Jesus said ‘My God, my God…’ he also knew that his audience would automatically understand him. The problem isn’t that Jesus didn’t know He was God. The problem is that you are not first century Jews.”
“Explain.”
“When Jesus said what He said, he knew that those who heard him would know what he was quoting and why. The problem is that you don’t. Jews of that time could quote scripture better than you can quote the Godfather, trust me. So when Jesus said ‘“My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me,’ they immediately knew he was quoting a psalm from the bible. So let’s read it and see if we can’t figure out why?”
God my God, look upon me: why have you forsaken me? Far from my salvation are the words of my sins. 3 O my God, I shall cry by day, and you will not hear: and by night, and it shall not be reputed as folly in me. 4 But you dwell in the holy place, the praise of Israel. 5 In you have our fathers hoped: they have hoped, and you have delivered them. 6 They cried to you, and they were saved: they trusted in you, and were not confounded. 7 But I am a worm, and no man: the reproach of men, and the outcast of the people. 8 All they that saw me have laughed me to scorn: they have spoken with the lips, and wagged the head. 9 He hoped in the Lord, let him deliver him: let him save him, seeing he delights in him. 10 For you are he that have drawn me out of the womb: my hope from the breasts of my mother. 11 I was cast upon you from the womb. From my mother’s womb you are my God, 12 depart not from me. For tribulation is very near: for there is none to help me. 13 Many calves have surrounded me: fat bulls have besieged me. 14 They have opened their mouths against me, as a lion ravening and roaring. 15 I am poured out like water; and all my bones are scattered. My heart has become like wax melting in the midst of my bowels. 16 My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue has cleaved to my jaws: and you have brought me down into the dust of death. 17 For many dogs have encompassed me: the council of the malignant has besieged me. They have dug my hands and feet. 18 They have numbered all my bones. And they have looked and stared upon me. 19 They parted my garments amongst them; and upon my vesture they cast lots.
“Did you get that last part? Dug my hands and feet. Cast lots for my garments. What is this psalm describing?”
“The crucifixion, obviously.”
“Yes. And Jesus knew that they would know that Jesus quoted this psalm purposefully to suggest that this prophecy was being fulfilled in their sight.”
The look of rhetorical triumph was now gone from my colleague’s face and in its place was a stunned look of contemplation.
After a moment he said, “So that’s what He meant. I never knew that.”
“Yes. Jesus was making them an offer they could refuse. And did. Will you?”
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This made me smile!
Very nice, that Godfather analogy.
Great story!
Excellent response. Though you would have to use a different culteral reference for me. I’m a fifty year old American man and have never seen “The Godfather” movies.
Niiice.
Very, very good! Though since I’ve never sat through the movie all the way through I wouldn’t have gotten the reference either.
@BobRN: If you get stuck in the same situation, try “these aren’t the droids you’re looking for.”
We had a priest use the Godfather to talk about the Trinity. Needless to say all the males in the crowd listened well.
I love the gf movies! I even convinced my children’s godparents, who were in their 20s, to watch the first one…. And it was a disaster.
She started crying when Carla got beat up and when Sonny got shot up at the toll station we had to turn it off….
It was like the worst thing ever…..
Very good insight… My son and I are constantly voicing to each other lines from the Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and many other favorite and familiar movies and TV shows that are apropos at the time. Don’t you agree that Donnie Brasco is a pretty good mobster movie - fugedabadit!!
He was all man and all God, and showed it in that mournful cry.
Wow! That was aptl put. I never thought about it, even though I knew he was quoting scripture. Thank you
Great response. You’d have to use the Star Wars quotes or something else on me. I’ve never seen the Godfather movies. Those lines didn’t even ring a bell. Know thy audience is the key I guess!
Don’t forget how Ps 22 ends, with the psalmist rescued by God and praising His name in the midst of the assembly!
I only know one ‘Godfather’ reference (make me an offer I can’t refuse); am in mid-forties. However, I totally get what you are saying, and thank you for sharing such a beautiful moment for you to be salt and light in “da vernaculah.” Thanks be to God.
This is awesome. Also, best title ever.
Wonderful explanation. Thank you very much for it!
Agreed with some of the other readers, though. I tried watching the Godfather in college with a bunch of buddies who also hadn’t seen it - it was so tedious we gave up. It’s probably a generational thing.
Nice. Tho I first thought you were quoting Tom Hanks in “You’ve Got Mail.” What is it with guys and the Godfather…
Well written Matt.
...We should all take heed of Our Lord’s words of salvation, lest we’ll be sleeping with the fishes.
I meant Pat, ...not Matt.
This is splendid. The lesson I see here. Beware of those who apply literal translation to the Scriptures!!!!!!!!!!!!.
Moreover, the Psalm includes at the end, envisioning the triumph of the Lord “All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD; All the families of nations will bow low before him. For kingship belongs to the LORD, the ruler over the nations. All who sleep in the earth will bow low before God; All who have gone down into the dust will kneel in homage. And I will live for the LORD; my descendants will serve you. The generation to come will be told of the Lord, that they may proclaim to a people yet unborn the deliverance you have brought.”
Great article and awesome reference to the Godfather!
By the way — it’s spelled “cannoli”. I just thought about it.
inspiring, but still…your colleague might have asked, though it implies Jesus is the one rescued, how does that hint He is God? Curious as to your thoughts.
After reading the book, the GF movie was a little disappointing. I suppose I should watch it again. if I ever find the time. Read the book. (beware, it’s not all appropriate, but what land of crime is?)
That was impressive!
“Any self-respecting dude that does not live in San Francisco’s Castro district…”—-??! Seriously?? So gay guys don’t know famous movie lines?? Way to subtly gay bash Pat! NCR—WHAT A DUMP!
“Those were the great old days,you know… And we was like the Roman Empire… The Corleone family was like the Roman Empire”
Dude, I’m a 65 year-old woman and I got the cannoli reference. A lot of women in the appropriate age cohort, which I’d guess would go up to 70, minimum rather than 60 as the upper age limit, would also get the reference. And there was no reason to mention the Castro. Jesus said we must love our neighbors as much as we love ourselves. That includes our neighbors who live in the Castro. We should oppose fornication and adultery and oppose homosexual “marriage” but it’s plain silly to assert that homosexuals would not have seen “The Godfather.” You may have lost some readers with that first paragraph, which essentially said, “This is an essay for heterosexual males between 18-60; others probably won’t get it.” Pat, for all those who are not heterosexual males between 18-60, that is a turn-off. Remember that the Catholic Church includes everyone, sins and all. If some readers stopped reading at that point, that’s too bad, because you used the cannoli reference well in discussing the scripture Jesus, and other Jews of His time, were familiar with. People who read the whole piece will remember the cannoli and that should help them recall the very good answer you gave to the question about why Jesus, being God, would say “My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?”
If your audience doesn’t know The Godfather, try, “Oh say, can you see…”
In fact, imagine 2000 years from now the intellectual wrangling people would be having if they were trying to figure out what a guy (standing on a year-2011 scaffolding about to be hanged) was trying to say when he shouted out, “Oh say, can you see?” People would be wondering, “What was he looking at? Was he seeing a vision of God before he died? ...”
Actually, “going to the mattresses” referred to setting up residence in an empty flat for surveillance purposes in preparation of a war or hit. The gangsters would literally just bring in mattresses and sleep on those since they had no furniture in these temporary hideouts.
Thank you for a great explanation.
That’s a great a story - well done!
My favorite movie! “Don’t ever tell anyone outside of the family what you are thinking.”
Michael Corleone: There are many things my father taught me here in this room. He taught me: keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.
Another moment with the Lord. I was just thinking about these lines exactly. I mean literaly, the internet was out, and when I turned it on, it worked and your post was what I was thinking. I rememeber that I used to hate to say these words during mass on the sunday before easter. I learned from ewtn, et. al., that Jesus was stating the first line of psalm 22. When said, like the the Hail Mary, you know what comes next. I wonder if you would relate another puzzle for me… why did the lady in the crowd say… “wait, he is calling on elijah” ?? Why would this psalm maker her say that? Thanks. Hey, please send a reply to my email. Joe.
Jesus quoted: “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani” which sounds a lot like “Elias”.
As a Catholic that understands the “My God, my God” reference and has an email address taken from this line in “The Godfather”, I give two thumbs up! (and, Pat, cannoli has two n’s)
Pat, this is a great story. However, it deeply saddens me that the movie reference is an R rated movie. I saw this movie a long time ago before I was called back into the Faith. Knowing what I know now I am unable to view this movie in good conscience.
Pat, thank you for your insightful and encouraging articles.
Your sister in Christ, Mary.
Hey. For those of you who don’t know the Godfather movies. Watch one and two. Three, not so much. Brilliant. And nice analogy.
That was excellent! Concise, to the point! Holy Spirit working in Pat!
When Godfather 2 came out in 1974 I was working in a movie theater as an usher. I watched the movie 2 a night for months maybe 75 times total.
My son, a Jesuit now, have quoted this movie many times.
Being a R rated has little to do with its value or the truths that can enjoyed by its deep thoughtful writing.
As Hyman Roth said, “it has nothing to do with business”, translated to Catholicess, “its meaningless unless its has to do with our creator or his works”
Gee, thanks Pat! You have affirmed my long held belief that I am in fact a lesbian trapped in a man’s body. I had not a clue what the reference was. Add to that the fact that the only songs I know the words to are show tunes, I used to be in theater, I am the one who braids my daughter’s hair, color my wife’s hair and do my daughter’s nails and makeup. Given that fact set the only conclusion is that I am gay. The only problem with that is I really enjoy “renewing the marriage covenant” with my wife. Since it is just not possible that I am a straight guy but really enjoy my wife the only conclusion is that I am a lesbian in a man’s body.
I would have more likely recognized signature lines from “Goodfellas” than “Godfather”. Not that I’m proud of that either. I think “Star Wars” is a better, cleaner path to take in terms of universal cultural reference points, or even “Gilligan’s Island” or “Star Trek”. Shoot, “X-Files” for that matter.
Still, larger point well-taken.
Its a real shame that your excellent point about Jesus’ quotation of the psalms is overshadowed by the bombast in the rest of your article.
As a non-American, and a chaste homosexual, I found your lack of charity masquerading as humour off-putting.
I am so glad I read your article this morning—I now have the complete answer for anyone that questions those particular words of Our Lord’s, thank you. I am sure I have read an explanation before but a review never hurts.
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