Letters

Jesus and the Jews

I am a Christian descended from a Hasidic Jewish grandfather who came to believe the Jewish Jesus of Nazareth truly was the Messiah-Son of Yahweh-God.

To the point: What is the nature of Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ?

Is it anti-Semitic? Hardly. It presents the super-heroic example of one committed Jew — the greatest that nation ever produced. It highlights the treatment Jesus chose to undergo from all sinners — from fellow Jews, both leaders and people, and from the pagan Roman gentiles who represent mankind's general guilt. All in order to establish for both a Christian Kingdom of universal love and forgiveness.

Is the film violent? Yes, realistically and historically so but not senseless or contrived. It has purpose and says: “No matter what you do to me, I forgive; no matter how much you hate, I love; no matter the extent of your injustice, ignorance or arrogance, I will submit to your game playing, to your abuse of power. But, whatever your rejection, you cannot change what I do, nor will I ever return viciousness in kind.”

Anti-Semitism does exist in present-day society, as in the blowing up of innocent people as well as in America's current elimination of the Jew Jesus from public culture, disallowing any study of his life, words and model, and ignoring that the greatest historic human was a crucified Jew. That is continuing anti-Semitic violence.

My criticism of Gibson's film? It is too masterful, too tantalizing. It makes one want to get up and shout, “Thank you, Mel, for your courage and talent. You broke the mold of Hollywood cuteness, of its superficial fictionalizing inventiveness, of its negative interpretation of history's foremost Human! Mel, The Passion was not enough. Give us more of the eyewitness Gospels!”

PASTOR ROMY SIMEONE

Our Father's House Ministry

Oshkosh, Wisconsin

Oscars in Heaven

Critics don't get The Passion of the Christ because they never got the Passion. Like Pilate, and unlike Claudia, they don't recognize truth when it stands before them. Too violent? How else could one pay for the collective sins of humanity except in an excruciating manner? Jesus Christ took it upon himself to repair the evil man has worked throughout the ages.

When one thinks about it, Mel Gibson did not go far enough in his portrayal of the passion of Christ, but if he could completely lay bare our sins, who could endure it? Make no mistake. In truth, Christ had to be given just enough strength to stay alive, until he could taste the fruits of all sins before the prophecy could be fulfilled.

Having viewed the film, I was deeply impressed with the love of the God-Man, suffering for us all the horrors that are the fruit of sin. As to the cast itself, the acting was superb — particularly James Caviezel as Jesus Christ. There can be no tougher critics than Christians, whose sensitivities and sensibilities are always tweaked when this role is taken up by anyone.

Caviezel and Gibson managed to transcend the mystery of the Word Incarnate with stunning beauty, believability and deep understanding. With due respect, I cannot see how someone from Gibson's background accomplished this film without divine help.

Who cares about Oscar? All those behind this movie will be duly rewarded, I'm sure.

PAUL GORDON

Cannington, Ontario

Tsunami of Grace

So far I have seen The Passion of the Christ four times and plan to go every week till it's gone. For me, it's a different movie every time but always deeper. At least, it touches me more deeply every time.

Many of the saints wrote that the quickest way to grow in the love of God is to meditate on the passion of Christ. Meditation can be hard work. However, here is an intense meditation on the Passion that is so accessible, so easy to imbibe. What a beautiful opportunity.

“Your heart is the altar of God,” St. Bonaventure said. “It is here that the fire of intense love must burn always. You are to feed it every day with the wood of the cross of Christ and the commemoration of his passion.”

By the way, see www.mylifeafter.com for more than 200 stories telling how The Movie (as it is known among its fans) has affected people of every age, religion, educational and social background. What a tsunami of grace!

LEE GILBERT

Lisle, Illinois

The Peculiar Party

The article “Pro-Lifers Want to Storm Party Barricades” by Bob Violino (March 21-27) avoids the subject of how Democrats should vote now. Why should they remain loyal to a party when they have to “whisper” they are pro-life? How ridiculous.

It's time to grow up and not vote for a party because you always did but for a party that represents what you value and not vice versa.

ANNA MELVILLE

Ozone Park, New York

A Bishop Beyond Boston

I am a longtime subscriber to the Register. Thank you so much for putting this paper out in the hands of Americans. I spread mine around when I am done reading it and hope some of the people have also signed on.

Regarding “For Bishops, a Flurry of Appointments, an Installation and a Death” (March 21-27): You have left out one of the bishops from the state of Massachusetts. His Excellency the Rev. Richard Malone, D.D., has been the south regional bishop for the Archdiocese of Boston, which is the region I live in. He has been appointed bishop of Portland, Maine, beginning April 1. This is a wonderful man and I personally am sad to lose him but happy for the state of Maine. Having lived there as a child for six years of my life and revisited the state many times, I know the need for him there is great. He will be a wonderful bishop for them.

Just wanted to let you know there was this one more bishop who should be recognized. Thank you again for your wonderful, truthful paper. I absolutely love reading each issue. God bless you in your work — it is so needed in this country today!

RITA L. CLASBY

Plympton, Massachusetts

Correction

In “Project's Goal: Healing by Happiness” (March 21-27), Human Life of Washington was mistakenly referred to as the Washington Right to Life office. The Center for Life Principles, from which the Life Principles program and the book Healing the Culture were launched, operates under the auspices of Human Life of Washington, the Washington state affiliate of the National Right to Life Committee. Jesuit Father Robert Spitzer, president of Gonzaga University and author of the book, serves on the board of Human Life of Washington.

Incidentally, Father Spitzer is also chairman of a new, independent organization called Healing the Culture. Headed by co-founder Camille De Blasi, it has as its sole mission promoting the Life Principles curriculum.