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John
summoned two of his disciples and sent them
to the Lord to ask, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we look
for
another?" When the men came to him, they said, "John the Baptist has
sent us to you to ask, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we
look
for another?" ... And he said to them in reply, "Go and tell John
what you have seen and heard: the blind regain their sight, the lame
walk,
lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have
the good
news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at
me."
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The movie
"Bella" is a movie that can
be categorized as "pro-life" as we consider the question of whether
something is for or against abortion. The movie is certainly
"pro-life," but could be better described as "pro-love."
Jose was a good kind man who was involved in a tragedy with a child, a
tragedy
that would forever haunt him. He saw the opportunity to help Nina,
another
person in need, who was carrying a child that she did not want. It was
"love" that prompted Jose to regard Nina's child as a partial solution
to his own tragedy. The movie is a love story that goes far beyond two
people
who fall in love, because one is not sure whether they choose to stay
together
or not. It is a love story in which good happens because a child
brings
love to the lives of two people. It is significant that in the special
features
of the DVD of the movie, when the child actress who plays Bella was
asked who
was the most important character in the movie, her response was "Me!"
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If there
is anyone in history who was "pro-love,"
it was Jesus Christ. Everyone who wrote about him from Paul's first
letters to
the Book of Revelation is clear that if one had to choose one thing
that was
important for Jesus, it would be love of others. In the Gospels, when
the
disciples of John the Baptist asked Jesus about his ministry, he told
them that
he was interested in practical love--he did things for others because
he loved
them.
In the movie "Bella," Jose loved Nina, but not in a romantic way. It may have blossomed to that, but we do not know from the story. What we know is that he loved Nina, he loved children, he loved his family, even though he was under the constant pressure of a memory of a child who no longer lived because of him. If we claim to be a follower of Jesus Christ, we must be "pro-love." That is, we must want to bring "love" into every situation of our lives. It will be present at the choice of a future partner in marriage; it will be present in as small an act as being a helping hand to someone in need. If we manage to do it in every situation of our lives, we will be participants in a healing process that can save our world. Love of others will save the world of nations that must get along in order to maintain life on our planet; it will save our own little worlds, no matter what tragedies have weighed us down. |
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THOUGHT |
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©2007
Capuchin Province of Mid-America
Fr. Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America |