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MEDIA PRESENTATION

Movie: "Chronicle" -- final session

IT SHALL NOT BE SO AMONG YOU

The Gospel

MATTHEW 20:25-28

Jesus summoned [his disciples] and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Gospelthink: I tell you in no uncertain terms that you must strive to be a servant to others. Am I truly trying to do that?

The encyclopedia defines an "apex predator" to be the highest species that kills and consumes other organisms. They are predators with no predator of their own. In the movie "Chronicle" Andrew Detmer is correct when he realizes that the human being is an apex predator. But what he failed to realize was that human beings also have reasoning power, and reason should have directed him toward peaceful co-existence with others. In reality, it is what Andrew wanted in his life as he told his friends Matt and Steve, but his living environment and experiences directed him to something much more sinister. His problem was that now in in his very tough life, he had more than others had, and he could punish others for what had happened to him. When a person begins to believe that he/she is better than others, such a person becomes a "predator" who can easily be out of control.

One of the ways to accomplish good living in Jesus' mind was to be a servant to others. He understood the human tendency to lord it over others and to have one's authority felt. In very strong language, he tells his followers: "It shall not be so among you." What the human being must do, he says, is learn what true service is, and put it into practice in his/her life. It becomes therefore the Christian way to live.

We come into authority in many different ways. Some of it is on a very small scale, as we become a leader among our classmates or the director of a project or the head of a small group of people. Some of it is on a much larger scale, as when we come into money because of our work or inheritance, or we become a CEO of some company, or we finally achieve the goal that we have been working for all our lives--the doctorate, the Nobel, the Emmy, the presidency. The temptation is to relish the authority, to allow its aura to overtake our lives, or in Jesus' words, to lord it over others.

Sometimes, we have overcome enormous difficulties to achieve what we have, making our desire to lord it over others even stronger in our psyches. Andrew Detmer in the movie "Chronicle" was such a person. His childhood left a lot to be desired, and he suddenly had power that was incredible in every way. And he could "get back" at all the people who might be against him. Jesus' words "It shall not be so among you" meant nothing to him.

In our worlds, whether on a small scale or large, great evil comes about when a person believes that he/she is better than anyone else. Jesus knew it, and so he taught us to enjoy our achievements, but at the same time to always be aware of the proper way to act out any authority we may come to possess. That is, to be a servant of all.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, your Son taught us to be servants in our world. Help us remember that no matter what we achieve in life, we can never lord it over others. Help us be the servants your Son taught us to be. Be with us, we pray.

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GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: In our world great evil comes about when a person believes that he/she is better than someone else.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(session: approximately 38 minutes)
1. What scene during this session is most striking and why?
2. What is your understanding of the phrase "to lord it over others"?
3. What is your understanding of the idea of "being a servant"?
4. In the Gospel, Jesus uses strong language to describe being a servant--using the word "slave." It implies a complete giving up of one's life for another. Where do you see such "giving" in our world today?
5. In general, do you think that most Christians have come to understand that they are "servants" to others? Yes or no and why?
6. Why do people who suddenly "come into money" feel they can have "authority" over others?
7. In what ways do you see people in our world "lording it over others"? Give some current examples.
8. What, if anything, can be done to help young people who are growing up in very difficult situations?
9. Scene analysis: "sexual achievements" are presented throughout the movie. In your opinion, how strong is the "sexual desire" among most high school students?
10. Scene analysis: the drinking at the party. In your opinion, do most high school parties have this much drinking of alcohol? Yes or no and why?
11. Analysis: Andrew tells Steve that he never really had any friends in school. What can be done for the shy or neglected students in a school?
12. Scene analysis: Andrew privately begs forgiveness at Steve's grave. Why could he not beg forgiveness in a more public way, that is, for example, to Matt?
13. Scene/dialogue analysis: perhaps the central scene of this session of the movie is Andrew's understanding of an apex predator: "I've been doing a lot of reading on line, just evolution and natural selection and how there's this thing called the apex predator. And basically what this is, is the strongest animal in the ecosystem. As human beings, we're considered the apex predator but only because smaller animals can't feed on us because of weapons and stuff. A lion does not feel guilty when it kills a gazelle. You do not feel guilty when you squash a fly. I think that means something. I just think that really means something." What is most striking about this dialogue?
14. Scene analysis: Andrew's father blames Andrew for his wife's death, and Andrew reacts. Both are at fault. What can people in families do if they find that they are not getting along together?
15. Scene analysis: Andrew tries to kill his father, and Matt saves the father. In your opinion, what would Andrew's father's future life be like?
16. Scene analysis: As Andrew and Matt fight, Matt begs Andrew not to hurt others, but Andrew does not listen. What are the most painful "hurts" in our world today? Why?
17. Dialogue analysis: Matt in front of the camera at Tibetan monastery: "I just wanted to say that I'm sorry. I hope you know that I did what I had to do. You're not a bad person. I know that. That's all that matters. I want you to know that I'm gonna be better from now on. I'm gonna help people. I'm gonna find out what happened to us down there. I don't care how long it takes. I'm gonna get answers. I'm gonna do it for you and for Steve. And, I love you, man. I didn't ever get a chance to tell you, but I love you. And guess what: you made it!" What is most striking about this dialogue.
18. What does the movie "Chronicle" teach young people?

Questions, comments? Let me know. Email Fr. Mike