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Later, as the eleven were at
table, Jesus appeared to them and rebuked them for their unbelief and
hardness
of heart because they had not believed those who saw him after he had
been
raised. He said to them, “Go into the
whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.”
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C.
S. Lewis’ book and the movie “The Chronicles of Narnia: The
Lion, The Witch and
the Wardrobe” is a story told with Christianity in mind. The secret that the Pevensie children
gradually came to understand was that they were the ones who were to
bring good
times back to Narnia. But they could not
do it alone. They needed the help of
thousands of good citizens of the land; they needed to overcome their
own
immaturity; and most of all they needed the help of Aslan.
At the solemn moment of confrontation
between the White Witch and the new royalty of Narnia, the Pevensie
children,
when it seemed that Peter and Edmund and the good people of Narnia
would surely
lose their lives, Aslan gives up his own life out of love for Edmund. In perfect parallel to Jesus Christ, including
his
agony, Aslan rises from the dead, to lead the good people of Narnia to
victory, only to leave immediately after the Pevensie children are
crowned
kings and queens of Narnia forever. God,
Aslan, had given hope to the people of Narnia by allowing the Pevensie
children
to lead them to the joy and happiness of good lives. Like
Narnia, Christianity should be the state
of people who live in hope because of the resurrection of their God, as
they lead
lives of love for all.
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After
Jesus rose from the dead, he appeared many times to his disciples, and
some of
them still did not believe in him. It
took proof before they understood what he had done. But once they
understood, they readily
accepted his directive to proclaim the gospel to the whole
world. That Gospel was a Gospel of love. The parallel to Aslan and
Narnia is
complete: Christianity is the state of people who live in hope because
of the
resurrection of their God, and they show it by lives of love.
Living the Christian life is a challenge in today’s world. There are some overwhelming forces of evil that try to lead us away from what is right. But there is hope. Jesus has risen from the dead, and therefore everything that he said was true. Our God is alive and well, and will continue to be with us until the end of time. The Gospel of love then becomes the Christian’s creed. Like Lucy at the end of the movie, Christians should desire to take their potion of love and give it to everyone who is in need. |
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THOUGHT
What
is most hopeful in our world today?
PRAYER Good
and gracious God, your Son has risen from the dead, and therefore we
are people
of hope, no matter what happens in the world. Help
us be hopeful in our lives, and help us show your virtue of love to
all. Be with us, we pray.
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©2007
Capuchin Province of Mid-America
Fr. Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America |
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