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	JESUS AND JOHN COFFEY

The Gospel

MATTHEW 27:45-53

From noon onward, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And about three o’clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Some of the bystanders who heard it said, “This one is calling for Elijah.” Immediately one of them ran to get a sponge; he soaked it in wine, and putting it on a reed, gave it to him to drink. But the rest said, “Wait, let us see if Elijah comes to save him.” But Jesus cried out again in a loud voice, and gave up his spirit. And behold, the veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked, rocks were split, tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised. And coming forth from their tombs after his resurrection, they entered the holy city and appeared to many.

The Media

"The Green Mile"

final session

Author Stephen King and Director Frank Darabont may or may not have had Jesus Christ in mind when they wrote and directed the movie “The Green Mile” and the character of John Coffey. But John Coffey seems to be a modern day replica of Jesus. Both Jesus and John Coffey did what they could to eradicate evil from people’s lives. Jesus did it with his teachings and healing; John Coffey did it by literally inhaling evil from people’s lives and exhaling it to the outside. Both Jesus and John Coffey talked of the evil in the world, and how it was time to die and do something about it. Both Jesus and John Coffey approached death freely. Both Jesus and John Coffey gave life through death, as we see in the final session of the movie.

What should Jesus’ redemption and John Coffey’s example do for us? First and foremost probably, it should make us thankful that we have been redeemed, and therefore will share eternal life in heaven. But, it should also make us realize what we have right now. Our lives have been enhanced because of Jesus and the example of good people like John Coffey. They should make us more aware of the good things that we have on earth, leading us to approach our world with hope and the desire to make the world as good as it can possibly be.

Devotion to and awareness of Jesus’ passion and death is not a morbid thought trying to conjure up a horrible memory of the past. It is remembering that Jesus said that there is no greater love than a man laying down his life for his friends (John 15:13). Jesus has done that, and we feel the energy of it even as we live.

THOUGHT

John Coffey is a good example of someone who can be called “another Christ.” Who can you think of now that could be called “another Christ”? Why?

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, your Son lived and died for us, giving us the chance to experience eternal life after our lives here on earth. We have many examples of people who have given us an example of the way to live here so as to enable us to live forever. Help us follow the example they give. Be with us, we pray.

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