sept 16

Movie: "Total Recall" -- beginning session

DEALING WITH THE PAST

The Gospel

MATTHEW 9:20-22

A woman suffering hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind [Jesus] and touched the tassel on his cloak. She said to herself, "If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured." Jesus turned around and saw her, and said, "Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you." And from that hour the woman was cured.

Gospelthink: The lady reached out to me for help. Do I turn to the Lord often with prayers of God's help?

Douglas Quaid in the movie "Total Recall" is not really Douglas Quaid. His memory had been replaced as punishment for double crossing the UFB, the United Federation of Britain, one of the two remaining sections of the world that had not been destroyed by chemical warfare. Quaid thought that he was a member of The Colony, the other section of the world that had not been destroyed. The UFB planned to invade The Colony to provide more living space for UFB, even as the people of The Colony had to work in UFB to make a living. In reality, Douglas Quaid came to find out that he was Carl Hauser, an agent working on behalf of The Colony to overcome the UFB. In this first session of the movie, the whole question of past memories is the focus. Past memories occupy Quaid's dreams and have been stored by different means to ensure that he knows what memory is correct. Finally discovering exactly what his real memories were, he realized that he had to deal with them in some way.

Memories are part of our human natures. We have all lived through life experiences that will "stick in our minds" as we say. Sometimes the memories are no bother to us and we might even enjoy them. But sometimes the memories are harmful and keep us from functioning well.

What is the best way to deal with memories that are harmful? In the movie "Total Recall," Douglas Quaid kept having the same dream which was some memory that stayed with him. It was an unpleasant experience, and he decided in the end to go to a place that could help him with his memories. Then once he discovered that he was actually Carl Hauser, he had to deal with the memories that came with his new discovery.

In the Gospels, the lady with an ailment had twelve years of memories that were not pleasant at all. Taking her problem to Jesus, she managed to heal her pain by means of her faith and Jesus' healing power.

We must study the lesson in both incidents--in the movie and in the real life ministry of Jesus--and deal with the memories of the past. Further, when we want to control the memories a little more, we must do it in a healthy way. Douglas Quaid/Carl Hauser put his faith in others and allowed them to help him. The lady in Matthew's Gospel did the same, and trusted Jesus to help her. Both were able to deal with the difficult memories.

Spelling out the lesson of this session of the movie, we must learn to ask the help of others, but especially the help of God through prayer, as we deal with memories that are difficult for us.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, our memories are often a burden to us. Give us the courage to ask others for help, but especially to come to you as we seek guidance. Be with us, we pray.

+++++

GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: We must deal with the memories of the past in a healthy way.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(session: approximately 56 minutes)
1. What scene during this session of the movie is most striking? Why?
2. In the Gospel, Jesus says to the woman that her faith has saved her. What is your understanding of faith?
3. Project: make a presentation on "faith." See Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, numbers 144-165.
4. Name some of your strongest memories and analyze whether they were "good" or "bad" for you.
5. The point is made in the meditation that we can "go to Jesus" to help with harmful memories. In our day, this is accomplished through prayer. How does "prayer" help harmful memories?
6. In general, how do most people deal with harmful memories?
7. Analysis: the world has been destroyed by chemical warfare. In your opinion, is this something that could really happen? Yes or no and why?
8. Dialogue analysis: the question: "Are you happy with how your life turned out?" What is the fundamental thing that a person can do if they are not happy with the ways things are going in one's life?
9. Analysis: what memories would you like to have in your past and do not? Why?
10. Scene analysis: Quaid/Hauser finds messages that he had recorded in the past. If you had a message that you would like to record to be read in your future, what would it consist of?

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