Left speechless by 'The Passion'

After seeing the movie "The Passion of the Christ" by Mel Gibson, many people asked me, "What did you think?"

What can you say about the Passion? My answer was nothing. The recounting of Jesus' suffering was too numbing and indescribable. But I gained a clearer perspective regarding the sacrifice Jesus made for us.

Many times during the drama, I found myself retreating, unable to watch what I was hearing. The sight of the whip cutting into flesh was more than I could stomach, and I felt nauseated.

However I was drawn to watching most occurrences. I reasoned if Jesus could withstand the unspeakable treatment, I could at least experience a minuscule degree of Christ's suffering by attempting to live it mentally and emotionally.

Seeing the historically authentic human occurrence was painful, but it planted the humanity of Jesus solidly in my mind and heart. I noticed the maternal instincts of Mary as she tearfully and tenderly looked upon her son. She couldn't escape the torture of watching the heinous deeds committed against him. As a mother, I could only imagine Mary's pain, and I gained added admiration for her part in the crucifixion.

As I watched Jesus suffering the brutal beatings and indignities, I noticed he, like us, showed the full extent of his humanity by crying out in pain and questioning God why he had forsaken him. He pleaded "Oh God, oh God." He must have thought, "If I can just get through this, look what I will have accomplished." I felt he prayed for the strength and will to hang on, knowing the sins of the world would be forgiven if he could persevere in completing the job.

As Jesus thought back on The Last Supper, when he offered bread and wine to his disciples, my heart leapt into my throat as I recognized my privilege of frequently receiving the body and blood of Jesus in Holy Communion. I shall never again see the Eucharist in the same context after viewing the bloody stripes and battered body of Jesus related in such convincing detail.

Although I was horrified by Christ's suffering I was reassured that, because of its wondrous benefit of eternal life for Christians, whatever suffering I might experience would be turned into joy, too, if I believed in Christ.

Although rejected and humiliated, Jesus overcame the world. God will resurrect me, too, from whatever kind of death, physical or mental, I might experience.

I paid attention to the horrific treatment of Jesus, but I meditated more on the good that came from it. I received added confidence that if God could turn something so ghastly as the crucifixion into something good -- Jesus' rising again -- we too shall be subject to the same inheritance.

Our lives can become drastically chaotic, but we cling to faith in God, regardless of how bad things become, he could make all things turn out to the good. What an awesome confidence on which to hold!

While "The Passion" was graphic and violent to watch, it caused my spirit to comprehend the scriptural stories of Jesus, Mary, and the death and resurrection of Jesus as definite reality.

Rather than viewing Jesus as someone far away and untouchable, beyond his divinity, I now see him as someone just like me.

I can still say nothing concerning the passion of Jesus because such a sacrifice is too awesome for words. Although I am appreciative, I am, yet, speechless!

Ellen Shuck is director of religious education at St. Mary's Cathedral in Cape Girardeau.