Difference between revisions of "Sermon for January 26th, 2020"

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Those are the historical facts around which this film is structured, as it tells the story of Benedict and Francis, and their relationship and interactions with each other in the years leading up to Benedict's resignation and Francis' ascension.  The story itself is pretty speculative, although the writers of the film have used writings and interviews from each man to construct a lot of the dialogue between them.  
 
Those are the historical facts around which this film is structured, as it tells the story of Benedict and Francis, and their relationship and interactions with each other in the years leading up to Benedict's resignation and Francis' ascension.  The story itself is pretty speculative, although the writers of the film have used writings and interviews from each man to construct a lot of the dialogue between them.  
  
There are also flashbacks to Francis' young adulthood and career as a priest and Bishop in Argentina.  
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There are also frequent flashbacks to Francis' young adulthood and career as a priest and Bishop in Argentina.
 +
 
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====Breaking My Own Rule?====
 +
When we first started doing this film series every year, I made a rule for myself that I would never choose films that were overtly Christian.  There are a lot of movies out there that are written by Christians, for Christian audiences, about Christian themes.  Some of them are good enough, although most are pretty bad, but in any case I was more interested in teaching all of us how to recognize spiritual and biblical themes in *unexpected* places, places outside of the walls of the church, outside of our Christian bubble.
 +
 
 +
So why this film, which seems inescapably religious by the very nature of the story and the characters? Well, first of all, it's really good.  And it's actually not made by Christians for Christians--the director, the screenwriter, and both of the principal actors are all Hollywood insiders, which usually means they aren't Christian insiders (although Jonathan Pryce, the actor who plays Pope Francis, was raised Presbyterian!).  And while the story centers around two well known Christians, the Popes, they are also the two Christians who seem to attract the most curiosity and attention from non-Christians.  So really, I think this is the rare story about Christians, told by non-Christians attempting to understand what Christianity is really all about.  I think if were' honest, we're all still trying to figure out what Christianity is all about, too.
  
 
====Opposites Attract====
 
====Opposites Attract====
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In both reality and in this film, you'd be hard pressed to find two more opposite personalities than Benedict and Francis.  Benedict is a scholar who loves books, and Francis is a pastor who loves people.  Benedict likes hymns and classical music; Francis likes the Beatles and ABBA.  Benedict upholds church traditions, while Francis often questions and challenges them.
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 +
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*https://youtu.be/O_Zu6ykdwsg
 
*https://youtu.be/O_Zu6ykdwsg
  
 
*https://youtu.be/t3pvQU9Tq40
 
*https://youtu.be/t3pvQU9Tq40

Revision as of 11:49, 25 January 2020

Psalm 22:1-5 (OT p. 500)

1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
    Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?
2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer;
    and by night, but find no rest. 
3 Yet you are holy,
    enthroned on the praises of Israel.
4 In you our ancestors trusted;
    they trusted, and you delivered them.
5 To you they cried, and were saved;
    in you they trusted, and were not put to shame.

Isaiah 41:8-10 (OT p. 669)

8 But you, Israel, my servant,
    Jacob, whom I have chosen,
    the offspring of Abraham, my friend;
9 you whom I took from the ends of the earth,
    and called from its farthest corners,
saying to you, “You are my servant,
    I have chosen you and not cast you off”;
10 do not fear, for I am with you,
     do not be afraid, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
    I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.

Faith & Film VIII: The Two Popes

Three Minute Film Synopsis

In February of 2013, Pope Benedict XVI, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, the worlds largest Christian denomination, resigned from his office. This came as a bit of a surprise to most people--both inside and outside the Catholic church--since the last time a Pope resigned of his own free will was in the year 1294. In the same year, the college of cardinals elected a new pope to fill the vacancy: Jorge Mario Bergoglio, an Argentinian, and the first Pope from the Southern Hemisphere. He chose to be called Pope Francis, and is the current reigning Pope. His predecessor, Benedict, took the title "Pope Emeritus" and continues to reside in Vatican City, making this the first time in centuries that we have two men alive authorized by their church to wear the white papal outfit; two men who are addressed by their followers as "Holy Father" and in short, two popes.

Those are the historical facts around which this film is structured, as it tells the story of Benedict and Francis, and their relationship and interactions with each other in the years leading up to Benedict's resignation and Francis' ascension. The story itself is pretty speculative, although the writers of the film have used writings and interviews from each man to construct a lot of the dialogue between them.

There are also frequent flashbacks to Francis' young adulthood and career as a priest and Bishop in Argentina.

Breaking My Own Rule?

When we first started doing this film series every year, I made a rule for myself that I would never choose films that were overtly Christian. There are a lot of movies out there that are written by Christians, for Christian audiences, about Christian themes. Some of them are good enough, although most are pretty bad, but in any case I was more interested in teaching all of us how to recognize spiritual and biblical themes in *unexpected* places, places outside of the walls of the church, outside of our Christian bubble.

So why this film, which seems inescapably religious by the very nature of the story and the characters? Well, first of all, it's really good. And it's actually not made by Christians for Christians--the director, the screenwriter, and both of the principal actors are all Hollywood insiders, which usually means they aren't Christian insiders (although Jonathan Pryce, the actor who plays Pope Francis, was raised Presbyterian!). And while the story centers around two well known Christians, the Popes, they are also the two Christians who seem to attract the most curiosity and attention from non-Christians. So really, I think this is the rare story about Christians, told by non-Christians attempting to understand what Christianity is really all about. I think if were' honest, we're all still trying to figure out what Christianity is all about, too.

Opposites Attract

In both reality and in this film, you'd be hard pressed to find two more opposite personalities than Benedict and Francis. Benedict is a scholar who loves books, and Francis is a pastor who loves people. Benedict likes hymns and classical music; Francis likes the Beatles and ABBA. Benedict upholds church traditions, while Francis often questions and challenges them.