The Passion of Jesus Christ revisited

The Passion of the Christ movie

 

I came away from watching the movie “Passion” identifying more with Mary the mother of Jesus, than with Him or the hypocritical religious types, the Roman torturers, mocking crowds, or helpless disciples.

 

I’m not sure if this was because I’m a mother of sons or if it was a deflection, a dodge from the full message because it is just not de regeiur to be devastated in public. We Americans like to be under control so when emotions well up we quickly, unbeknownst to even ourselves, stifle them.  This film was about human frailty becoming a vessel for God’s passion for mankind.

 

 I liked the relationship it showed of Jesus to his mother. He drew strength from her in that very visible and tangible way moms interact with their children.  That earthy, lifelong bond that is understood by all but the most depraved torturers ( like those who took great pleasure in flaying Jesus’ body).  Probably they got that way, like Captain Hook in Peter Pan, for lack of a mommy.  Jesus’ relationship with his father in Heaven was only seen as it affected Jesus, at times he doubted his father’s plan but in the end yielded to it in a sublime trust we are asked to emulate.

 

If the very realistic and drawn out torment of Jesus didn’t get to you, then I bet the mother of Jesus mopping up his spilled blood did.  It would take a mom or a dad to do that, one that had lost all concern for what others thought of them.  One who was passionate about their child. Sometimes it is only our kids that awaken that passion in us.  Most can relate to the impulse to do anything for our kids.  That’s it…that’s what the Father was demonstrating through Jesus.  The passionate love a parent has for a child, with it, a person can conquer death.  Without it a person may be incapable of giving love or compassion.

When Mary went to Jesus as he carried his Cross he gained strength and explained “See I’m making all things New!”

 

The lost boys and girls who tormented Jesus, like those in Never Neverland were caught in eternal torment of selfishness themselves.  They had not matured to a point where they could put others first.

 

Parenthood when it’s done right has a way of causing your own priorities to take a back seat. That is why parents often come apart when they lose a child.  It goes against nature.

 

For Jesus and Mary and all of us, life requires a sublime trust in God’s plan.

 

 

Chris Noonan Funnell    2/28/04

 

Posted via email from chrisnoonanfunnell's posterous

Lobby Day at the State House, Boston

Today was Lobby Day at the State House organized by opponents of the Bathroom Bill. If you have never gone to an event like this you really owe yourself and your progeny this attention to your government. 
On the same day The Health Insurance Bill(It is really not about health care)was signed into law, citizens in Massachusetts had to travel great distances to visit the Statehouse and plead with their reps to stop the "Bathroom Bill" which has been promoted by Transgender activists who want to allow anyone to use the bathroom or locker room of his or her choice, no matter what sex they are or appear to be. confused..?..join the club. This is the third time this issue has been brought to committee and like a battering ram they will keep at it until we send such a strong message the bill's promoters give up.
Now, no one wants to deny health care to those who need it. That is not the issue...it is all the hidden costs, backroom deals and incursion into our rights.
Here in Massachusetts this sort of forced health insurance is bankcrupting the state. It is a failed experiment and should not be applied on a national level.  Romney should come back and clean up the mess he made leaving us with Romneycare and same sex marriage. I would not trust him as president as he is a true flip flopper with no demonstrated commitment to Life or the sanctity of marriage.
The Bathroom Bill S1728 is really about erasing gender distinction, not civil rights as we already ave such laws on the books. Opponents of this bill are not homophobes and they are most concerned with the safety issue for the bulk of society who will be put in harms way by predators who will take advantage of this poorly written bill. Children in school will be forced to have unisex bathrooms and locker rooms. Have we all taken leave of our senses?
It is astounding that the statehouse entertains such proposals and wastes time and resources on ridiculous proposals like this.
I lay much of the blame at the door of media who have under reported and not alerted the public to the shenanigans.  This PC bias is killing journalism, like the White house, it has been taken over by radicals with a secular agenda.
Such responses as the Internet, blogs and TEA parties are changing the way we communicate and how we respond to things. Boston is Tea Party country and we ave a big one scheuled on the Common on April 14th with Sarah Palin. You can pick up your 'Don't Tread on Me' flag at Faneuil Hall Market Place for $9.99.
Check out the Greater Boston TEA Party for more info. If you have never been to Boston this would be a great time to come and participate in a historical movement.

Posted via email from chrisnoonanfunnell's posterous

Comfort From America - Opinion - Israel National News

by Chris Noonan Funnell

Follow Israel opinion on

and

.

Many Christians in the US hear the cries of Israel, and stand with the people of Israel who have bought, with blood, sweat and tears, this strip of land covenanted to them through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and most recently returned to Israeli sovereignty by the conquest of 1967.

via israelnationalnews.com

I said it then and I say it now.

Posted via web from chrisnoonanfunnell's posterous

The Collegiate Day of Prayer at Harvard

Collegiate Day of Prayer at Harvard 2010, February 25th
For the first time in a hundred years small band of prayer warriors gathered by the faithful Brazilian pastor, Edson Porto, met at 7 a.m. under the portico of Harvard University’s Memorial Church to mark The Collegiate Day of Prayer. It was cold and rainy with chill winds making our extremities numb by the end of an hour of  prayer, petition and proclamation outdoors
One student, Adam, had to go to class but the rest of us, representatives of 4 different local churches, went inside the majestic church in Harvard Yard where my husband and I were married thirty years before almost to the day.
In 2000 Edson called a prayer meeting there on our 20^th wedding anniversary and we felt we were part of this mission to see Harvard return to its Christian roots and purpose, to educate leaders for the church and government.
We entered the vestibule, took off our coats and walked into the light filled sanctuary with white walls and pews, raised dark pulpit and unseen in the narthex on the pipe organ someone was practicing lovely hymns reminding me of our wedding ceremony. We knelt, prayed, read from Isaiah 54, agreed to a proclamation, sang a new song and and an old one, Amazing Grace.
As we were about to leave we met a small group of students who were headed upstairs for a prayer meeting and they invited us to join them. Edson was elated seeing the significance of being invited to the”Upper Room”.
After more prayers and scripture reading we had to close but were again invited to a larger meeting that night at Harvard Hall which was attended by about 80 students.
There has been so much wind and rain in the area lately. March is coming in like a lion...soon comes the Lamb.

Posted via email from chrisnoonanfunnell's posterous