This past week I had the blessing of seeing the movie “Unplanned” with Fr. Steve and Fr. Joseph. And while it was very difficult to watch with the subject matter of abortion so baldly presented the themes of redemption, reconciliation and forgiveness were the true and ultimate gifts this powerful movie placed into my heart. I am not a movie reviewer nor do I wish to review this movie but I would highly recommend it to anyone to help to better understand the grave tragedy of abortion in our society, communities and families.
As followers of Jesus Christ we believe in the reality of redemption, reconciliation and forgiveness within the community and family but most importantly with our God. “Of all human events recorded in history, none is more appalling to the human mind, none more appealing to the human heart, than the tragic scenes and events surrounding the Passion and Death of Our Lord and Redeemer, Jesus Christ.” (p 10 “Christ’s Darkest Hours” by Rev. Clement Henry Crock) As we near the great Easter mystery, the moment of forgiveness offered to us from the Cross of Jesus Christ, can be seen through this act of love, this call to life and the blessing of unity that is destroyed when we choose sin and divisiveness in our daily lives.
One of the most powerful images in the movie “Unplanned” was the change in the pro-life movement through the passage of the 8 years of the story. At the beginning of the movie the protesters were angry, shouting, condemning and threatening in many instances. By the end of these years there is a conversion of mercy and forgiveness; they became prayerful, quiet and trusting in God’s will even in the midst of this terrible wound inflicted upon our world. It is the model of Jesus’ Passion played out where Peter begins the night with sword drawn but it ends with the peaceful and quiet prayer of our Blessed Mother and St. John the Beloved Disciple at the foot of the cross in loving witness to the death of our Lord and Savior for the forgiveness of our sins.
This is the reality of redemption we must all choose to live in all circumstances of our lives. All to often we fall to easily into condemnation in the noisy and distracted world that surrounds us where we barely take a breath of thought before we jump into the next constructed crisis given to move our eyes away for the call to intimate and lasting relationship. We must begin to once more contemplate the scene on Calgary, the Cross with a woman and young man at the foot looking up at the tortured body with love and silence not distracted by the jeering of so many but remaining constant and true in their hope of a greater love. As St. John Chrysostom reminds us “Adoring the Cross means taking up part of its weight, being like the man from Cyrene who lightened Christ’s burden on the path of suffering. Adoring the Cross means being aware that we are not alone in the struggle against sin, and that even the worst of thieves can reach heaven by looking to the Crucified Christ.” (from Discourses on the Cross and Thief)
“Taking up part of its weight” is choosing to walk with in love and mercy and join with God in the healing acts of love we are all called to share in as disciples of Jesus Christ. Because as “Unplanned” shows clearly…redemption is for each of us offered in Jesus’ Passion, forgiveness is extended to all through the pained whisper of love from the Cross, reconciliation is the union of love as we embrace the Body of our Lord.
“Holiness does not consist in not making mistakes or never sinning. Holiness grows with capacity for conversion, repentance, willingness to begin again, and above all with the capacity for reconciliation and forgiveness.” ~ Pope Benedict XVI
God Bless
Fr. Mark