My Favorite Jesus Movie

Mike Van Vranken, Diocese of Shreveport Spiritual Advisor

BY NOW, MANY OF YOU HAVE PROBABLY

WATCHED HULU’S “THE POPE: ANSWERS.” It is one of the best “Jesus movies” I have ever seen. Pope Francis meets with about ten young people (20 to 25-year-olds) and candidly invites them to discuss such issues as people leaving the Church, racism, clergy abuse, abortion, women in the Church, LGBTQIA+, migration, and more. Rather than portraying Jesus as an actor in a movie, Francis lives the gospel just as Jesus did: with interest (listening), compassion (heartfelt entering the other’s concerns), and love (explaining his beliefs without judgment). Forget bingeing on The Chosen, this is the ministry experience of God’s kingdom we hear in the Sunday gospel readings played out in our 2023 world.

How many times have we asked how to do evangelization?

We wonder what we are supposed to say. It’s not about our words. Words alone are empty. Words without action do not offer much. We can say “I love you” a million times. But if those words are not followed up with action, they are lifeless. Mary Birmingham wrote: “The ministry of evangelization demands that we offer life where life is lacking. Where people do not enjoy what is necessary to uphold a decent standard of life, then life is lacking.”

Jesus sent the twelve to cure the sick and raise the dead (Mt 10:8). Jesus said He came so that we may have life (Jn 10:10). Our calling is to bring life where a decent standard of life is lacking. It’s what Jesus asks of each of us. And it’s not a casual, every-once-in-a-while ministry. This is who we are called to be – life-givers.

When I see someone in Africa who is hungry, do I stop what I’m doing and ask God to show me how I can be engaged in giving this person a decent standard of living life?

What about people who need a higher level of health care than is being offered to them? How do I engage with their need?

Am I conscious enough of my calling to be a life-giver when someone is excluded because they have a different gender attraction or gender identity than what some people have pre-determined for them?

How do I lovingly respond to the lonely single people whose lives seem hopeless for satisfying their deep need for companionship and sharing?

How do I respond as a life-giver for those who are confined to jails and prisons?

We’re also commissioned to give a decent standard of life to immigrants, refugees, and those hurt by racism, sexism, and abuse. How are we being Jesus to these?

Of course, what is staring us in the face is that these issues haven’t changed much over the centuries. This has been gospel teaching for two thousand years and the teachings of the Old Testament prophets for over a thousand years before that. Where have we gone wrong? How have we failed to follow Jesus’ and the OT prophets’ simple call? I believe it all begins with our inability to listen.

What would happen if we only shut up and listened?

My suggestion for this month is to take any of the issues I’ve listed above and picture a scenario about that issue. How do you feel as you examine what you see? How do you feel about your own responses to these issues over the years? Ask God what it would take for you to let go of fear, prejudice, and the desire to always be right, and completely give yourself to someone in need. And then, sit and listen to God. Listen closely. Listen as long as it takes. Listen daily, for a week, month, and even longer. Once some life-giving ideas are rooted in your heart, maybe you can even take these to your parish and spread your new, evolving love for others there. You’ll find it’s very contagious.

And if you don’t even know how to imagine all of this, find access to Hulu’s “The Pope: Answers.” Our Holy Father has been modeling this evangelistic behavior all his Jesuit life. And he’s even better at it now than ever before. He’ll show you what it’s like for an 86-year-old man, a wisdom figure sitting at the top of the entire Roman Catholic Church, who can keep his mouth shut and allow young people just beginning their adult life to express their hopes and fears, doubts, and questions in a non-judgmental and safe environment. Will we ever all agree on everything? I hope not. That would certainly stagnate any growth. It’s when we are all listening and sharing in loving compassionate ways to our diversity of thought that we all grow together. Let’s start doing it like Pope Francis. Let’s begin doing it like Jesus.