Since more than 50 million copies of The Da Vinci Code have been sold in
print format, and another few million sold in audio format, I’m under the
assumption that most of the members of the Community of St. Malachi have either
read, listened to, or know the plot behind this thrilling fictional novel. I had
the pleasure of listening to the audio version on the way to my Mother-in-law’s
residence in North Carolina (9 hour drive) about a year-and-a-half ago (I
believe it was the abridged version; the full version would have taken us into
Georgia).
I don’t usually make the time to read fiction. When I do, it’s usually a
John Grisham novel, and only on vacation. I’m mostly into business and
self-help books. The Da Vinci Code was one of the best fictional pieces I’ve
ever read (or listened to, that is), possibly only outdone by Dan Brown’s
other masterpiece Angels and Demons, or maybe The Beach House by Patterson. All
excellent pieces of fiction.
Fiction is a funny thing when it involves Jesus. Remember when the movie The
Last Temptation of Christ came out? Or most recently, The Passion of Christ?
Lots of objections…from just about every Christian denomination, including
Catholicism. And not to be left out, The Da Vinci Code, released on May 19th in
a theater near you.
Pam (my beautiful wife) and I went to see it opening night. She purchased
tickets in advance as part of my birthday present. Needless to say, I was very
excited. Actually, it wasn’t as bad as the reviews. Stayed pretty much with
the book. Can’t say I was a big fan of Tom Hanks in the lead role, but he hasn’t
been the same to me since he left Bosom Buddies. Anyway, this is not a movie
review.
Okay, to the point. Why all the fuss Christians? I have always been under the
belief that anything that triggers questions about who Jesus is, human and
divine, is a good thing. I believe it brings us closer to Jesus to spend any
time thinking about what our Lord did for us, for me.
Get this…one of my relation goes to a non-denominational church. The Pastor
there actually told the congregation not to see this movie. What, would that be
a sin? Is the Pastor telling his members that their faith is not strong enough
to handle a fictional telling around the meaning of the holy grail?
Questioning does not mean altering ones beliefs. Question everything? If you
studied anything about the rhetoric of Plato, Aristotle and other philosophers,
to them, to question is an important part of life. Continuously questioning ones
one beliefs and being challenged by other philosophies is how we grow into
fully-developed men and women. There is no sin in questioning, or in seeking out
more information, or in learning about what other people belief and hold dear…or
even in seeing a movie that does not follow the Gospels that we hold so dear. Do
we really believe that a devout Christina is going to convert to Judaism if they
attend Temple, or become a Scientologist by listening to Tom Cruise. Let’s be
serious. Christian leadership…give some credit to your Church.
I heard on the radio the other day that a large percentage of people who read
The Da Vinci Code altered their beliefs about Jesus’ relationship with Mary
Magdalene. If that is true, what is their definition of “beliefs?” Question;
always. Transforming your belief structure? If one book can do that, I’ve got
some land in downtown Cleveland to sell you.
I’ll leave you with this thought. In my Junior year at St. Mary High School
in Sandusky, my religion class was giving an essay test. All the questions were,
“How do you feel?” questions. To me, that’s an opinion test. As long as
opinion questions are answered, the question is right. Right? I received a C on
the test. When approaching Sister Bernadette with why I was graded that way, she
responded that some of my answers were incorrect. “Incorrect?” I said. “How
is that possible? You are asking my opinion.” With that, she responded, “There
is only one opinion that counts in this class. Mine.” I’m sending her my
ticket stub.
In honor of Padre Franco, I give this move two-and-a-half bells.
