CNN has asked i-reporters for their favorite movie line.
I expect mine might be considered odd. It is from the 1999 movie, Stigmata, loosely based on the discovery of the Gospel of Thomas. In the movie, a dead priest, who was authenticating a gospel alleged to have been written by Jesus himself, dies in exile in South America . . . his soul then possesses a hairdresser in the United States . . . after her globe-trotting Mother gifts her with the priest's stolen rosary. The young woman begins suffering The Stigmata, and writing Aramaic on the walls of her apartment. A skeptical priest investigates - even as his superiors at the Vatican try to suppress the investigation, because what the possessed woman is communicating is considered heretical.
The movie, very controversial for obvious reasons, was on cable tonight.
Without delving into the controversy, here is the movie quote:
Jesus said... the Kingdom of God is inside you, and all around you, not in mansions of wood and stone. Split a piece of wood... and I am there, lift a stone... and you will find me.
For some reason, I don't find it heretical at all.
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4 comments:
Stigmata is one of my favorite movies and I watch it every time it comes on, like tonight.
The line "Spilt A Piece of Wood" is a powerful statement and thought provoking to those willing to entertain the possibility that WE hold the key to "enlightenment" and ones purpose on earth.
Jesus, I believe, was a wise and insightful teacher who knew that the "Kingdom of Heaven" is not in a church or up in the sky but it is within us. We, as humans, create our own heaven and hell and evil is created by our desire to make it "all about us" instead of "all about humanity" But then there is not a lot of money and control in that thinking so of course the "church" would consider it heretical.
While there are many wonderful places of worship that bring peace and comfort to many there are also segments of organized religion that, like in the movie, will always rail that there is only one way to "God" and that is thru the church, and there in lays donations and control and the thought that one cannot find peace and purpose for themselves but must be lead like sheep or children.
We create "heaven" in helping others and offering comfort and support, by acknowledging a responsibility to the care and well being of the earth. We create "hell" by ignoring that we have a duty as humans to help and support our fellow beings in their search for purpose and meaning.
Walk out and view any sunrise and you are in "church", be still and appreciate the beauty of a full moon and you are in "heaven". No buildings, no sermons no rules and regulations, no shalt and shalt not, everything you need to know is there...within....just waiting for the "ah ha" moment.
Thank you
Judi Sutton
Well, Jesus is much more than just a "Teacher" to me . . . and I'm one of those "wack-jobs" that believes Evil walks as a palpable/real presence in this world.
But if one believes in Him as The Great I AM, I don't find anything particularly heretical in the thinking that God is everywhere . . . in us and all around us . . . even in the simplest & smallest wonders of His creation.
The line, "Split a piece of wood and I am there" spoke to me because my Grandfather (Cecil) was a carpenter by trade. And I adored him.
I think the closest I ever felt to God was standing next to Granddaddy as a child - in the tiny backwoods Baptist church he helped build - and listening to him sing the old hymns very loudly and off key . . . in that "High Tide" twang.
It was the voice of an angel as far as I was concerned.
As for "the church", I do believe that an association with other believers is important to cultivate - inaasmuch as I have avoided it for years (see the "He's Alive" post in my side-bar). I am endeavoring, this year, to make changes in that regard - in small increments - starting with tithing.
Thank you for your thoughts - they made me smile.
However, "split a piece of wood, and you will find me" could refer to the heart or soul of a person IE the bad or good, could it not??? Lift a stone you might find me... Could this be in reference to the choice we have to make ourselves?????
only thoughts G
I honestly don't see/feel quite that much ambiguity in the statement, but then again, these days everything is open to interpretation.
Thanks for dropping by.
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