Entertaining Angels

Question: The beautifully photographed scene in which Dorothy joins Peter in washing the feet reminds you of what biblical scene? When Dorothy joined Peter in washing the old man's feet, instantly one thought came to mind, the biblical scene of Jesus washing the apostles feet the night of the Last Supper. This scene is extremely significant because Dorothy is tending to the needs of those who have less than her, just like Jesus did. Dorothy plays the role of a true hero throughout the film "Entertaining Angels" because of her on-going support for anyone whom she encounters. Her unconditional love for her daughter, friends, and the poor shows how much Jesus shone through her everyday that she lived. Her calling led her to sacrifice a man whom she truly loved. She asked Forster to attend the baptism of their baby, but he refused to even listen to Dorothy because he did not want any religion involved in their relationship and their lives. Therefore, her calling to the church ended up bringing her closer to Jesus but further from Forster, a man she loved at one point in her life. Overall, Dorothy's story has an effect on anyone who learns about it, watching her grow and completely transform into a different person enabled me to see that anyone can be changed for the better if they are dedicated to their religion and to others.

Hotel Rwanda

The film Hotel Rwanda for me, was very effective and moving. Not only am I more thoughtful to others around me and life in general, but viewing this movie has shown me not to take anything for granted because anything can change in an instant. Jack, who plays a cameraman for BBC, speaks very truthfully about how an individual typically reacts to violence in todays society. He says, "If people see this footage, they’ll say ‘Oh, my God, that’s horrible,’ and then they’ll go on eating their dinners." Sadly, I am guilty of this statement while many others are as well. Since the 21st century is so open to violence and completely adjusted to viewing in it all different ways, we are desensitized to harmful acts like genocide and war because we see it all the time. If current society was different, than I believe that many people would act upon violence in our world and would send help in any way if it was needed somewhere in the world.

Can Forgiveness Play a role in Criminal Justice?

Before reading the article "Forgiveness" which involves a case between Connor McBride, a 19 year old who murdered his girlfriend Ann Grosmaire, I was not aware as to how large of a role restorative justice played in our society. In my opinion, I don't think that restorative justice should be considered as an alternative to the traditional criminal justice system. If restorative justice should be applied in society, it should be used in minor cases, not major cases like the murder of Ann Grosmaire. If criminals are giving the opportunity to redeem themselves from their actions instantly, then they will not change their actions from the past. Any person like Connor McBride is truly a large threat to our world and I believe people like him should redeem themselves through a certain amount of time in jail, but nothing too extreme like the death penalty.

Conclave 2013

If I were given the opportunity to offer my personal perspective on what kind of a person I would like to see take up the role as leader of the Catholic Church, many attributes and qualities come to mind. Although I did not pay much attention to the Pope before his decision to retire came about, I hope to become more involved and stay in tuned to all that will happen in the future. I believe our church needs a leader who connects strongly with the younger generations. If he appeals to the youth, I believe there will be much better feedback and participation in everything he takes part in. In addition, I strongly suggest that our church needs a leader who addresses problems to all of those across the globe, not just specific cultures, genders, races etc. By doing this, all will be aware of the ongoing problems in society and each individual in our world can be understood if we are all addressed equally.

Roses in December

Before viewing the movie Roses in December, I was unsure as what to expect from the film in general. Needless to say, my perspective on “living life to the fullest” has been acknowledged more during my daily life because of Jean Donavon. Jean’s endless care and time for others is how she stood out from other people. There was never a moment in time when she did not go above and beyond to serve others who pleaded for help in various ways. Even though Jean put her life in jeopardy by traveling to El Salvador which was involved in conflict and violence at the time, she still never doubted herself and her faith. Jean’s clear response to her calling from God was evident through this. She did not hesitate to stay away from such a war-torn territory, she trusted God and her life was taken. Although Jean and three other martyrs died traumatic deaths together, their courage and strength is still acknowledged today from everyone who comes across their story. Jean is someone who I aspire to be, and after viewing this documentary I hope to live life to the fullest in my daily life just like her.

Lent

For me, Lent has always been a time to challenge myself in a way that I can look back at these 6 weeks and say that I have grown as a person. Ever since I was little, I have always attempted to give up items of my liking, for instance, food and social media. However, this year I hope to remember this Lent by making it different from all of the others. After going on a 24 hour silent retreat, I now know that I need to take more quiet time to myself to reflect and relax. By doing that, I know I will come to now God in a different way and learn how to approach others differently. This Lenten season I hope to be more open minded to others, patient, and forgiving. These efforts to change mentally and emotionally throughout these next 40 years will help me grow as a person and become closer to God.

The Mystery of Suffering

The first point that Kenneth Overberg makes about Jesus and suffering, “Jesus resisted and eliminated suffering” is repeatedly shown through Jesus’ acts of healing in the Gospel. He performed these acts to reduce pain from suffers and to show us that God is present throughout each of our lives even in our time of suffering. The second point, “Jesus rejected suffering as punishment for sin”, means that Jesus never wanted to see any of his brothers or sisters suffer; therefore, we must turn to him in times of despair, not reject him. The last point, “Jesus trusted a compassionate, present God”, shows how faithful Jesus was to God. Even though Jesus experienced the same physical and emotional pain that some humans do, he never lost hope that God will be with him always. The two traditional interpretation of Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection have very distinct and contrasting meanings. The first, “A Theology of Atonement and Ransom” is the belief that God enabled suffering on those who sinned. The second, “A Theology of Incarnation”, is the view that God is a gracious who wants to share his divine life. I believe our incarnate God can speak to us in many ways, with Jesus being the most prominent. God brought Jesus into our world to free us from our sins and to give us new life. If He was not brought into our world, we would never be aware of the messages Jesus shared to his people and of God’s greatness.