PASCHAL PROCLAMATION

Christ is Risen! This is the traditional Paschal Proclamation. My computer thinks it ought to be ‘Christ is raised.’ At least it’s not ‘Christ was risen.’ I’m not questioning ‘historicity.’ I’m thinking about eternity, which is what the resurrection has to do with. Christ Jesus doesn’t merely come back to history in resurrection but transcends time itself and every other created thing. The resurrection does not restore Christ to history, it restores history to Christ.

I don’t much care for Bible movies. A film is a thing I watch passively as a spectator. The word does not allow such passivity. The word requires engagement. The word calls for a dance partner and says follow me. A film seems a step removed from its subject, not closer. On the other hand there is no real distance between the word and the one who receives. A spectator may be acted upon but the word acts within.

If we are going to present the Christian faith as a motion picture then we’re going to need a suitable screen upon which to view it. I suggest mending the Veil of the Temple and projecting our images on it. Be warned, though. This won’t work with the word for the word is a lover and is not content merely to be seen but tears the veil of our soul’s inner sanctum and enters in to share himself with us, planting the seed of eternal life.

Happy Easter!