Tesha_Foster_Catastrphic_Grace_Week5
docx
keyboard_arrow_up
School
University of Houston, Downtown *
*We aren’t endorsed by this school
Course
3301
Subject
Arts Humanities
Date
Apr 3, 2024
Type
docx
Pages
6
Uploaded by LieutenantProtonGerbil37
RUNNING HEAD: GRACE 1
Catastrophe Grace
Tesha Y. Foster
Concordia University, Portland
GRACE 2
CATASTROPHE GRACE
Life can be very complex at times. People face all times of obstacles at different levels of
life. At times the obstacles can be so overwhelming it’s unbelievable. Additionally, people
become overcome by circumstances. Through absolute disaster, things can turnaround in an
instant. Hope, love, faith, grace, and mercy are the components to the pathway of change. God
gave his son Jesus to the earth to make a difference. Jesus’ life, experiences, teachings, and
parables provide learners/believers with the tools to survive. “Parables usually engage
listeners, create reflection, and promote action” (Snodgrass, 2012, p. 9). God’s
grace is powerful and ever changing. Apostle Paul says it best, “grace and
peace to you from God our father and lord Jesus” (Romans 1: 7). God is the instigator
of grace, and it is from him all grace flows. As life evolves it is vital for humans to ensure
negative events, experiences, or characteristics don’t influence the course of life.
In the movie, The Mission
by Roland Joffé
(1986), a Jesuit mission becomes threatened
by a dysfunctional family, siblings murder, power, sacrifice, misguidance, greed, rage, and lack
of spiritual focus. The contrast of the depiction of the world in the movie is like what humans
face today. The movie reminds humans of the “vitality of love, the miracle of grace, and
transforming power of acts of conscience” (Spirituality Practice, 2015, p. 1). The movie
showcases the struggles of the church, which is defending its bureaucratic structures. Justice
and mercy can fall upon the same person, they can happen in the same
circumstance. "…many Christians, for most of the church's history, have missed
the point completely and chosen instead to busy themselves with downright
contradictions to it" (Capon, 2002, p. 61). The struggle between individual
values and those of political or religious structures is being waged in many
GRACE 3
places. How humans apply God’s word and follow his will for their lives, makes
the difference between a survival and demise.
The Good Examples of Grace
God gives eternal life to the seemingly
underserving
based on grace and not any merits (Capon, 2002). The Mission
, is full of examples of grace. Two critical scenes that exemplify the power of grace from the movie are: (1) when at the request of the priest the brother agrees to visit the church to repent after killing his sibling and (2) when the brother is completely burdened
and in despair with no way out yet, forgiveness prevails. Capon (2002) insists that we must look beyond and have faith in Jesus’ promises and word. God knows humans have a lot to learn. Although the brother did not believe he was worthy to enter the church, the priest convinced him to enter the church for help and healing. Once the brother was inside, he was struggling and others were convinced he was a failure and would not make it. He was struggling with all his sins. The priest kept a close watch on him and at the brink of total failure, the priest stepped in right on time. The priest represents God. God’s goodness and grace takes over and his life begins to shift. No matter what sins are present, through God’s power, humans can receive forgiveness and another chance to live a burden free life (Snodgrass, 2008). When the town people declare total forgiveness upon the brother, his life is renewed in the fullness of God’s grace, love, and mercy. I
t is good to know that God offers grace to all who repents, so that our initial decisions against him does not have to be our final ones. These are examples of the parable of God’s grace for mankind. The town people represent God. Regardless of the torment the brother bestowed on the town, they were willing to forgive. This is what Jesus did while on the cross and after he rose from the ashes in the tomb. He forgave until his last breath. This is the way of God and he commands humans live.
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help
GRACE 4
The Benefit of the Scenes
God's grace and mercy is for everyone who openly receives it. This means that not even our own unrighteousness can keep us from God's grace. "The character of God, who is not like the uncaring, unrighteous judge, but is merciful, patient, and eager to assist his people, and the necessity of staying alert and ready for God's vindication and judgment" (Snodgrass, 2008, p. 462).
In two very different situations, God is present during the time of crisis. The examples above prompt humans to understand every decision has a consequence. God is instructing humans to live a life that is honored by his word and promises. Humans must accept that for every wrong decision, burdens will follow. The brother’s negative decisions were his burdens. He could not easily be freed of the burdens, as God wanted him to learn valuable lessons. The penance was his deliverance (Joffe, 1986). God knows our thoughts and our motives for the things we do.
It is God’s grace and mercy that will save humanity from eternal judgement.
Ending Scenes
As the movie comes to an end, it is revealed that the cardinal chooses himself of the church and God. The mission is dissolved. The cardinal’s decision is the opposite of God’s teachings. God implores humans to live by faith and make decisions based on his word and promises. The cardinal acted on emotions and fear, which for his position in the church was oxymoronic. He failed to protect and service the people which is totally opposite of God’s calling for religious leaders. “
God is a god of grace” God is neither motivated by his own
GRACE 5
sinfulness nor enabled by his ignorance. He is a holy and righteous God. He is perfect in all his ways. “But when he, the spirit of truth comes, he will lead you into all truth.” (Snodgrass, 2008, p. 413). The priest, the town people, and brother have commonalities to trust God and fight for the rights of the people. This is God’s will and love in action. There are times in life that all God wants is for humans to stay for right and trust that he will guide us through it all. Service to others is another example of a parable of grace.
Understanding the Motive and Life Application
“My power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9). It is also a grace that persists even in times of catastrophe, as we will see in The Mission
(Joffé, 1986). God’s grace is a mysterious thing that is powerful beyond comprehension, yet it is still somehow perfected in weakness. Jesus’ parable of grace, provides insight on the purpose of the penance. Humans are not to wallow around in sin and shame. Humans are to repent and through faith and forgiveness turn to God for guidance and restoral. Regardless of everything, God expects love to prevail always. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it
is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8-9). Grace is interpreted in many ways however, the actions from the characters in this movie, show that it does not matter how one starts in life yet it is how you finish that makes the difference. There is nothing too hard for God to handle. At times, in life humans must die to themselves for God’s power to take full control (Capron, 2002). Everyone has a choice, God will patiently be waiting and always willing and able to support or correct based on choice. For grace and faith work together. When one is saved by the grace of God, he is transformed forever.
GRACE 6
References
Capon, R. F. (2002). Kingdom, grace, judgment: Paradox, outrage, and vindication in the parables of Jesus. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing. ISBN: 978-
0802839497
Snodgrass, K. (2008). Stories with intent: A comprehensive guide to the parables of Jesus. Grand
Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing. ISBN: 978-0802842411
Joffé, R. (1986). The mission [Motion picture]. United States: Warner Home Video
Spirituality Practice. (2015). God’s grace. Retrieved from website: http://www.spiritualparable.net
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help