Local Christians, deeply moved by The Passion of the Christ, react in many ways as Good Friday approaches.
By EILEEN SCHULTE
Published April 4, 2004
Unlike the Texas man who, after seeing The Passion of the Christ, walked into a police station and confessed to killing his pregnant friend, local Christians appear to be reacting to Mel Gibson's film in more subtle ways.
As Good Friday, the day Christians worldwide mourn the crucifixion and death of Jesus, approaches, some plan to read every line of the Gospels. Others say they will attend church services more faithfully.
A number of them have made a commitment to pray more - and not just before the turkey is carved at Thanksgiving or to get an A on a test.
Regardless of whether these personal vows last until the memory of the film starts to fade or whether they become lifetime habits, one thing is certain: Some people were deeply moved by the film.
And the movie is stunningly popular in light of its faith-based subject matter. According to the industry publication Variety, the movie had pulled in more than $315-million by Friday, two days before Palm Sunday. The film, which played on 3,214 screens last week, opened on at least 400 more screens Friday.
The film's distributor, Newmarket, anticipates higher ticket sales during Holy Week, the last week of Lent.
Some people consider Gibson's film a cinematic masterpiece and call it a spiritual, emotional experience that left them contemplating their own sins. Although they say they are all sinners, Jesus died to save them. They plan to prove their appreciation in their own ways.
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"I'm a changed person," said Jen Bjers, who has seen the movie twice. "When I saw it for the second time, I had my pocket stacked full of Kleenex. It was just too emotional. And I knew when to hide my eyes. I'm still in complete amazement. I will see it again and (buy) it when it comes out (on DVD)."
Bjers, 25, a student at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, who plans to become a physician, said she used to pray only when she needed help in school or when saying grace at dinner. She said she prays regularly now.
When she saw the film a second time, she invited a Jewish friend, who wasn't thrilled with it.
"She thought it was anti-Semitic (specifically when) they portrayed (Jewish people) as devils," Bjers said.
Bjers, who admitted she never really observed Good Friday before, said she will now look at the day differently.
On Good Friday, she said, she plans to read passages out of the Gospel of Luke and "say a prayer."
Bjers' sister, Sandra Hoggard, attended the movie with her, their mother, Mary Gosnell, and their stepfather, David Gosnell, pastor of New Hope Community Church in Dunedin, the day after it was released.
Hoggard wept during many of the scenes.
"I was stunned," she said. "The message became crystal clear. It brought home the sacrifice Jesus made. In the past, I would have maybe taken it for granted."
Hoggard watched the most violent whipping scenes with her hand over her eyes, as though she were watching a horror movie.
"Before I saw the movie, the most significant holidays to me were Christmas and Easter," she said. "I used to think Easter was about chocolate bunnies. Now, Good Friday and Easter are just as significant or more than Christmas."
On Good Friday, she said, she will "spend a lot of quiet time thinking about how Jesus died for our sins."
So will the Rev. Joan Hill, pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Safety Harbor, who saw The Passion two weeks ago and cried through the whole film.
"My reaction was one of deep sadness to see what happened to Christ," she said. "When it was over, I just couldn't talk. I wanted to be where it was quiet."
And she wasn't the only one.
"People just walked out in silence," Hill said. "People who had brought in popcorn were bringing it out uneaten. A woman (usher) standing outside the (theater) door said "Thank you for coming!' very cheery. We thought, don't you know what we've just seen?"
On Good Friday, the sanctuary of the 80-year-old church will be open from noon to 3 p.m. to give people an opportunity to pray and meditate silently while music plays in the background.
As for the movie, Hill has told her 99-member congregation it is a "must-see."
Joyce Lovely needed no convincing.
"The Gospels give the facts (of the Passion) but not the details," she said. "You become so used to the crucifixion, it washes over you. The (film) brought home to me the emotional aspect. I kept thinking, it was my sins that put him there, sins of omission."
As they have for the past few years, Lovely and her husband, Luther, plan to fast, taking in nothing but water on Good Friday. This year, "it will probably re-enforce us to do it."
They will read devotional literature, attend a midday church service, write in their journals, spend 30 to 40 minutes in silent prayer at least three times that day and refrain from unnecessary conversation with each another.
On Good Friday, Lovely will be thinking about something she wishes everyone would contemplate every day.
"Christ followed through on everything he preached," she said. "Right to the cross."
