Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:8-9 NRSVue
Jesu,* Jesu, fill us with your love, show us how to serve
the neighbours we have from you.
1 Kneels at the feet of his friends, silently washes their feet,
master who acts as a slave to them. R
Voices United 593
Tonight is the annual Academy Awards extravaganza and it's unlikely we'll be watching. We were enthusiasts for years and had often seen most of the films nominated for Best Picture. Over time we lost interest and therefore missed The Slap last year.
We did watch Women Talking the Canadian film which should have resulted in Best Director nom for Sarah Polley -- no women are in the running for this award this year. Both of us read the novel of the same name by Miriam Toews about a Mennonite colony where women and girls are sexually abused. A council of women are deliberating about whether they should stay or go while the perpetrators are in jail awaiting bail so they can return.
This story is based on actual events in a Mennonite community in Bolivia but Polley chose not to name the conservative Christian denomination because she feels that patriarchy and the abuse it often enables is rife not only in religious settings but across society. She had her own experience of this with a certain high profile CBC radio host who was eventually disgraced.
Despite this reality, religious devotion is not demeaned in the film. Gathered in the loft of a barn which feels at times like the sanctuary of a church with light filtering in they do the challenging work of considering forgiveness and non-violence which are central tenets of their faith. They quote and repeat verses of scripture in a way that provides a moral compass rather than in a trite or rote fashion. These include the verses above which I mentioned in an earlier blog.
The most powerful scene in the film for me comes early on as the women begin their deliberations. Before they are "women talking" they are women washing feet, as an echo of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples not long before his arrest, trial and eventual crucifixion. I went back and watched this ritual for a second time and was struck by the tenderness and reverence. I wonder how that felt for the cast of exceptional actors?
We are in the midst of the Lenten season which will lead us to Holy Week. Many congregations observe Maundy Thursday, and some include foot-washing. When I was in ministry I did so for many years in different congregations and included children, women and men. We chose those who had their feet washed with instructions about not wearing high socks or shoes with velcro fasteners but one year in Sudbury a person from out of town attended the service spontaneously and didn't know the drill. She came forward to have her feet washed, so of course I did.
You may not watch the Oscars but I do encourage you to watch Women Talking.
2 Neighbours are rich and poor, varied in colour and race,
neighbours are near and far away. R
3 These are the ones we should serve, these are the ones we should love,
all are neighbours to us and you. R
4 Kneel at the feet of our friends, silently washing their feet,
this is the way we should live with you. R
4 comments:
I saw the movie last week, and I was struck by the way the women deliberated, and how they never lost their faith. I also noted that at one point some of them (all of them victims) started to blame one another ; finally, one mother - in - law apologized in deep sincerity for turning a blind eye and saying nothing, when she knew what her son was like. It takes great courage to admiit wrong - doing by omission.
I'm glad you saw it, Judy. It would be a good film to watch related to a discussion about forgiveness.
Yes, it would - especially in that it demonstrates that you can forgive, but get yourself out of the dangerous situation which necessitated the forgiving spirit. You are not obligated to remain in an abusive situation.
I witnessed this when my mother left my very difficult father, a decision which she didn't make easily and without pain. She chose to go to counselling, move on in life (with a successful career) and didn't bad-mouth him or live with resentment. She attempted to live her Christian faith. Thanks Judy.
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