Postmodern Parables #2

postmodern parables: Kick-Ass, takin‘ names, and the Good Samaritan

…a religion scholar stood up with a question to test Jesus. “Teacher, what do
I need to do to get eternal life?” He answered, “What’s written in God’s Law?
How do you interpret it?” He said, “That you love the Lord your God with all
your passion and prayer and muscle and intelligence-and that you love your
neighbor as well as you do yourself.” “Good answer!” said Jesus. “Do it and
you’ll live.” Looking for a loophole, he asked, “And just how would you define
‘neighbor’?” Jesus answered by telling a story. “There was once a man traveling
from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way he was attacked by robbers. They took
his clothes, beat him up, and went off leaving him half-dead. Luckily, a priest
was on his way down the same road, but when he saw him he angled across to
the other side. Then a Levite religious man showed up; he also avoided the
injured man. A Samaritan traveling the road came on him. When he saw the
man’s condition, his heart went out to him. He gave him first aid, disinfecting
and bandaging his wounds. Then he lifted him onto his donkey, led him to an
inn, and made him comfortable. In the morning he took out two silver coins
and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take good care of him. If it costs any
more, put it on my bill-I’ll pay you on my way back.’ “What do you think?
Which of the three became a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers?” “The one
who treated him kindly,” the religion scholar responded. Jesus said, “Go and
do the same.”

Luke 10: 25-37, The Message          

The film Kick-Ass, based on the graphic novel of the same name, was released in theatres on Friday, April 16, 2010. Directed by Matthew Vaughn (Layer Cake) it stars Aaron Johnson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Mark Strong, Chloe Moretz, Nicolas Cage, and Lyndsy Fonseca.

The film tells the story of comic-book geek/fanboy Dave Lizewski who takes his hobby to new levels when he decides to create an alter-ego, fight crime, and no longer stand by and watch as others suffer. Dave assembles a suit and mask, a website and email account to hear from people who need help, and he becomes the superhero Kick-Ass. The catch is that he has no superpowers; none whatsoever. He was not bitten by a spider. He’s not from another planet. He’s not a mutant. He doesn’t even have the financial resources of Bruce Wayne (Batman) or Tony Stark (Iron Man) to create and design weapons and suits that facilitate superpowers. Kick-Ass joins forces with other wannabe superheroes Hit Girl, Big Daddy, and Red Mist to fight crime and take names in New York City.

Warning! The film is violent. There are scenes of sexuality. There are scenes of drug use. There is coarse language throughout the film. It’s rated 18A in Canada, which means persons under the age of 18 require a guardian to attend a screening.

Watching the film there were some elements and scenes I felt were too much; there were times I was uncomfortable. However, I couldn’t help but think about the story of the Good Samaritan and the spirit and goal of Dave’s journey.

Dave has been a “nobody” his whole life. He’s been picked on and mugged. Nothing seems to be going right. He sees crime and injustice all around him. He decides it’s time to take a stand. He decides its time someone do something. Dave does. He takes matters into his own hands. He puts others first and puts himself in harm’s way for their benefit.

The Good Samaritan did the same thing. He saw the result of crime. He saw injustice. He put another man first with the risk of being in harm’s way. The religious people in Christ’s story were useless. They walked by. They saw the result of crime and injustice and did nothing. They were either too busy or too worried about being defiled to stoop down and help another human being in need.

The famous theme and line from Spiderman is: “With great power comes great responsibility.” At one point it in Kick-Ass Dave says to the audience, rephrasing the line: “With no power comes no responsibility… but that’s not true.”

It’s not true. Members of society have a responsibility to each other, whether they like it or not. People do not always enter these societal contracts, but they’re there. People of God and the Church are especially called to serve and put others first. From Gensis to Revelation we are commanded to take care of people, to represent our triune God to the world, to be, what James calls, “doers of the Word.”

Our best example of this was the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ. He was there for people from all walks of life. He served and loved people from all walks of life. He put others first, so much so that he gave his life. Christ truly put himself in harm’s way, the ultimate harm’s way, for the benefit of others, for suffering humanity.

Dave/Kick-Ass had no powers. The Good Samaritan had no powers. Yet they both took on the responsibility to put others before themselves. They both served and ministered to others.

I was about to write that we don’t have any powers, yet we should take on the responsibility to put others first, but I would have been wrong. We have a greater source of power than being bitten by a radioactive spider could produce. We have a greater source of power than all the financial resources in the world could produce. We have our triune God - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

The power that created the world is at our disposal.

The power that conquered sin, death, and the grave is at our disposal.

The power that has inspired, guided, and filled the Church since the first Day of Pentecost is at our disposal.

Will we take on the same responsibility to which Dave and the Good Samaritan felt called? Will we put others first? Will we “go and do the same?”

 

Writer: Mark Braye and his wife Nancy are officers in Essex, Ontario, Canada. They have two children, pictured above, Hannah and Micah. The four of them love to play and watch Sesame Street.

2 Comments to Postmodern Parables #2

1. It seems it is ok to talk about the movies now.

   Growing up in The Army we where taught that if Jesus returned and we where at a movie,dance hall, pool hall, bingo hall, playing cards, beer parlor or playing sports on Sunday we were doomed.

   But now welcome to the 21st century where it seems every thing is cool now and don’t upset the people and talk about sin in our lifes.

   Come Lord Jesus

   Henry Armstrong (just passing through).
Henry Armstrong on June 2nd, 2010

2. Henry, thanks for passing through, reading, and commenting. Your remarks, however, are somewhat confusing. Maybe you could clarify.

   Below are a few initial questions/thoughts that come to mind for me.

   a.) Why wouldn’t it be ok to talk about movies?

   b.) “Growing up in the Army…” We should have never been taught or teaching this.

   c.) “But now welcome…” I don’t know what “everything is cool” means. Should we upset people? Who should we upset? Are you upset I saw and wrote about an 18A rated film? Who’s not talking about sin?

   I would love to hear from you again.

   Mark
markbraye on June 2nd, 2010

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