The Matrix

One of my all-time favorite movie series are the Matrix movies. In the Matrix trilogy, in addition to the standard 'critique of technological sophistication at expense of human personhood,' are also some quite adroit Christian Trinitarian Theological Themes . . .

The main character (played by Keanu Reaves) is this Messiah name Neo whose love relationship with Trinity is a corporeal, flesh-&-blood, and passionate love between the two characters. Yes, yes, the passion borders on an eroticism that is not in keeping with Christian understanding of the filial love between God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, yet as I would watch these movies, I could not help but reflect upon St. Augustine's view that the Holy Spirit was somehow, mysteriously, the love between God the Father and God the Son.

Again, filial love is quite different from what the movie portrays, but nonetheless, as Pope Benedict XVI's first encyclical showed (http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20051225_deus-caritas-est_en.html), it is the LOVE of God that is at the heart of Christian witness, life and discipleship!

Perhaps this is why "love" is so easily misinterpreted in this world.

On one side are those who have exchanged love for the Creator for love of the creature, and as St. Paul writes in his Epistle to the Romans (chp. 1), either male-on-male homosexuality OR female-on-female lesbian homosexuality is the end-result.

Similarly, on the 'far right' socially and religiously are those groups that wish to constrain ALL signs of affection.

No, love is not to be misdirected to "self." No, love is not to even be directed to 'things' such as art, sculptured bodies, music, etc. Each of these "loves" directed toward the creature instead of the Creator result in distorted sexual patternings.

But, in confronting libertinism on one side (i.e. homosexuality as the result of loving the creature), so also is it a mistake to forgo love at all!

In some cultures (e.g. Italian, Romanian, etc.) such love is well-pronounced as a "kiss" on the cheek is the norm, and a hand-shake, well, is rather cold! I was friends with one such European, a Romanian Orthodox priest who would literally "bear hug" me each time we would meet! Nothing other than fraternal love as brothers-in-Christ Jesus!

So, maybe the Matrix is on to something! Maybe, rather than the cold, lifeless love that often is felt in many churches, something passionate is needed to re-invigorate our faith! After all, it is the LOVE that God has for us that transcends ALL!

Love in Jesus Christ!
Rob J. King