Thunder
The Chosen (Season Two, Episode One)
Over the next few weeks, I’ll be writing some thoughts and reflection questions for each episode of the TV show, The Chosen. I hope you’ll join me for this spiritual journey and pray that you’ll be open to hear what God might be wanting to communicate to you through this show! :)
Well, here we are -- Season Two of the The Chosen. The plot thickens as Jesus’ ministry goes public, the characters learn more about themselves as they learn more about who Jesus is, and we, as viewers, continue to explore how we fit into THE story.
SONS OF THUNDER
In the very beginning of the first episode of Season Two of The Chosen, the disciples are older and are being interviewed by an unidentified person, who is later revealed to be John, as he compiles narratives and personal testimonies for the Gospel according to him. It appears that the disciples are asked about when they first encountered Jesus and how their lives were impacted by him. Peter recounts that he had encountered Jesus after experiencing one of the worst nights of his life, having failed to catch enough fish to pay off his debt to the Romans. Thomas remembers that he encountered Jesus right when his career and reputation were about to be ruined. Nathaniel says that he encountered him after a friend (Phillip) told him to “come and see,” and when he did, he said it was like Jesus “knew me before he knew me.” Mary Magdalene saw him in a tavern when he put his hand on hers before she was about to continue drinking. Finally, Mary, the Mother of God, says she can’t remember a time that she didn’t know him, which beautifully models her faith and devotion to her son.
It is beautiful to witness the relationship that the interviewer (John) has with Mary. Mary calls him “son,” and he calls her “mother,” which is a nod to the scripture passage of Jesus giving his mother to the beloved disciple (presumably John) and vice versa while he was dying on the cross. It was beautiful to see how much Mary loves John and to be reminded that she loves each of us in the same way, as her sons and daughters.
After some workshopping between the two of them over how John should start the Gospel according to him, we are transported back in time to when Big James and John are plowing a field together and thinking that they have “lucked out” by not having to be in town around the locals since Jesus must know that they don’t like Samaritans. They don’t quite understand why they are doing the work that they’ve been asked to do, but they continue to work, assuming that there must be good intentions or else Jesus wouldn’t have asked them to do it. Later in the day, after Jesus is done preaching to the crowd and Big James and John are reunited with the rest of the group, Jesus praises their hard work in the field, which fluffs their egos. The next day, inspired by this confidence, they continue to feel more “in the know” than the other disciples since Jesus told them that they would all going to prepare dinner that evening and would need to gather supplies for the meal. The disciples begin to get a little jealous of this “seemingly growing relationship” between Jesus and the two brothers, and the two of them seem to be letting it get to their heads. Jesus takes the disciples to physically see their work in the field, where he, again, compliments them on the fine work that they have done. He then leads them all to the house of a man named Melech, who is crippled and who we later find out is a Samaritan. Everyone finds out that Melech owns the field that Big James and John had plowed earlier that day, which makes them internally reflect on how they could have possibly done such hard work for a man from a group of people and a place which they despise so much.
The next day, Big James and John decide to follow Jesus while he is on his walk to gain some clarity from him, but while they are conversing, a group of Samaritans begin to throw things at them. Immediately, Big James and John want to fight back, but Jesus holds them back. After the group passes by, Big James and John ask Jesus to do something to get revenge, such as sending down bolts of lightning or fire as punishment for attacking and insulting them. Jesus explains to them that he had them work in the field to show them that what they are doing will “last for generations.” That they are, literally and figuratively, sowing seeds, especially for the people in Samaria, as they are learning more about and believing in who Jesus is without even seeing any miracles. Jesus rebukes the two brothers, saying that they aren’t better than anyone else and that he needs them to lead with humility. He then jokingly and gently refers to them as “like a storm on the sea” and gives them the nickname “sons of thunder.” At the end of the episode, as John finally is divinely inspired with the introduction of the Gospel according to him, you can faintly hear thunder rolling the background as he is writing and as the camera pans out.
Personally, I can see myself in Big James and John during this episode, especially falling into the sin of pride and leading with it instead of humility. As one working in ministry and committed to being a missionary disciple in the world, it can sometimes be easy to focus on what instead of the why. Yes, the what is important, but it isn’t the most important thing. Staying focused on the why can help us lead with humility because it allows God work in and through us, regardless of the result, the recognition, or the receivers. It allows us to love better, to serve better, and to listen better. We need to decrease so that He might increase (John 3:30).
WHY ME?
While Big James and John are out plowing the field, Jesus is in the marketplace in town, preaching to a large crowd about the parable of the lost sheep, which is ironic given that the disciples were desperately looking for Jesus because they thought he was “lost.” Jesus asks if there are any shepherds in the crowd and begins talking to one, asking him what he would do if he has one hundred sheep but loses one. The shepherd responds that he would go after the one lost sheep, which Jesus affirms him for saying so. He says, “In the same way in heaven, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance” (Luke 15:7).
Later at Melech’s home and after sharing a meal with the family, Melech’s wife shares that her father used to tell her stories of how the Messiah would one day come and end all pain and suffering. She asks Jesus that, if he is who he says he is, then when would he do just that? Jesus responds that he was there to “preach the good news of the Kingdom of Heaven, which is not of this world and is where sorrow and sighing will flee away.” He says that he makes a way for people to access that kingdom, but that “in this world, bones and hearts will still break.” However, “in the end, the light will overcome the darkness.” Ironically, Jesus then points out Melech’s broken bone in his leg and lovingly tries to get him to reveal how he broke it, even though he already knows. Melech’s body language communicates his sadness and shame before he even admits what he did -- “If you know who I am, you wouldn’t have helped me.” Jesus says that we all tell and listen to stories because our stories connect us, and he asks Melech to tell him his story.
This brief intimate moment between Jesus and Melech is a BEAUTIFUL example of how we should enter into prayer and even confession. Jesus wants us to willingly and honestly share with him about what is on our hearts and to willingly and honestly admit when we’ve done wrong. He already knows what we want to pray about or what is on our minds. He already knows ways that we’ve rejected him or turned away from him, either through things we’ve done or things we’ve failed to do. The Catholic sacrament of confession, in particular, is such a gift because Jesus has given priests the authority to act in persona Christi (Latin for “in the person of Christ”), meaning that we get to willingly and honestly share with them the ways that we have failed, as if it is literally Jesus, in the flesh, sitting there listening to us. We get to be held accountable to admitting when we’ve done wrong but admitting it to a physical person, and we get to physically hear that we are forgiven by that same person, who has been instituted and ordained to act in the person of Christ. AND the best part is that, through the seal of confession, the priest cannot, for any reason, under any circumstances, tell anyone what he has heard during the confession. Priests are sworn to secrecy and will also not judge you for what you have shared, just as Jesus doesn’t as well. All they care about is rejoicing that you have willingly and honestly shared what you have done wrong and showering you with the love and mercy that God has for you by absolving you from your sins. A priest friend of mine once used the analogy that priests are like garbage men, willingly taking out the trash that is our sins. Once it’s gone, it’s gone, and it isn’t meant to be kept around in our hearts or minds because it has been taken out and gotten rid of forever.
Melech does end up willingly and honestly sharing his story of how he and several others, out of desperation to provide for his family, had attacked a Jewish man and robbed him, but that Melech had gotten hurt in the process. Jesus just looks at Melech very lovingly the entire time and informs him that the Jew, who Melech and the other men had robbed, didn’t die after they had robbed him, even though Melech thought otherwise. He explained that someone came along and helped him (Luke 10:30-37). Melech looks at Jesus and asks, “Why me?” after realizing the intentionality behind Jesus and his disciples’ visit. Jesus answers, “The shepherd leaves the ninety-nine on the mountain to search for the one that went astray,” thus modeling the parable he had preached earlier that day. The next morning, Melech wakes up to a completely healed leg and heart.
EPISODE ONE REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
~What does the virtue of humility look like in your own life? When has it been easy to live out this virtue? When has it been challenging? How can you improve in fully living out this virtue in your own life?
~At this point in your spiritual journey, do you relate more to the one lost sheep or the ninety-nine sheep? What life circumstances has led to you identifying with one or the other?
~If you currently identify or have ever identified with the one lost sheep, how does it feel to be found? How does it feel to know that the Good Shepherd is willing to leave his entire flock to find YOU?
~If you currently identify or have ever identified with the ninety-nine sheep, how do you honestly feel about the one sheep when he/she is lost? is found? Are you quick to judge those who sin or become “lost,” or do you rejoice when they repent and are “found”?
