SPOILER WARNING: If you have not read or seen The
Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and don’t
want to know the ending, don’t read the last paragraph. However, I
strongly recommend you read the last paragraph after you’ve seen the
movie.
Many times, it was through parables that our Lord
was able to help people understand the message of His Kingdom. Stories
can sometimes do a better job of conveying deeper truths than just
saying the simple truth. Well, The Chronicles of Narnia: the Lion, the
Witch and the Wardrobe, a movie adaption of the C.S. Lewis classic,
conveys to us deep truths about the Kingdom of God and the Christian
life. It’s the story of two brothers and two sisters who are
evacuated from London during World War II and sent to a countryhouse
where they will be safe. In this countryhouse, Peter, Susan, Edmund
and Lucy discover a not-so-ordinary wardrobe, which, when entering it,
they find themselves in a land called Narnia, a land filled with fauns
and talking animals like beavers, foxes and lions. They also discover
that Narnia has been taken over and kept in the cold by the White
Witch. It is up to these four children, and Aslan the Lion, to free
Narnia from the control of the Witch.
The first truth we learn from this movie is that
young people can change the world. These four demonstrate that the
role of young people is extremely important. Without them, Narnia
cannot be saved. Of course, Aslan the Lion is the most important
character needed to defeat the White Witch, but Aslan cannot do it
without the four youths. Similarly, you too, even if you are under 18
and can’t vote, or even if you’re under 16 and can’t drive, have
a huge role to play in this world becoming a better place. Don’t
think that you’re unimportant—not only are you important but God
needs you to make our world a better place, just like Aslan needed
Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy. God needs you to treat people like they
would want to be treated; God needs you to be friendly to someone who
has no friends; God needs you to spend time with the elderly and to
listen to their stories; God needs you to forgive those who have hurt
you; God needs you to be kind to those who are mean to you. These
actions might not seem important, but if people did these things more
often, the world would be a much better place—a place like God
intended for it to be.
The second truth we learn from the movie is that
these young people are royalty. Throughout the movie, the different
characters of Narnia pay honor and respect to the four youths because
they are the kings and queens of Narnia. It’s the same for us too—we
are kings and queens because we are united with the King of Glory—Jesus
Christ. At our baptism we were united to Christ and every Divine
Liturgy we receive the Lord and are united with Him. We are icons of
Christ because we are recreated in His image at baptism—and that is
why the priest censes all of us during liturgy.
The White Witch knew that Peter, Susan, Edmund and
Lucy had this royal dignity and she wanted to enslave them. She
tempted Edmund, the younger brother, with earthly delights
(specifically Turkish Delight) and then held him as a prisoner. The
devil too wants to enslave us. He tempts us with many things: drugs,
alcohol, and sex. He tempts us with popularity—we treat others like
“dirt” because it makes us look or feel good, when instead we
should treat them with dignity and respect. Whenever we fall into
these temptations, we become slaves. We lose our royal dignity. Life
in Christ means freedom; the Church tells us to avoid certain things
not because she doesn’t want us to have fun, but because she wants
us to be free, not slaves.
*LAST PARAGRAPH COMING UP!!!!
Finally, the most important truth that this movie
reminds us of is that you are loved by the most important Person ever.
Aslan, the most powerful of all the creatures, loves the four youths.
He talks to them one-on-one and helps them become what they were meant
to be. Even Edmund, who betrayed his brothers and sisters, is forgiven
by Aslan and is still loved by him. In fact, Aslan will eventually
sacrifice himself on behalf of Edmund’s sin. Christ also loves each
and every one of you. The most important Person of all cares about you
more than you could ever imagine and more than anyone else. Our Lord
wants to have a relationship with you, a friendship with you. He wants
to guide you and help you become the person you are meant to be. He
wants you to experience true joy and happiness. If you ever doubt His
love for you, remember that He gave His life for you that you may have
life everlasting.
If you haven’t seen Chronicles of Narnia yet, I
recommend that you do. It is a modern day parable for us.
All
right guys, that’s it for now.
I’ll catch ya later. Take care
and God Bless!
