I thought I would post the second
episode of this little series sooner, rather than later, while the release of The Force Awakens, and more importantly,
the newness of the Year of Mercy called for by Pope Francis are both relatively
fresh in our memories, not to mention the penitential season of Lent. The last episode consisted of more thorough
criticism (of both positive and negative elements). This time, I wanted to focus
on something very powerful and positive that struck me in The Force Awakens, namely the development and growth of the
character Finn. It may go without
saying, but SPOILERS AHEAD!!!
When we follow his progression
through the film we see what looks like a step-by-step model for change and
conversion:
1)
The Awakening:
One of the most striking things about the title of this film is that there is
more than one character in the film who has some kind of awakening. Finn’s awakening begins at the very outset of
the film, when he suddenly comes to the realization of the evil that he has
become a part of – and is threatening to become a part of him. Facing that evil and its consequences
head-on, his awakening enables him to see clearly, “This is wrong.” Plenty of other examples of this kind of
awakening can be find in movies, including in The Avengers: Age of Ultron (see here).
2)
The Choice: However, simply realizing a behavior (or
pattern of behavior) is wrong can only be a first step. We must then make a choice to take no part in
it, to leave it behind. This, however,
as Finn realizes, can be easier said than done…
3)
Reaching Out: While a bit amusing, the scene in which Finn
rescues Poe because he needs a pilot is actually quite powerful. Poe enthusiastically proclaims, “We’re doing
this,” as he realizes how mutually advantageous this arrangement is. However, there is more to what Finn is doing
than simply using Poe to escape the Star Destroyer. He is taking the incredibly difficult and
courageous step to reach out to someone who can help him in his effort to leave
this evil behind. For a Christian, the
principle connection, here, should be drawn to the need to reach out to Christ,
in prayer, but also through a priest in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Still, many others can be persons to whom we
ought to reach out: family, friends, counselors, or another trusted spiritual
guide. We are not meant to overcome
these things on our own and will not have much success if we try. The peril involved in the rescue and escape
scene beautifully parallels how difficult it can be take this much needed and
courageous step.
4)
The Discovery: Upon first watching the movie, the first
moment for me when I decided “Okay, I like what they are doing with this
character,” was the scene in the Tie Fighter when Finn experiences the
beginning of the stage I am calling the
discovery. In the process of escaping,
they realize the need to learn each other’s name. It is then that we learn that Finn doesn’t
have a name. And in a beautifully casual
way, Poe gives him a name. He shows him that he is a person with
dignity, that however much this evil seeks to become a part of him, he is more
than that evil. He is not defined by
it. I love the disgust in Poe’s voice as
he insists “Well, I ain’t using (the number the First Order has given you).” This is an essential part of the process of
conversion, when we begin to discover that we are not defined by evil, however
deep we may have fallen into it. This is
why I love the quote of St. John Paul II: “We are not the sum of our weaknesses and failures. We are the sum of the Father’s love for us and our real capacity to become the image of His Son.” This simple act of affirming Finn and showing
him that he can be the good man he was made to be is part of what shows the
strength of Poe’s character, by which so many people have been impressed. But, there are others along the way who
assist in this process of affirming and encouraging Finn to begin to become who
he was made to be, especially Rey, Leia, Han, and Maz. Yet, part of what occurs in that Tie Fighter
is an even greater discovery. The fact
that Finn is a person, not simply a
weapon as the First Order sought to make him, makes him a part of a much
grander design. It means that it will
not be easy for him to become who he is meant to be. It is not as simple as running away, as he
begins to realize when Poe insists on going back to Jakku.
5)
The Response:
The response is what reminds us that, even after this newfound discovery, we
still have a choice. How will we
respond? Finn’s initial response is to
run away, and he holds fast to it for a good portion of the movie, even to the
point of manipulating people by pretending to be someone he is not. The beauty of the scene with Maz is that she
is inviting him to acknowledge his fear and overcome it, to hope and to become a part of the
struggle for victory. Yet, she still
gives him the choice. And it is when he
begins to run away that the encounter with Rey happens, when he tells her the
truth. And her response is
beautiful. She does not reject him or
chew him out for lying. She simply calls
him not to run away, reinforcing the affirmation and discovery that began with
Poe in the Tie Fighter.
6)
The Game-Changer:
Finn realizes he can’t just run as soon as the First Order attacks Maz’s
place. But, the moment that changes
everything, when he clearly decides he can’t not be in this, is Rey’s abduction.
Whether this relationship remains a beautiful friendship or becomes
something more, he loves her. And
rightly so. She is one of the key people who have shown him that he is more
than his dark past. He is still trying
to see in himself what she sees in him.
He is now willing to fight to become that man because he is willing to fight
for her. Genuine conversion is spurred
on by our love for Christ, our Savior, and all of those who have loved us,
believed in us, and helped us to discover the goodness within ourselves, even
when we thought it was lost or never knew it existed. Once we have something (or someone) to fight for, it
changes everything.
7)
The Mission Begins:
Yet, conversion is a process. It’s not
easy to make real change in our lives.
But, it is possible with grace and the help of good friends. This is
why Han’s hilarious line, “That’s not
how the Force works!” is also quite meaningful. Faith does not mean
expecting easy solutions. But, along the way, it is necessary for him
to receive a series of further affirmations, just as we continually need
to
receive God’s love, grace, and forgiveness
through frequent confession, prayer, and the encouragement of others
along the
way. The first key example of this is
his reunion with Poe, who greets him with sincere enthusiasm as a
friend, and
tells him “You’re a good man, Finn.” It
is even striking when he tells him to keep the jacket – dare I say,
resembling
the baptismal garment, the outward sign of putting on the ‘new man.’
The second key example is when he meets Leia,
and the esteemed general cuts off Poe with a sense of urgency to speak
to Finn,
and then proceeds to thank and praise him for his bravery.
It is these many affirmations, from Poe, Rey, and Leia, that struck me
most as being especially pertinent to the Year of Mercy. It has been
said time and time again by priests reflecting on their experience from
“the other side of the confessional” that we are always amazed, not at
how greatly people sin, but by the courage and goodness of a person who
wants to change, to be holy, to leave behind whatever evil is seeking to
become a part of them and to become the good man or woman they were
made to be. I can’t reinforce this enough. It is so deeply moving for me
to be on the other side of that beautiful encounter, as a person
reaches out courageously to the Merciful Heart of the Father. Yet, I am
also saddened when I hear signs that someone doesn’t know their own
goodness, their own beauty, the truth that the plan God has for their
life was worth dying for. This often contributes to a fear some people
may have even to take that step, to reach out, to seek mercy, to seek
help – perhaps a bit like Finn, fearing to tell Rey the truth of who he
is and the evil he is running from. Yet, like Finn discovers, it is the
courage to change that we see, not simply the evil that you are seeking
to be free from.
Furthermore, it is such an encouragement for me on my own journey toward holiness, deeper into the Merciful Heart of the Father, who is still creating me into the man He made me to be. I think part of the reason I am so struck by the scene of the escape in the Tie Fighter, is because I feel a bit like Poe. I am the Resistance Fighter. I serve a mission that is so much bigger than me and is as frightening and dangerous as it is important. People come to me, believing that I can help them. And I can. Yet, I am every bit in need of the courage of the person who is seeking his/her own deliverance, as he/she is in need of me. And together, we begin to discover and become who we are. That is what life is like “on the other side of the Tie Fighter.”
So, the next time I’m asked if I can hear someone’s confession, I hope that person forgives me if I accidentally blurt out, “We’re doing this!”
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