The TV series The Chosen is one of those phenomena that one does not expect in our times. It is a completely different way to portray the life of Jesus living together with the Apostles. It is not an exact word-by-word representation of the Bible but instead it takes the Bible story and context as a whole and brings it to life. It tries to give us an understanding of the times of Jesus, the human interactions and how the apostles would have lived or felt about the radical message Jesus was preaching. It helps the modern man and woman relate to a Jewish person living in the times of Jesus.
Each episode focuses on one or several aspects of Jewish life during the time of the Roman Empire. In the first season, the creators of the series showed us their interpretation of the calling and conversion of many of the Apostles, in other words, how they could have felt and reacted when Jesus chose them to serve.
I am sure that many of us feel identified with Saint Peter, I know I do. Watching the episodes of Peter’s conversion, one can feel close to the saint’s experiences, you can feel the pain and suffering before his conversion and one can feel the shame that Peter feels when, during episode 4 of season 1, his legs can no longer keep him straight. One can feel the moment in which his heart breaks in little pieces when standing in front of Greatness. Jesus commands him to throw the nets again one last time and Peter reluctantly agrees without any hope of catching anything, to then have a catch so great that it almost sunk the boat. In a classic Peter reaction, he jumps out of the boat and, standing in the shore, falls to his knees in complete awe and humble adoration saying, “depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man”. Jesus then, in a beautiful scene filled with emotions, responds, “lift up your head fisherman”, Peter says, “what do you want from me?”, then Jesus says… “follow me”.
At this point, one is enthralled and, on our knees, holding our hearts in our hands, wanting to offer it to Jesus just like Peter did. We are transported to that beach wanting to say to Jesus with the same impetuous ways of the first Pope, “take it, take my heart, because it is no good without You”.
Let’s pray, Lord Jesus Christ, we thank you for the creators of The Chosen, your instruments. We thank You for allowing this modern medium, that so many times is used against You, to be a vehicle that brings us closer to You. We thank You also for Peter’s humanness that has inspired many of us sinners to be like him, and we ask that we reach the reward of sainthood if it pleases You.
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