Jim Caviezel speaks at Legatus chapter event
By Peter Murphy, Ph.D. | For On Mission
DE PERE — When we think of Hollywood actors and actresses, we don’t often think of humble service to our Lord. But this was exactly the message that Jim Caviezel shared when he met with the Legatus Northeast Wisconsin Chapter on June 6 at the Mulva Center in De Pere.
From the outset of his presentation, Caviezel, who portrayed Jesus in “Passion of the Christ (2004), said he credits all his success to God and said he hopes that all his work gives God glory.
He spoke about his most recent movie, “The Sound of Freedom,” and echoed the theme of Bishop David Ricken’s homily from Mass celebrated earlier in the evening: “Freedom is not free.”
Both Bishop Ricken and Caviezel highlighted that in order to protect innocent children from trafficking and from abortion, we must be willing to pray and sacrifice, and to speak the truth to all people.
True love is not to comfort those who are doing wrong, but to speak the truth in love and to speak in a compelling way that moves hearts to align with God’s plan for his children — a plan that includes life and freedom from slavery, trafficking and harm. True love is not something we can do on our own: it requires self-sacrifice and courage, it requires virtues and strength that can only come from God, who is love itself.
Caviezel reminded the audience that “Jesus will teach us about love. Open your Bibles and study Jesus. … Jesus will open your eyes to a greater degree again and again and again, until we see with his eyes.”
Murphy is special assistant to the bishop for the Diocese of Green Bay.