"Rogue One: A Star Wars story" and martyrdom
Finally! I’ve been watching Rogue One with my cousin! We were both waiting a lot from it and we weren’t disappointed but certainly surprised. Today, I’d like to share with you how this Star Wars story directed by Gareth Edwards made me reflect on martyrdom in Christianism.
Synopsis
Back between episode III and IV for those familiar with the Star Wars universe, the Rebellion is still fighting against the dictatorship of the Empire. The research engineer Galen Erso (Mads Mikkelsen) and his family are hiding in the planet Lah’mu. In fact, he used to works for the Empire and now refuse to help them build the Death Star, a weapon capable of destroying an entire planet in a few seconds. Unfortunately, one of his colleagues finds him and forces him to go back with him to finish the weapon. His daughter, Jyn, will succeed to escape and hide while his wife will be killed in front of him.
Years later, Jyn (Felicity Jones), who was made prisoner, is saved by some members of the Rebellion. Eventually, she finds out that her father is still alive as he sent a hologram message for her and the Rebellion to help them to destroy the Death Star. Accompanied by the captain Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) and a reprogrammed Imperial droid K-2SO, she will try to find him and carry out the dangerous mission to which she was called...
The ordinary people
Here, in Rogue One, there is no Princess Leia or great Jedi like Yoda or Obi-Wan Kenobi. We are in presence of ordinary people. We are “backstage”. No super –power, no nothing just ordinary people trying to live or survive under the Empire. This is the story of the small ones but yet so important in great stories.
This is us, ordinary Christians, in the greater picture of the world, contributing as we can to the Kingdom of Heaven.
Fighting for a greater cause
Jyn grew up lonely with no other purpose than living far from the Empire. Nevertheless, she can’t escape from them. And when she’s confronted with the Rebellion, she has no choice to join the great battle against the Empire. Jyn and Cassian joined the Rebellion for different reasons and end up fighting side by side. Their fellow members of the Rebellion and themselves become so convinced of the good of the cause that they’re willing to sacrifice their lives so others may live free from the dictatorship of the Empire.
It reminds me of all the martyrs we should be thankful for. They died faithful to Christ so we can believe in Him. We only heard about a few but they are so many. The Church is still there thanks to them and all the saints who transmitted the faith, generation after generation, so we could have eternal life in Christ our Savior. We sometimes take it as granted... Do we realize how many people had (and still have) to die because of that Good News?
“Amen, amen I say to you, unless the grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” Jn 12:24-25
Hope
“Rebellion is built on hope”, says Jyn. Christianism is built on Christ, and Christ is our hope. He’s the one who frees us from sin and give us eternal life. He is risen. This is the Good News.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age” Mt 28: 19-20
Enjoy the movie!
Trailer:
My opinion: This Star Wars movie is amazing and so different from the others. One can feel the seriousness of the situation as the beauty of the humble lives who join together to fight for a good cause.
