Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Rebecca Florence Miller

Home
Evangelical
Babette’s Feast: New Creation and Easter’s Resurrection

Babette’s Feast: New Creation and Easter’s Resurrection

Last updated on: March 26, 2016 at 4:58 pm by Rebecca Florence Miller

Babette’s Feast: New Creation and Easter’s Resurrection 2016-03-26T16:58:53-06:00 Rebecca Florence Miller

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

While certainly I respect the monks for their willingness to forgo many material comforts and distractions in pursuit of God, there is really something of the Gnostic about the Carthusians–the cry of the soul beleaguered by too much fleshiness, wishing to rise upward into the world of the spirit.

There’s just one problem with this: Jesus came down. He sunk deep into the messy matter of fallen creation, of earth-bound body, took it on, experienced death within it, and rose again in bodily form. Christians are promised a bodily resurrection (I wrote more on this here), a new heavens and new earth. God is not about annihilating matter, but redeeming it.

In the almost Buddhist-like attempt to be absorbed into nothingness and death, the Carthusians seem to largely renounce the way God has redeemed and is redeeming the body. The hair shirt, the strict fasting, even the self-flagellation, all of it reeks of a rejection of the body which God has created. The strict silence and isolation from community (whether that of other monks or that of family and friends) rejects not just one’s own body but the created bodies of other people. While people can be difficult, the truth is that we are sanctified side by side, not in isolation (although, certainly, periods of isolation can be beneficial to our growth).

No, any spirituality that wants to abandon the body rather than redeem it has no value to me whatsoever.

* * *

Babette’s Feast shows us another way. It tells the story of two pious sisters, Martine (Birgitte Federspiel) and Filippa (Bodil Kjer) (named for Martin Luther and Philip Melancthon), the daughters of a pastor of a small Christian sect. The young women are extremely beautiful and each draw the eye of suitors, but the father seems to have a focus on the rise upward into the world of the spirit. (The religious sect’s favorite hymn seems to be one about heaven, “Jerusalem, My Heart’s True Home.”) Earthly pleasure has no merit and will probably, in fact, bring distraction or evil. Consequently, the suitors are discouraged away. Food is simple and tasteless. Clothing is simple. The home is simple, in a small, remote village. Life is about worship and service.

Nevertheless, the sect is not caricatured; despite their flaws, we see their constant acts of mercy and service (in this way, they are quite different from the Carthusians who seem to be focused inward rather than outward). There is a deep kindness to the sisters and a quiet strength. All is well and at peace.

Then, one night in a thunderstorm, the French-born Babette (Stéphane Audran), stumbles to their door, having run away from violence in her native land. She is exhausted and afraid and promises to work for the sisters for free, as a maid and cook. The sisters are hesitant to have such a luxury as a servant, but they can see that Babette needs help, so they agree to take her on. Fourteen years go by, Babette serving faithfully all that time, until one day she receives word that she has won a large sum of money in the French lottery. The sisters are sure that Babette will leave them now, no longer needing their hospitality. As the 100th birthday of their beloved father (now deceased) approaches, they plan to celebrate in humble form. But Babette has another plan. Having been hiding her light under a bushel until now, she asks the sisters if she might prepare a classical French feast for the celebration. The sisters, again, are very hesitant to accept this extravagance, but since Babette has never asked for anything and since they assume she will soon be gone, they assent.

At the same time, the religious sect, once strong and full of brotherly love, has been bothered of late by petty disagreements, the burden of old sins of the past, and general harsh attitudes. Bitterness, guilt, and unforgiveness are running rampant. The sisters are dismayed and long to reunite the community once again in the spirit of their father, who taught them so well.

Go back Continue Reading

The Supper of the Lamb

Previous Post

March 18, 2016

Ozu's Tokyo Story and the Struggle to Honor Our Parents

Next Post

April 21, 2016 Revised Blogging Schedule for Film Series

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Books Charis Christian Witness Church Year Conversation Creativity Cultural Engagement Curiosity Current Events Film Jesus Lectionary Message Literature Lutheran Theology Politics Story Television Theology Uncategorized

Select a Month December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 December 2016 October 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz