Bishop Barron on "The Adjustment Bureau" (SPOILERS)

Another part of a video series from Wordonfire.org. Bishop Barron will be commenting on subjects from modern day culture. For more visit www.wordonfire.org/

[@TrinityGal9]

Father; I want to thank you because I've spent about 5 years in discernment and I had many doubts based precisely in this inner confusion that I did not know how to resolve. You have brought such clarity in less than 10 minutes; the type of clarity that becomes a cornerstone. God bless you and may the Holy Spirit continue guiding and directing you.

[@cooliodraw2]

Beautifully stated Father. I always learn something new from your videos. Thank you for your evangelization. God bless.

[@thomasecker9405]

Wonderfully put, Pastor Barron.

[@christyleskovar4384]

I love your metaphor of the piano teacher. I lived that learning piano as a child and teenager. Now all I want to play is Chopin, and Scott Joplin. Wonderful metaphor for the spiritual life.

[@yankeesuperstar]

Insightful commentary. Thanks Father.

[@user-gc2yv7ug6g]

Bishop Barron What I saw in this movie is the love Jesus has for the church. The attraction between David and Elise is very romantic filled with a back and forth dialogue that shows intimate attraction at its best. Our Lords love for the church is how the Eucharist is conceived.

[@billybagbom]

Father Baron: Listening to your remarks again, I am reminded again of a word very valuable in Eastern Christian theology: SYNERGY! I have also seen this concept (if not the word) in Roman Catholic theology. I believe this is a very key and crucial concept to you, because I have watched many of your videos. The "noncompetitive" relationship between God and humankind is precisely what Eastern Christians are getting at by this word, SYNERGY.

[@adarshprasad9627]

Thanks Bishop it’s cool especially what you said in the last bit and also the movie. Should watch it again! Watched it years back but it made a slight impression enough not to forget . Really resonated with what you said last ( parapshrased ) showing obedience to higher laws , laws of righteousness , and ultimately maybe hopefully to HIS will ( even though I couldn’t wrap my head around Thine will be done not mine , when my pov was it’s He who expresses through all - it when I started to look at Mother Nature And related writings I found all of nature is within regulation : circadian rhythms, the orbits of planets stars seasons ). And nobody has really been able to describe with pin point clear accuracy how gravity between planets work between earth and sun work . And I thought maybe there has to be an intelligent order governing ( just as companies are governed ) governing regulating stuff ! So obedience to God ( perhaps means following ethical / moral / human values precepts ?:) ..) and it sort of makes sense in the common sense areas of the brain w.r.t to winning ultimate freedom is directly proportional to obedience to god will - my 5 cents. But thanks for your take on this movie which did trigger some reflections years back !

[@Gundark12]

I enjoyed "The Adjustment Bureau" (more than a lot of what passes for films from Hollywood these days), but there was something that seemed not quite theologically "right" about it, something that I couldn't quite fully articulate. Thank you, Fr. Barron, for once again hitting the theological "nail on the head" in your explanation. Continued prayers for you and your ministry!

[@stcolreplover]

......thanks for your insightful output

[@trishknaut1031]

The way that I perceive the movie is that it is the devil that's trying to tempt the hero to not love but the lust for power and he's talking to the devil like Adam did and Eve. God's plan and his will is perfect for us because he's perfect love but I don't see anybody praying and so we're deceived talking to the wrong guy instead of asking God what we should do so it's really pretty ironic that it's an allegory about Adam listening to the devil in my understanding God is waiting for us to ask him because once we hear his voice and look at him it's all over because he's perfect love and he's everything that we searched for here and get distracted with other stuff and other relationships. God tapped me on the shoulder and I repented from looking at all the wrong stuff and now that I'm focused on him and I see how much he loves us everything else is secondary to that . He is our first love just look at him and talk to him when you hear his voice it's all over! Jesus died for us to show us perfect sacrificial unconditional agape love to keep us in the family of God the Father giving us his holy spirit inside us. God is perfect Freedom, perfect will, perfect plan, perfect love drives out fear. He loves and respects us to wait for us to acknoledge His presence and worship and in prayer for he is near! And he rewards us with his perfect peace in perfect Joy in perfect love there's no one like him!

[@russell5078084]

I still think the final narration in that movie doesn't contradict what he says in this video.

[@exiledmystran]

I actually rather liked the end. Most of the movie may be a fight between a rigid and angelically enforced plan but the Chairman's decision at the end and the commentary from the angel who delivered it was pretty cool.

[@jonasbaes3914]

I love this analogy...

[@vtorrieri]

Wonderful talk! :-)

[@BishopBarron]

@tunkul59 But you've slid past the point I was making. If God exists (and I proved that he does) and if God is in possession of all ontological perfection (which must be true since he is unconditioned), then it follows that God has intellect and will. Therefore, in his dealings with the universe, he is operating reasonably and in accord with love. In short, there is a plan. And the coincidence of essence and existence in God is a corollary of the argument from contingency.

[@zitens66]

The divine plan is absolute freedom.

[@Curlycrew333]

Who knows God can speak through anything tho 🙌🏽 regardless of how off script it may be…..

[@rjtsunami02]

I love you Father -- in the Christian sense!

[@johnstonellis873]

The short story this film is based on is "The Adjustment Team" by Philip K. Dick, and the ending is very different. In Dick's story, the protagonist agrees to abide by whatever plan the Team has in place and to not reveal their existence. It causes some tension between the protagonist and his wife when she starts to ask questions that cannot be honestly answered without revealing the existence of the Team; however, the Team steps in and makes the necessary adjustments to prevent any further questioning from the wife. The protagonist breathes a sigh of relief and thanks the Team for their intervention. The protagonist remains free but agrees to submit to the Team's actions within the world. Dick's story does not champion freedom, in the same way the film does, but it still has the theme of free will and determinism. That's not to say Dick's theology was right (he suffered from delusions near the end of his life, and his last three novels were Gnostic novels), but I think Dick would likely disagree with the writers of The Adjustment Bureau on the relationship between free will and determinism.