Batman Begins Turn 20

It was the summer of 2005. Pope Benedict XVI succeeded St. John Paul II as Holy Father. The Chicago White Sox would begin their quest to win their first World Series since 1917. A future pope was in attendance to witness the South Side winning it all.

The summer box office featured a groundbreaking rendition of the Caped Crusader known as Batman. The movie served as an origin story never before seen on screen by fans.

The movie stars Christian Bale, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Morgan Freeman, Liam Neeson, and Michael Caine. The film follows the origins of Batman as he becomes the guardian of Gotham City. The origin follows Bruce Wayne leaving to travel the world after watching his parents’ killer get murdered after standing trial for murder.

For seven years, Wayne would wander the world until he met Raj A Goul from the League of Shadows, who trained him to become a shadow warrior. When he returns to Gotham, he begins his crusade to save Gotham from the criminals that has corrupted the city. He would battle his former mentor, Ra’s al Ghul, Carmine Falcone, a powerful mob boss, and Scarecrow.

The reboot of the Caped Crusader would give way to two powerful sequels that would propel the trilogy to box office success from 2005 to 2012. The movie offers lessons that can be correlated with our faith. Those themes are fear, overcoming adversity, and the importance of action.

Fear

Batman’s journey began when Bruce Wayne witnessed his parents being murdered in cold blood. That fear would drive him to vengeance while fueling his fear. As Catholics, we are called not to be afraid and to show mercy.

Psalm 23:4 reminds us, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." Batman puts on a suit with a symbol that once scared him, which was harnessed into a tool to strike fear in his enemies while inspiring the city to not have faith in him to be saved.

Overcoming Adversity

Like Batman’s quest for justice, we will have obstacles that will stand in our way. For us, it can be overcoming temptations and the near occasion of sin.  St. Paul reminds us, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.".  (Philippians 4:13). We can draw our strength in Jesus when we trust in him.

When Batman channeled his fear and trauma from his childhood, it would drive him as a symbol of hope that would help him rise above everything.

Importance of Action

The film explores how faith is an active commitment that can manifest in our actions. Batman believed that he could help Gotham defeat the corrupted criminals that had engulfed the city with fear.

The film gave fans of the beloved Caped Crusader a thrill of a lifetime. The movie reminds us that faith can help us overcome fear, we must strive to see justice, and never give up on ourselves or others.