The Phantom of the Opera builds around a man who wears a mask because he has facial deformities and who at the same time has genius qualities.
Moreover, it’s in the heart of every person to give love and be loved and this tormented gentleman broods over not being able to do either until he falls in love with opera singer Christine.
During the play, the mystery of the man behind the mask is bigger than life. Yet, on a tour backstage, we were shown that the mask is small and delicate - like a bikini for the face.
Every person hides something. Some do more than others and then there are those who claim that “what you see is what you get” which can be the best mask of all!
The thinness of the mask was a metaphor of how little separates us from our world. We put on a “false self” to hide what we either think is shameful or something that would cause our rejection.
The interesting irony is that if we risk letting others see us, we garner the dividend of seeing others whether they wear their disguise or not.
In “Phantom,” the man is horrified when he is de-masked by Christine.
For a believer, Jesus would spend our lifetime prodding us to do it ourselves.
PORTAL TO HEAVEN: Some of the famous encounters of The New Testament have to do with Jesus unmasking. He does this within one short conversation with a woman at the well, a woman caught in adultery and a host of false selves that called themselves religious leaders. He only wants what’s best. Besides, who wants to go around suffocating in a mask?
He said, ‘I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.’..’Can a man hide himself in hiding places So I do not see him?’ declares the LORD. ‘Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?’ declares the LORD…And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do…I will never leave you nor forsake you…the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth.
Genesis 3:10 NASB, Jeremiah 23:24 NASBHebrews 4:13 NASB, Hebrews 13:5 KJV, John 18:37
COMMENTS:
ON "There are no Phantom Roles"
Bob you are on a roll! Another great word this morning! How I wish we truly grasped the importance and power of what you have just written by the Holy Spirit. There truly are no second rate players or jobs in God‘s kingdom!
Frank Wray, Delmar, NY