It’s not every day in a current movie that one sees an unexpected Holy Moment. Remember:

A Holy Moment is a moment when you open yourself to God. You make yourself available to him. You set aside what you feel like doing in that moment, and you set aside self-interest, and for one moment you simply do what you prayerfully believe God is calling you to do in that moment. – Matthew Kelly, The Biggest Lie, chapter 7

“…you set aside what you feel like doing in that moment…”

June and I had watched all the episodes of Downton Abbey when it was a television series. We didn’t see the 2019 movie made after the series closed and didn’t know that they made one just last year: Downton Abbey: A New Era, available on Amazon Prime. We watched it a few days ago.

As is typical, there were multiple plot threads, one of which involved a commercial film studio shooting a movie at the estate while most of the family went to the south of France. There was a lot of interaction between the oldest daughter, Mary, and the film director. Mary’s husband does not appear in the movie. He’s off having adventures at a car rally, and Mary confides to the director that her current marriage is not as good as her first one. (Her first husband died in a car accident.) Mary ends up saving the movie when they have to switch from silent to talkie, and the leading lady can’t talk. Mary dubs in her lines. The director falls for her, of course. Near the end there is this exchange:

• Director: May I kiss you?
• Mary: No.
• Director: Don’t you want to?
• Mary: I’m afraid I’m too old-fashioned to believe that what I want is the only thing that matters.

Lady Mary tells the director, “I’m too old-fashioned to believe that what I want is the only thing that matters.”

That will preach in an age where we’re told over and over to go with our feelings and follow our heart, etc., etc.

For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding… Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you. Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse… (Proverbs 2.6 – 12, NIV)

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. (1 Corinthians 10.13, NIV)

But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality… (Ephesians 5.3, NIV)