Meanwhile, so many people were crowding together that they were trampling one another underfoot. [Jesus] began to speak, first to his disciples, “Beware of the leaven—that is, the hypocrisy—of the Pharisees.”

Being “limitless” in what we can do is the obvious thought of the movie “Limitless.” At some time in Eddie Morra’s life, he realized that he was very limited in what he was doing. He wanted to become a writer, but it seemed that nothing was happening in his brain. In the course of his wanderings, his ex-brother-in-law gave him an amazing pill. It was not a narcotic or anything that was usually considered a “drug,” but it did amazing things to his mind. He finished his novel at break-neck speed, he won at poker, outsmarted the investment market, becoming a Wall Street expert, made loads of money, won over a woman who had rejected him, and in general, he knew how to handle every situation well. He was indeed “limitless,” but like any drug, the pill known as NZT-48 was addictive in its own way. Gradually, Eddie experienced the other effects of the pill.

The dictionary defines “leaven” to be “a substance used to make dough rise.” Jesus understood it to be something that took over a person’s life in a complete way. Hypocrisy in Jesus’ mind was the leaven that controlled the Pharisees. In terms of modern culture, it might be called a “drug,” a substance that altered the thinking and actions of the people who took it.

NZT-48, the drug that Eddie Morra took was like leaven. It completely altered his life, and made him aware of things that he had never been aware of before. But he also found that after he took it, he needed to have it. He needed to have it not because it was something his body craved, but because he liked the power and the pleasure it gave him. Like leaven the desire for power and pleasure spread throughout his very being, becoming more important to him than anything else in his world. He loved the feeling of being limitless, and would do anything to keep it.

Such a feeling is the desire of human nature. In one way or another, our human natures desire to be limitless–we want the power and pleasure that will give us what we want. It is the reason why people take illegal drugs; it is the reason why people disregard the direction of their consciences. Basically, we want the feeling, and we will often sacrifice anything to get the feeling.

Jesus realized what direction our human natures might lead. He could easily see how hypocrisy and desire for power controlled the religious leaders of his time. And so he warned his followers, telling them in essence to study their desires closely. Like leaven, those desires can completely overtake us, and so we must accept the guidance that Jesus gives to keep everything in proper perspective.

Good and gracious God, we continue to struggle with our desires and feelings. They lead us in a direction that can often be harmful. Help us recognize the importance of choosing the guidance of your Son in all that we do. Be with us, we pray.

We all have a desire to be limitless with our lives, and we must also take into account how much we are willing to sacrifice to achieve it.

1. What scene during this session of the movie is most striking? Why?
2. Luke the evangelist contrasts the great size of the crowd with “small” attitude of the religious leaders. From your knowledge of Scripture, what should have been the principal characteristics of the religious leaders of Jesus’ time?
3. Hypocrisy might be defined to be “surface respectability.” Give your own definition of “hypocrisy.”
4. In your opinion, is hypocrisy a problem in today’s world? Yes or no and why?
5. In our world, what evils “take over” people’s lives?
6. Our modern culture in many ways is a “drug culture.” What are the principal illegal drugs that are used in our society? In your opinion, which one is the most evil?
7. How should a Christian view the drugs that are used in our society? (See Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, number 2291)
8. Speaking in a general way, in your opinion, what would people want most if they could do or have anything they wanted?
9. Eddie Morra wanted power and pleasure more than anything else. In today’s world, how do people attain more power and pleasure in a legal way?
10. Christian doctrine would say that attaining power and pleasure even legally could be wrong. Why?
11. What do you think is the “proper perspective” that the meditation refers to? What is the principal guideline that Jesus gives in order to “keep everything in proper perspective”?
12. Scene analysis: The movie opens with Eddie Morra contemplating suicide. What are the causes of suicide in our society, and what can the person who is contemplating it do about it?
13. Scene analysis: “Having sex” outside of marriage is presented in the movie and other movies as something that happens a lot. Do you believe that it happens often in real life? Yes or no and why? Do you believe that this has an affect on the young people who watch the movies? Yes or no and why?
14. Dialogue analysis: As Eddie reflects on his taking the NZT-48, he asks the question: “Was it worth the risk? What would you do?” What would you do if you were in Eddie’s position?
15. Scene analysis: Eddie borrows money from someone. When should a person borrow money from the bank or others?