Hi everyone,
I mentioned in today’s service that I recently watched the latest Captain America movie, now showing in a theatre near you. And while I said that the movie wasn’t that great (it wasn’t), it still had some themes that I think are valuable for us to look at.
Without going too deep into the lore around this fictional character Captain America, I do want to say that the character was created to embody what the nation of America was supposed to be: full of empathy, compassion, and freedom (as opposed to what it seems to be these days). This movie showed how this particular iteration of the character was empathetic in his believing in others, his compassion is his ability to forgive even those that have wronged him, and freedom in… well… his fighting for the freedom of others. Not just freedom tyranny, but freedom to make mistakes, freedom from the pressures of the world and self, and freedom from shame.
There was a lot of reconciliation in this movie, which I think is a very Christian theme (I mean, it’s basically our motto). And as much as I wasn’t overly impressed with this movie, I think it’d serve all people well if we are reminded and we keep in mind how important and imperative reconciliation is for our relationships, our community, and the human race in general moving forward.
If only we lived in the world that certain movies paint for us. Then maybe we could be more inclined to live peaceably with each other, seeing the value that we all inherently share together rather than apart, and lifting up God’s vision of community full of grace and mercy. That, and having super powers would be pretty cool too.
Here are the readings for next week:
Genesis 45:3-11, 15
Psalm 37:1-11, 39-40
1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50
Luke 6:27-38
And a video of me reading those readings:
These readings are all about that reconciliation that I talk about up there. Reconciliation in relationship, reconciliation with our shame, even reconciliation with life itself. It is an outlook of who we are that is different from what we’re often taught about ourselves by the world. That is, that we are to gain, gain, gain, until we have it all. And then and only then (and maybe not even then) will we be winners worthy of love and respect.
But God’s Word tells us different. God’s thoughts on this are different. God’s vision for us as God’s people in the world is so very different from what the world tells us we should think.
In that our worth comes from our humanity. Our strength comes from our being loved by the divine and each other. Our power comes from the humility found in the Spirit that reveals to us how we are saved solely through God’s grace and mercy.
Realising this and truly believing it will draw us to live lives full of love, reconciliation, and mercy, just as our God is merciful. It is by this that community is built. It is through this that God can be seen. This is because of this that we can be called children of God in the world.
Thanks be to God! Have a great week, everyone!