The Academy Awards comes next Sunday
Up for recognition
are two notable movies
that capture the history of
Britain during the early years
of World War II
Dunkirk and the Darkest Hour
two movies that are worth the time and effort
if you haven’t seen them I would encourage
you to seek them out….
the movies over lap
in their record of what was happening to England
as Europe fell to Hitler’s troops
the British troops were pushed to the edge
of France, the beeches of Dunkirk
while at the same time
Hitler was offering a peace treaty to
The British Government
no doubt lives would be saved
death avoided had the British accepted the terms
offered…..
At a significant point
near the end of the Churchill movie
Winston is pictured as being torn
distraught by the options that
stood before him….
in the midst of his thought and confusion
he somehow ends up down
in the metro tunnels of London
captured for a moment on the train
the citizens who occupy the car
with him are initially intimidated
by the presence of the Prime Minister
in their midst
Gary Oldman who plays Churchill
has become fully the man
cigar between his teeth
He plays the part
As the other passengers relax
they begin to talk
Churchill lays out the choices
should we negotiate a peace
with whatever terms that would require
or should we stand and fight
knowing what will rain down on us
if we don’t give in….
there is a pause
to a person
from the oldest to the
young girl sitting beside her mother
there is a universal rejection
of the terms of peace
we cannot see the Swastika
flying over Westminster Abby
we cannot have our king
fleeing to Canada
this scene probably did not actually occur
But, the spirit of that encounter
clearly came to Winston Churchill
he was able to persuade his government
to say no to the Nazi’s
no to a false peace
no to anti Semitism
no to domination
by Adolf Hitler
and his troops…..
Churchill goes on national radio
to announce to the British nation
that they would not surrender
that he could only offer
Blood, sweat and tears
in the days that would follow
the bombs would rain down on their city
lives would be lost, buildings destroyed
but the spirit of those Island people
would survive
even as he spoke
British citizens were
sailing their own boats of all sizes
to the shores of France
to bring home the troops
those who had look hopelessly trapped
safely return to their homeland
available to fight another day
Both movies are powerful dramas
dark, ominous, at times hopeless
but in the end in both instances
as the movie faded people in the audience
stand together and clap
in celebration of the spirit
we had witnessed.
There is nothing quite like
a national crisis to draw us all together
certainly when we witnessed the destruction
of the twin towers of 9/11
we were pulled joined closely
barriers that might divide us
were for a while reduced
the world rallied around us
we prayed together
for the future….
perhaps not unlike the pictures of the shooting
pictures from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School
Carmine’s sermon from last week
the pictures of the children
the teachers , the coaches
those killed
those who survived
never to return to the naiveté of safety
that childhood, school should provide
Our collective empathy has been extended
those were our children
our neighbors, teachers, friends……
It is the feeling that is presented
in today’s Gospel lesson
Jesus has been in the beginning stages of
his ministry
Last week we heard of the Baptism by John
the time in the wilderness
the beginning of ministry
speaking with authority
healing the sick
bringing compassion to suffering people
recruiting disciples
Jesus is perceived as someone different
he is not the usual synagogue teacher
he speaks and heals with authority
he appears to be the possible
Messiah that had long been
the hope of the people
who now follow Jesus….
They expected a powerful force
that would restore the Israelite nation
would put Jerusalem and the Temple
back on top
it was the historic expectation
of the scriptures
the promise that God would restore his
people
Jesus does not deny
his authority
he clearly understands his role
but for him Messiah ship
will manifest in a different outcome
when John The Baptist asks from prison
are you the one or should we wait for another
Jesus’ answer is clear
tell John what you see
the blind have their eyes opened
the lame walk, those with skin disease
are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up
the poor have the good news proclaimed to them
Jesus defines Messiah as a force
not for restoring the Temple
but for compassion
not for separation
but for openness to others
not for law but for Grace
This seeming simply force for love
for healing and restoration
Becomes a radical confrontation
with the religious reality of Jesus’ time….
Today’s Gospel brings the other part of the story…
“the Son of Man must undergo great suffering
will be rejected by the elders,
the chief priest, the Scribes
he will be killed and after three days rise again…..
It is not hard to understand why Peter
would not want to hear those words….
was not looking for this kind of Messiah
Like Churchill’s promise of “Blood, Sweat, and Tears”
Jesus is saying it’s going to be dangerous
before it becomes clear
following me is not going to be without cost!
I am not sure that it is any different
for us to hear it today as it was for Peter 2,000 years ago
Jesus says become my follower
take up your own cross
risk your own life, don’t try to save it
Who are we called to be
are we taking the easy track
are we looking for some external force
a Messiah who will step up to save us
or can we hear Jesus calling us to account
to look deep within
who are we created to become
what does it mean for us to
live out a Gospel of
love and compassion
of healing and forgiveness
an invitation to inclusion
to a life style of hospitality
Jesus could see this Good News
as leading to Jerusalem
he was preparing those who were with him
for difficult days ahead
give up the safety of your life
for the sake of the Gospel
As we come today to our annual congregational meeting
perhaps Jesus is calling each of us to consider
what does it mean for me
to become a ‘doer of the word
Today Jesus says to us
Those who want to save their lives will lose them
Those who lose their lives for my sake
and the sake of the Gospel
will save them. Amen
The peace of God that passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen
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