Difference between revisions of "Sermon for January 12th, 2014"
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==Faith & Film: The Book Thief== | ==Faith & Film: The Book Thief== | ||
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+ | [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92EBSmxinus Film Clip #1] | ||
====Three Minute Film Summary==== | ====Three Minute Film Summary==== | ||
I'll begin with the very last line in the film, because it's one of the best, and it puts the story into perspective. "There is only one thing I know to be true: I am haunted by humans." These words are spoken by Death, who narrates the film (and the book by Marcus Zusak that the film is based upon). Death first encounters Liesel Meminger on a black train winding its way through a white snowy countryside in World War II era Germany. He has come to take Liesel's younger brother, but notices her and is intrigued. | I'll begin with the very last line in the film, because it's one of the best, and it puts the story into perspective. "There is only one thing I know to be true: I am haunted by humans." These words are spoken by Death, who narrates the film (and the book by Marcus Zusak that the film is based upon). Death first encounters Liesel Meminger on a black train winding its way through a white snowy countryside in World War II era Germany. He has come to take Liesel's younger brother, but notices her and is intrigued. | ||
− | At her brother's funeral, a gravedigger unknowingly drops a book--"The Gravedigger's Handbook"--and when no one is looking, Liesel picks it up and takes it with her. This is the first book she steals, as she is on her way to be placed in foster care with Hans and Rosa Hubermann. As foster parents go, Rosa is like a crab: Hard shell on the outside, snaps at people, but soft on the inside, and loving in her own way. Hans is the opposite: On the outside he is soft, thoughtful, caring, generous and gentle, but inside him is a quiet and determined strength. He is the backbone of the family. | + | At her brother's funeral, a gravedigger unknowingly drops a book--"The Gravedigger's Handbook"--and when no one is looking, Liesel picks it up and takes it with her. This is the first book she steals, as she is on her way to be placed in foster care with Hans and Rosa Hubermann. As foster parents go, Rosa is like a crab: Hard shell on the outside, snaps at people, but soft on the inside, and loving in her own way. Hans is the opposite: On the outside he is soft, thoughtful, caring, generous and gentle, but inside him is a quiet and determined strength. He is the backbone of the family. He comforts Liesel in the loss of her brother and her mother, and when he learns that she cannot read, he teaches her. |
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+ | Rudy Steiner is the blond-headed boy who lives next door, who quickly becomes Liesel's best friend. There are only ever two things on Rudy's mind at any given point--I'll let you figure out what they are from this clip. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrC7a7rENa8 Film Clip #2] | ||
+ | One day, a young Jewish man--Max--collapses on the Hubermann's doorstep. They take him in, nurse him back to health, and hide him from the Nazi police. He becomes like an older brother to Liesel, and continuing what Hans Uberman had begun in teaching Liesel to read, Max awakens her to the power of words and storytelling. While he is sick, she steals books from the local governor's house to read to Max, and she is heartbroken when eventually he must leave in order to protect himself and Liesel's family. | ||
+ | The story ends in a way that can only be described as both tragic and beautiful. For once, I won't spoil it for you entirely, at least not yet. Remember, the story is set in the middle of World War II, and the narrator is Death himself, so you can imagine that some of the characters don't make it. Liesel is not one of them, however, and Death finally comes for her when she is 90 years old, having lived a full life, having experienced love and loss and love again. We also learn that Liesel has put her talent for words to use as a writer. Right before the last line about being haunted by humans, Death tells us that "In then end there were no words...only peace." | ||
====Giving vs. Stealing==== | ====Giving vs. Stealing==== |
Revision as of 01:32, 12 January 2014
Contents
John 1:1-5
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
Faith & Film: The Book Thief
Three Minute Film Summary
I'll begin with the very last line in the film, because it's one of the best, and it puts the story into perspective. "There is only one thing I know to be true: I am haunted by humans." These words are spoken by Death, who narrates the film (and the book by Marcus Zusak that the film is based upon). Death first encounters Liesel Meminger on a black train winding its way through a white snowy countryside in World War II era Germany. He has come to take Liesel's younger brother, but notices her and is intrigued.
At her brother's funeral, a gravedigger unknowingly drops a book--"The Gravedigger's Handbook"--and when no one is looking, Liesel picks it up and takes it with her. This is the first book she steals, as she is on her way to be placed in foster care with Hans and Rosa Hubermann. As foster parents go, Rosa is like a crab: Hard shell on the outside, snaps at people, but soft on the inside, and loving in her own way. Hans is the opposite: On the outside he is soft, thoughtful, caring, generous and gentle, but inside him is a quiet and determined strength. He is the backbone of the family. He comforts Liesel in the loss of her brother and her mother, and when he learns that she cannot read, he teaches her.
Rudy Steiner is the blond-headed boy who lives next door, who quickly becomes Liesel's best friend. There are only ever two things on Rudy's mind at any given point--I'll let you figure out what they are from this clip. Film Clip #2
One day, a young Jewish man--Max--collapses on the Hubermann's doorstep. They take him in, nurse him back to health, and hide him from the Nazi police. He becomes like an older brother to Liesel, and continuing what Hans Uberman had begun in teaching Liesel to read, Max awakens her to the power of words and storytelling. While he is sick, she steals books from the local governor's house to read to Max, and she is heartbroken when eventually he must leave in order to protect himself and Liesel's family.
The story ends in a way that can only be described as both tragic and beautiful. For once, I won't spoil it for you entirely, at least not yet. Remember, the story is set in the middle of World War II, and the narrator is Death himself, so you can imagine that some of the characters don't make it. Liesel is not one of them, however, and Death finally comes for her when she is 90 years old, having lived a full life, having experienced love and loss and love again. We also learn that Liesel has put her talent for words to use as a writer. Right before the last line about being haunted by humans, Death tells us that "In then end there were no words...only peace."
Giving vs. Stealing
Sound vs. Silence
Human Kindness vs. Human Cruelty
Hubermann
The Power of Words
- Propaganda Words
- Forbidden Words
- Living Words