Difference between revisions of "Sermon for January 3rd, 2021"
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====Follow the Yellow Brick Road==== | ====Follow the Yellow Brick Road==== | ||
| + | The Wizard of Oz is a classic example of what is called "The Hero's Journey" or the "monomyth" in literature and mythology. In this kind of story, which Joseph Campbell and Carl Jung believed was the oldest kind of story, a hero is called to undertake a long journey into the unknown, receives supernatural assistance along the way as well as guidance from helpers and mentors, undergoes a profound transformation resembling a death and rebirth, and ultimately returns home full circle as a new person. | ||
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| + | In the Wizard of Oz, all of these journey elements are present, and tied together symbolically with a very famously colored road: | ||
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*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3DD3vDyuog Film Clip #2 - Follow the Yellow Brick Road (2:41)] | *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3DD3vDyuog Film Clip #2 - Follow the Yellow Brick Road (2:41)] | ||
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| + | In the earliest days of Christianity, the followers of Jesus did not call themselves Christians. They didn't even call themselves followers of Jesus, actually. They called themselves followers of the road (Gr. ὁδός). They viewed faith itself as a long journey, which began at baptism, which involved divine (or supernatural) assistance from the Holy Spirit, assistance from helpers in the form of the faith community, and (following the example of Jesus) which culminated not in death but in resurrection to a new life and a return to our true, original home with our Creator. | ||
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| + | The idea that this world we journey through is not our true home, but that we are all foreigners, immigrants, strangers in the land of Oz, is reflected both in our scripture passage from Hebrews, and also in the motto of First Presbyterian Church--when we say that we strive to be a church for Wonderers, Wanders, and Wisdom Seekers: Basically for those who find themselves wandering along life's "yellow brick road" taking in all the wonders around them, all the wisdom they can...but ultimately longing for a spiritual Kansas. Because there's no place like our heavenly home. | ||
====Heart, Soul & Mind==== | ====Heart, Soul & Mind==== | ||
Revision as of 18:34, 2 January 2021
Contents
Matthew 22:34-40
34 When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, 35 and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36 “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” 37 He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
Hebrews 11:8-10
8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
Faith & Film IX - The Wizard of Oz
Three Minute Film Synopsis
How many of you have NOT ever seen the Wizard of Oz? This film routinely shows up in listings of the top three most watched movies of all time, and it received more votes from you than any other film in our survey, more than any film in ANY decade of the 20th century, so unless you've lived your entire life under a very large rock...I think a one minute film synopsis should do just fine.
Dorothy Gale is a young girl who lives on a farm in Kansas, until her house is swept away by a tornado which deposits her (and the house) in a fantasy world called Oz, full of witches, wizards, munchkins and flying monkeys. In order to find her way home, Dorothy embarks upon a journey to the Emerald City, the home of the great and powerful wizard of Oz. Along the way, she befriends a scarecrow, a tin man, and a cowardly lion, and is antagonized by the wicked witch of the west, whom she ultimately defeats with a cup of cold water. The great wizard of Oz turns out to be a bit of a fraud, but does help her three friends overcome their issues. Dorothy says goodbye to her friends, and with some help from the good witch of the North, she returns home to her family by clicking her magical ruby red slippers together and repeating the words, "there's no place like home."
Follow the Yellow Brick Road
The Wizard of Oz is a classic example of what is called "The Hero's Journey" or the "monomyth" in literature and mythology. In this kind of story, which Joseph Campbell and Carl Jung believed was the oldest kind of story, a hero is called to undertake a long journey into the unknown, receives supernatural assistance along the way as well as guidance from helpers and mentors, undergoes a profound transformation resembling a death and rebirth, and ultimately returns home full circle as a new person.
In the Wizard of Oz, all of these journey elements are present, and tied together symbolically with a very famously colored road:
In the earliest days of Christianity, the followers of Jesus did not call themselves Christians. They didn't even call themselves followers of Jesus, actually. They called themselves followers of the road (Gr. ὁδός). They viewed faith itself as a long journey, which began at baptism, which involved divine (or supernatural) assistance from the Holy Spirit, assistance from helpers in the form of the faith community, and (following the example of Jesus) which culminated not in death but in resurrection to a new life and a return to our true, original home with our Creator.
The idea that this world we journey through is not our true home, but that we are all foreigners, immigrants, strangers in the land of Oz, is reflected both in our scripture passage from Hebrews, and also in the motto of First Presbyterian Church--when we say that we strive to be a church for Wonderers, Wanders, and Wisdom Seekers: Basically for those who find themselves wandering along life's "yellow brick road" taking in all the wonders around them, all the wisdom they can...but ultimately longing for a spiritual Kansas. Because there's no place like our heavenly home.
