Sermon for January 9th, 2022
Psalm 121:1-8 1 I lift up my eyes to the hills—from where will my help come? 2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. 3 He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. 4 He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand. 6 The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. 8 The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore.
Contents
Luke 21:25-28
25 “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. 26 People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
Faith & Film X: Don't Look Up
Three Minute Film Synopsis
Kate Dibiasky is a graduate student at Michigan State University when she discovers a large comet (later named after her) on a collision path with Earth. Her professor, Dr. Randall Mindy, confirms her discovery and the two immediately notify the proper government authorities. They are brought to the White House for a meeting with the President, who expresses skepticism about their discovery. The two then attempt to leak the news on national television, where they are (once again) not taken very seriously, despite the serious nature of their news. The government later changes its mind and decides to take the threat seriously, but it soon becomes apparent they are really more interested in exploiting the crisis for political gain.
The President launches a mission to destroy the comet before it impacts the earth, but at the last minute the mission is scrapped when a wealthy tech-CEO (and political donor), Peter Isherwell, convinces the President to instead mine the asteroid for precious metals, breaking it up in the process. This rather dubious plan becomes controversial and divides the country (and the world). Meanwhile, Kate Dibiasky (the graduate student who discovered the comet) grows increasingly frustrated at all of the political and media callousness, has a nervous breakdown and decides to go home. Her professor, Dr. Mindy, becomes a media sensation, gets swept up in celebrity culture, has an affair with a news anchor, and is confronted by his wife.
The comet becomes visible in the sky, and as people continue to be divided, Kate and Dr. Mindy encourage people to "just look up" and believe what their eyes see. The President launches a counter-campaign, telling people "don't look up" because those who want you to look up are "looking down their noses at you."
Ultimately, the plans of Peter Isherwell's tech company fail, and the end of all life becomes an imminent reality for the people of the world. Dr. Mindy returns to his home and seeks forgiveness from his wife. The President and Peter Isherwell board a spaceship along with other billionaires to escape their fate (which also meets with a disastrous and hilarious end). Dr. Mindy and his family, along with Kate Dibiasky and some family friends, sit down to a home cooked meal together as the comet strikes the earth, and give each other what comfort they can.
Satire & Truth
From the dry synopsis I just gave, you'd probably be surprised to hear me say this is the funniest movie I've seen in a long time. It's subject matter is,
- Truth & What's Real?
- Satire (Jesus & the Pharisees, plank in your eye...)
- Psalm 23
- Forgiveness
- Speaking Truth to Power (Prophets, Jesus, John the Baptist)
- Two Prayers & The Last Supper
