Sermon for June 1st, 2014

Luke 24:44-53

44Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you— that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” 45Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48You are witnesses of these things. 49And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

50Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. 51While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. 52And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; 53and they were continually in the temple blessing God.

Jesus, Obiwan Kenobi & Rev. Bill Burroughs

Today's sermon centers around three different stories of three very different men: One who lived 2,000 years ago, one who lived 50 years ago, and one who lived a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.

We'll start with the last one. A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away is the classic opening line of all the Star Wars movies, and so the first story is one many of you are probably familiar with. In Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (or as my generation refers to it, the real "first" Star Wars movie) there is a scene where the young hero, Luke Skywalker, watches from a distance as his teacher and mentor, Obiwan Kenobi is engaged in a lightsaber duel to the death with the evil Sith Lord, Darth Vader.