Please note, this episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is rated TV-14 Major Spoilers ahead for Season 7 Episode 9 "As I Have Always Been"! Season 7 has found our Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. traveling throughout time and history to save their beloved organization from time-traveling bad guys who would love to see S.H.I.E.L.D., and her agents, destroyed for good. Along the way in their journey, our Agents get caught in a time storm with Agents Johnson and Coulson stuck in a time loop as they try to figure out how to stop their ship from getting destroyed. They find out that their fellow Agent Enoch, a part-robot sentient being, can save their ship. The problem is it involves the use of device inside him which functions as his heart. The team comes to discuss what to do with Enoch, and as they debate what to do, Enoch simply reaches in and pulls out the device they need. Agent Simmons, one of Enoch's closest friends tells him, "Enoch, you'll die," to which Enoch responds: And the rest of you will live, I like to think Fitz would do the same for me. I like to think all of you would. The thing is, not everyone has treated Enoch nicely, particularly this season. Enoch gets stranded for 40 years because of the time jumps the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. have to go through and can't control. When the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. final jump back, all they do is call Enoch and have him help them without ever asking him how he's doing. They can't even get him back to their ship, albeit because they are too far away to make it before their next time jump. Enoch is only able to return because he saves the team's lives in the '70s. Yet with all that they throw at him, Enoch still loves the team, with all his heart (literally). He doesn't even hesitate to sacrifice his life for them. This is exactly what Jesus does for us. Even though Jesus was abused by many in His life, He still loves us and was still willing to give up His life for all of us. Would that we would do the same as Jesus. Would that we would do the same as Enoch. Fun Fact: Enoch's name comes from Scripture, specifically Genesis 5:21-24.
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In chapter 13 of The Magician's Nephew, Digory once again faces temptation, once again thanks to Jadis. It is also as he is getting ready to finish his act of repentance for Aslan.
There are also striking parallels with Jesus' own temptation by the devil. Jesus is also tempted with things that would make His ministry much easier in the world, which on the surface seems like a good thing. We should also not forget that Jesus is tempted with food as well. Ultimately, however, it is our faith that can save us in these times of deep trial. That is why it is so important for us to be well versed in what our faith teaches us. It is also why it is so important to develop and nurture our relationship with God so that we can lean on the Lord more fervently when people like Jadis approach us. Please note, Black Panther is rated PG-13. Zuri is a very important character in Black Panther. That's not because of all the times he helps T'Challa throughout the film. It's not because of his past sins and cover-ups, and the cautionary tale they provide. It's not even because of his ultimate sacrifice to save T'Challa. Zuri is important, and a great example because of everything he is and does. Zuri, years ago, was sent by T'Challa's father, King T'Chaka, to spy on N'Jobu, T'Chaka's brother, out in the world beyond Wakanda to make sure N'Jobu didn't get up to anything wrong. It turns out N'Jobu was planning to interfere in the outside world against T'Chaka's orders. When N'Jobu learns that Zuri was sent to spy on him, he tries to kill Zuri. T'Chaka ends up killing his brother in order to save Zuri's life. It turns out that N'Jobu, while living outside Wakanda, had a son, who grows up to be Killmonger and causes trouble for Wakanda as a result of what happened to his father. When Killmonger starts to become a problem for T'Challa, he goes to Zuri for answers. While Zuri claims they did everything they did, including leaving Killmonger, because "We had to maintain the lie", it is clear Zuri has great unease, even guilt, about what he did. Killmonger later challenges T'Challa for the throne, claiming to be getting revenge for what happened to his father. Zuri stops the fight, only for a second, to tell Killmonger that he, Zuri, is the cause of N'Jobu's death. He asks Killmonger to spare T'Challa and kill him instead, which Killmonger does.
Zuri acts in a way we all should. He admits his mistake, and tries to repent. This is after a lifetime of keeping his wrongdoings a secret, which has been a huge burden on him. The same is true for us. We are called to repent instead of letting our sins continue to weigh on our conscience. Zuri, in his repentance, also sacrifices his life to protect another. This is what we are all called to do. Jesus died to save us, and we, in turn, are called to give our lives for others in whatever way we can. Part of the role of a Christian is to be repentant and self-sacrificing. This is the way Zuri lives in the world of Black Panther. It is the way we are called to live too.
God is the same as us. When we feel sadness or sorrow, God is there in the midst of those feelings with us. It is never that God is uncaring. The opposite is, in fact, true. God is always there with us, even in the midst of our pain. When we are in pain or grief, it is important to realize this so that we know we are not alone. Aslan Wants to Us to AskThis leads to another understand about God through Aslan in this chapter. As Digory goes on his journey of repentance, Polly and Fledge (formerly Strawberry) travel with him as companions and aid to his quest. On the trip, Digory and Polly grow hungry, realizing they don't have any food (as a talking, flying horse, Fledge is good with grass).
Digory says, "Well, I do think someone might have arranged about out meals." Fledge responds, "I'm sure Aslan would have, if you'd asked him." Polly chimes in asking, "Wouldn't he know without being asked?" Fledge then states, "I've no doubt he would. But I've a sort of idea he likes to be asked." Aslan may know all, but that doesn't mean he doesn't want to be asked for help. Asking requires conversation which is key to building a relationship. The same is true for us with God. God may know all our needs (Matthew 6:8), but God also wants to be in relationship with us. That is why God was willing to come down into this world as our Lord Jesus Christ- in order to be with us. It is also why prayer is so important. In this chapter, we see, through Aslan, that God loves us and wants to be with us. God feels our pain and sorrow and is there in the midst of those feelings with us. God also wants to hear from us, be in conversation with us, and, thus, be in relationship with us. Please note, Black Panther is rated PG-13. We've discussed Nakia and the path she takes in Black Panther and Okoye and the path she takes as well.
There are two verses each of their journeys reminds me of. For Nakia, it's John 15, when Jesus tells His Disciples they are not of this world. For the Disciples, this is a reminder of why the world hates the Disciples and continues to persecute them. In Nakia's case, Jesus' words are a reminder that her loyalty is to something beyond the state of Wakanda. This is why she chooses T'Challa's family and helping M'Baku over staying in Killmonger's Wakanda. Nakia also, along with many of the prophets, cries out that she save her country, even if that means she does not serve it. Her words are a reminder that she will be on the outside looking in if she has to in order to save her country. Okoye's verse comes from Mark 12:13-17. When asked about whether to pay taxes, Jesus says "render unto Caesar's what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." While we are separate from the world as Christians, the vast majority of us are not fully removed from it. In fact, the Apostle Paul lives out the words of Jesus by using his Roman citizenship to help him in his ministry. Okoye remains in Wakanda's service throughout Killmonger's reign. It is because she sees her duty to the state as so important that she is able to be there and do some good when it is needed from her. She is able to still serve the good while serving her country. Both Nakia's and Okoye's path leads to the same place: helping T'Challa regain the throne. Their collective story is a lesson to us all. Some of us may be called to be prophets, speaking from the outside looking in. Others may be called to serve within their systems while still ultimately serving a larger good. Where we serve doesn't matter, as long as we go so to serve, above all else, the Will of God in this world. Please note, Sky: Children of the Light is rated 9+ One the key elements of Sky: Children of the Light is the Winged Light. These are beings of pure light that pop up around the world of Sky for you to collect. These beings not only grant power to your cape, but they are also what you are called to return to the Eye of Eden (Spoiler Alert!) Unfortunately, there are some enemies that can take those Winged Lights away from you, most notably Dark Dragons (also known as Krill). If you're not careful and avoid them, one of those Winged Lights will return to where you found it originally. There is, unfortunately, no way to know which one you lost. This is the situation I found myself in once (or twice. or multiple times...). In fact, this particular time, I lost two. Decided to go back through each stage I had already been to in order to see if I could find the missing Winged Light. It was strange just how much joy I derived from finding this light again. Then I realized this experience reminded me of something Jesus said.
In both Matthew and Luke, Jesus tells the story of the lost sheep. In it, the shepherd leaves a flock of 100 sheep to find one lost one. Jesus tells us how much joy the shepherd will have on finding that one sheep, and if this shepherd does this, how much more will God on finding a lost soul? The Winged Light are like those lost sheep, and we in turn are like those Winged Light. We may stray from God and follow our own, destructive way at times, but God is always there search for us. And you can bet that God will rejoice even more than I did on finding some light in a video game once God finds us once again.
This question and answer format that leads to the scheduling of the coronation of the Cabby and his wife might seem familiar. It might be tempting to think of this Q and A as similar to the Examination in the various services for Ordination.
In those examinations, however, the person answering must always say simply "I will." There's no room to question yourself in those services. You must be sure and confident that God has given you this work to do and that you can do it. The Cabby, in his answers, is not alway certain. It would be better, then, to compare his examination to the one we receive in Baptism. When asked the questions of what we will do, the answer is always "I will, with God's help." It's a recognition that we will follow the path that God has laid out for us. It is also a recognition of humility, and that we cannot accomplish what we wish to do without God's help. That is what the Cabby does as he answers Aslan. The Cabby is making a statement to live into the life that Aslan, that God, wishes him to live, albeit in a very specific vocation. The Cabby does so with only the deepest humility. That is all any of us can hope to do, to live as God wills us to, with God's help.
Aslan's role should also remind us that God, though celebrated in Trinity, is ultimately One. Aslan Himself is agreeing to take on the role of taking the worst part of the evil that will come from Jadis' presence in Narnia. This is the same Aslan who sang the world into being, the Creator.
This is a reminder of the beginning of the Gospel according to John. There Jesus, The Word, is present at the beginning of creation as the tool by which all things come into being. The Word is not simply a tool, though, but God Himself creating all things. God does not simply offer a sacrificial lamb for the sins of humankind. God offers Himself. God takes on the worst of it all for our sake, just as we see Aslan do for Narnia.
Aslan comes to the rescue for the animals saying: Laugh and fear not, creatures. Now that you are no longer dumb and witless, you need not always be so grave. For jokes as well as justice come in with speech. A joke is one of the first things that occurs in the creation of Narnia. That is significant. Humour isn't something for us to fear or flee. It is a gift from God. At the same time, there is some hesitancy over this joke and responding with laughter. In fact, it takes Aslan to reassure the animals that doing so is alright. Sometimes we can be hesitant when it comes to humour, especially where anything related to church is concerned. In Luke 7:34, though, Jesus is depicted as taking part in merriment, although, as Jesus says, He is often chastised for doing so. Fortunately, we do have examples of God-figures like Aslan who enter in and tell us it is okay for us to laugh and find things funny. To laugh at jokes is a gift, and we should never forget how precious a gift it is. Please note, Black Panther is rated PG-13 One of the most iconic aspects of Black Panther is the "Wakanda Forever" salute the Wakandans give to each other. T'Challa and his family share this salute with one another as do T'Challa and the leaders of his government. When I first started using Black Panther for Christian Formation, one of the youth members I spoke to pointed out that the "Wakanda Forever" salute is the American Sign Language (ASL) word for "Love". This is beautiful and incredibly fitting. Old Testament Professor and Scholar Becky Wright often points out that the Hebrew word for "Love" means more than just emotion. What it really means is "Loyalty". In fact, the word "Love" is often used in ancient peace treaties when one nation has conquered another. It was a sign that the other nation wouldn't rise up again. When we say we love God, it means we are loyal to the Lord. It means we will do whatever we can for God in this world. That idea for Love as Loyalty is very present in Black Panther. It's why T'Challa declares it in his salute to both Shuri and members of the Dora Milaje. It is also how others use it throughout the film. When T'Challa loses the challenge for the throne with Killmonger, everyone present immediately gives the "Wakanda Forever" salute to Killmonger. It is a very sad and somber moment for everyone when they do so, but it is a sign that their love, their loyalty, is to Wakanda first, no matter who it is that sits on the throne. Both Nakia and Okoye show love as loyalty, although in very different ways. Nakia loves both her country and T'Challa. Showing that love means continuing to take care of T'Challa's family, even when she believes T'Challa is dead. It also means trying to save the soul of her country, even when her methods might look like treason to others. Okoye shows her love for Wakanda by being loyal to it, no matter what she might think of those leading it at the time. Even within that loyalty, she is also loyal to T'Challa's memory, which is why she asks after their safety when speaking with Nakia. Okoye shows her love further when she refuses to stand by while Killmonger makes a mockery of Wakandan law. She is loyal to the point of even standing up against her husband in the battle for Wakanda's soul. Love is an extremely difficult thing to talk about, but when we start to see it as something more than an emotion, as both Scripture and Black Panther do, we find it binds us to God and those we love even closer than we might ever have thought possible before. |
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The Rev. Trey KennedyHere is my take on how Superheroes and other characters can help us know God better. Categories
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