I’m a big fan of the original Star Wars trilogy. I grew up watching the first movie on a VHS tape. This was from back in the day where movies would occasionally air on network TV. So when Star Wars came on TV, my mom and dad popped in the tape and hit record. I just loved the adventure of the original Star Wars movie, the story of the young hero Luke Skywalker being drawn into an epic conflict and using what he learned to help a rebel army of freedom fighters defeat the evil Galactic Empire. It’s a classic movie that I never get tired of watching.
One movie scene that came to mind as I was pondering Jesus’s words to us in the Gospel is the one where Luke Skywalker rescues Princess Leia. For the few of you who may not have seen the movie, Princess Leia is a leader of the rebel freedom fighters who has fallen into the clutches of the main villain, Darth Vader. Fortunately, Luke and some of the rebel forces infiltrate Darth Vader’s ship and Luke is able to make it to her prison cell. He gets there by disguising himself in the outfit of the Storm Troopers, the helmeted, white-armored soldiers of the Galactic Empire. I would guess you have seen kids in this outfit for Halloween.
So, disguised as one of the enemy troops, Luke gets into Princess Leia’s prison cell to rescue her. As he stands there, Princess Leia skeptically says, “Aren’t you a little short for a Stormtrooper?” Luke had forgotten that he was wearing it and replies, “Oh, the uniform!” And then removes his mask and declares: “I’m Luke Skywalker, I’m here to rescue you!”
Last week we talked about the importance of having our hearts reordered so that our mission to others can follow the proper order. This week Jesus is calling us to embrace the courage necessary for our mission. Even as He was sending His own Apostles forth on mission to proclaim His Gospel, He knew full well that they would sometimes encounter difficulty and even rejection, but this didn’t stop Him from sending them.
Today, Jesus strengthens the hearts of the Apostles and all of us, reminding us to not be afraid. And He reminds us of the good reason we have not to fear: the incredible love of our Heavenly Father. Jesus reminds us that the Father is aware of all creation, even the tiny sparrows. He gives the beautiful image of each and every hair of our head being numbered. If you are a parent, think of your children. Wouldn’t you be able to recognize them in a crowd, even from far off, just by the way they walk or by their small mannerisms? Or if you don’t have kids, think of your best friend. If you heard their voice calling out in a crowded room, you would probably immediately recognize it, right?
There is something special about being known and knowing another person. And this is the way it is between our Heavenly Father and each of us. God so loved the world that He gave each of us His most precious gift, His only begotten Son, to die for us so that we might have new life inside of us which draws us to Him. He knows each of us so well that He is aware of each and every hair. That may be a bit easier for some of you guys. Maybe that count is zero! But in all seriousness, that is the depth of how well He knows us. He knows us through and through. He sees each of you and desires to transform you by His love. Your worth to the Father is incredible. He gave His only Son for you and for me. He wants you to be drawn into a life of faith, hope and love through encounter with Jesus and the Holy Spirit that He gives you. That is the greatness of His love for you!
So our challenge is to constantly let Jesus draw us into a deeper relationship with our Heavenly Father so that His love can transform us. A good analogy is when we have a very close friendship with another person. We start to act like that person, maybe pick up some of their mannerisms, tell their jokes. We are transformed by them. And with God, the closer our friendship with Him, the more we are transformed to be like Him. The more we will have that courage and conviction to go out to others, because we will know the joy and peace of the life of God which goes beyond anything this world offers. This is how it is meant to be with us and the Father. When we let ourselves be drawn in by the Lord, we start to become familiar with God and want to share that with others!
When Jesus says, “Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father,” He isn’t speaking about denying us entry into a club, He is talking about our relationship. When we come close to Him, we draw life from those family bonds that form us together, but if we back away, those family bonds can be broken. The acknowledgement is that sense of familiarity that comes from a close relationship. This is what we are meant to foster with the Father, through His Son, and in the Holy Spirit.
We all struggle to do this. It is hard for us to go out to others with the Good News of new life in Jesus, a life lived in the love of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It’s hard for us to go out because, like the Apostles, we are tempted to fear–to fear what others might think of us; to fear that our attempts at sharing the goodness of the Good News will be rejected; the fear that we will not be a good enough messenger, that we will fail the Lord. But in the midst of these fears, Jesus reminds us–each of your hairs is counted! The Father knows you and me through and through, He knows us better than we know ourselves! So He knows the weaknesses, hangups and even the sins that we still hold onto and knows how to work through us in spite of those things. And even in those areas of sin, the Father sees how He can lead us out of just falling into the same sins all the time!
It is so important for us to be drawn deeper in, because this allows us to share the life and love of God the Father with other people by our words and example. He is sending us out to those who have maybe never known Him. Think back to Luke and Princess Leia. How lame would Star Wars have been if Luke just wandered around the ship the whole time, nervous to take off his stormtrooper mask for fear of being caught? Leia knew Luke was able to help her when he revealed himself to her.
This is our call, to be so soaked in the love of God that we become unafraid to show that love, to speak about Who has loved and saved us, to be the person who reaches those who are longing for that love. We have to be willing to let our guards down, to be vulnerable with others and allow God to shine through us. The most impactful people in my life were those who let their guard down and showed me God’s love. They have truly changed my life’s course. I pray for each of you to become that person for many others!
+ Father, thank you for your incredible love for us, for drawing us to you through Your amazing Son. Jesus, our brother and savior, help us push through our fears so that we might allow you to touch people through us. Holy Spirit, stir up our hearts once again with deeper faith, hope and love so that we might be effective vessels of you for others. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen. +