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Up-to-the-minute jumping-off points for sermons, linking the reading to the latest news and global issues

Messing with reality

Has what we have seen on our screens over Easter affected our view of reality?
(John 20.19-31)

Context

To misquote Pilate (John 18.38), ‘What is reality?’ How do we know what is true or real as we watch or read the news? How can blockbuster stories in the silver screen mess with our viewpoint on reality? Do so many different perspectives risk sending us into madness?

• Messing with your mind. A new film due to be released on May 5th, Dr Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, takes a journey through mind-bending alternate realities. It’s the kind of film that might leave you wondering if you really exist, or whether you are simply a figment of someone else’s imagination! Budding amateur psychologists will love this!
• Messing with the real world. Another new film which messes with our view of reality, and which came out just before Easter, is the latest in JK Rowling’s stories about her alternative wizarding world, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore. Rather than an alternative reality, this story lies in an imagined world hidden from view of most humans (muggles!), where a whole host of magical beings and creatures exist out of sight of the known world. Forces of darkness seek to oppress the rights of all people to co-exist in freedom. For some, their version of reality is the only way. And everyone else is wrong. (Which sounds scarily like some political world leaders today.)
• Messing with the truth. Irina Gen, a teacher from the city of Penza in Russia, might end up in prison for ten or more years for ‘discrediting’ Russia. In the course of her teaching a class of 13- to 14-year-olds, she was asked a question about why Russian athletes had been banned from events. She said it was a correct response to Russia’s attempt to overthrow the Ukrainian government. Irina is not alone in being accused of expressing traitorous anti-war sentiments, and then being fired or prosecuted.
• Messing with the future. Sunday 24 April sees the final stage of the fight for the French presidency between Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen, as the people of France head to the polling stations. The worries of extremist politics in France threaten the future reality of freedoms many of us take for granted, such as the equal rights of immigrants, or the rights of Muslims to wear headscarves in public.
• Messing with neutrality. Both Finland and Sweden are in talks with officials about joining Nato. Historically both countries have remained neutral, but Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has provoked strong support in both countries to join the defence alliance.

 

Reflection and ideas for a sermon, talk or conversation

Many of us might have watched some kind of epic film based on an edited Gospel passion story over the Easter holiday period, such as ‘The Robe’ or ‘The Passion of the Christ’, or a musical such as ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ or ‘Godspell’. I can say that from a personal perspective my faith has often been shaped by watching such films. But what about the other stuff that has appeared on our screens over the same period? How have these impacted on our perceptions of the Easter story? How has what we have been viewing over Easter affected our perspective of the reality of the resurrection in the Gospels?

Is Thomas’ response to the other disciples telling him that they have seen Jesus an unreasonable one? From Thomas’ perspective it might well seem that it is the others who have lost their grip on reality! Was it so wrong for Thomas to question the reality of the situation, or to ask for evidence? History seems to have judged him harshly, labelling him as ‘Doubting Thomas’ ever since. But how many of us, viewing the world through the multifaceted opinions of film, tv, social media, newspapers, etc., can be sure that we know the answer to the question: How do I know what is real?

After all, we know that all news reported on tv, or stories portrayed on a cinema screen, are viewed through somebody else’s lens, no matter how unbiased they might be trying to be. Of course, the same is said of the Gospel writers themselves! It might be true that to overthink such things would be to turn everything into a conspiracy theory, messing with our heads and driving us to the brink of madness. But into the midst of today’s Gospel passage, in what could easily be mistaken for a magical fantasy story if taken out of context, Jesus mysteriously ‘apparates’ into a locked room, like a character from a magical movie, and showing the wounds that killed him. And yet, both to the majority of the remaining disciples and one week later to Thomas himself, Jesus speaks ‘peace’ into the strange reality of a situation that has the potential to mess with your mind and send you into madness.

Do not underestimate the power of that ‘peace’. Jesus says: ‘Peace be with you’. It is a peace that sends us out into the world with the ability to cope with a world that appears warped like a Salvador Dali picture, or a magical fantasy film. It is a peace, given in the gift of the Holy Spirit, which enables us to ask the questions of our present reality and still to come out of it with our head screwed on the right way!

We know that we look at the world through a certain lens – we wouldn’t be ‘Christians’ if we didn’t! While it might be true to say that one person’s reality is another’s madness, we know the world needs a different perspective to the one so often seen! Otherwise, what would be the point of us sharing our faith? Psalm 118.22 makes that clear. And that was a perspective shared by Peter (Acts 4.8-12) and so many others. It might seem like a multiverse of madness, but ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.’ But the psalmist goes on to say in the following verse ‘This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.’ And that is the marvel of our faith, that even if we haven’t seen first-hand, we invite God to show us a reality through the eye of Jesus.

 

Questions for discussion

• How do we know what is real? How do we know that what we are told is true? Ask these questions of any of the news stories mentioned above, or even of the two films. As Christians, how are the Gospel stories that we believe evidenced in the way we live?
• As a group watch a film that tells part of Jesus’ life narrative (such as: The Robe; The Passion of the Christ; Jesus Christ Superstar) and ask how this helps believers to deal with the reality of the world we live in?

Tim Lowe is a minister of the United Reformed Church, serving with St Andrew’s Roundhay, in Leeds, and enjoys a good sing-along to ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’.

 

Check-in

Connecting faith with everyday, real-life issues for young people

This week there has been plenty of controversy for the new season of Britain’s Got Talent. ‘Golden Buzzer’ contestant, Loren Allred, had already had success as the voice behind the Greatest Showman’s hit song ‘Never Enough’, providing vocals for Rebecca Ferguson to mime to. Another contestant was already mic’d up before his surprise audition, leaving viewers to ponder if this ‘reality’ show was fixed, or fake. In a world of ‘fake news’, filters, and ‘alternative facts’, can we trust what we are being told or even what we are seeing? Perhaps even the frenzy on social media has been whipped up, designed to bring in a larger audience for BGT. Of course, when it comes to stories about the war in Ukraine, or information about climate change, knowing what is real and what is disinformation really matters.

Thomas has gone down in history for his doubt. But should we view ‘Doubting Thomas’ instead as a ‘fact-checking Thomas’; someone who asks questions (John 14.5) and seeks out the evidence when sizing up outlandish claims? Jesus gives Thomas the space he needs to question and test what is real. In doing so, Thomas discovers truth to hold on to – that Jesus is Lord.

We are called to live truthfully as we walk with Jesus. To be truly authentic in our lives and in our faith, we should not be afraid to ask questions, challenge assumptions and check the evidence for our beliefs. Such truth-seeking can bring a deeper knowledge, understanding and confidence in our faith, which is compelling.

Pam Elliott, Children & Youth Editor

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