The continuing popularity of the Star
Wars franchise amazes me. The first
film, “A New Hope” was released in 1977.
Since then, seven more movies have hit the big screen. Billions of dollars have been spent on Star
Wars merchandise. Contributing to that
cash haul are my three oldest grand boys.
They
love Legos. And they love Star
Wars. So what gifts do they want at
Christmas and birthdays? Star Wars
Legos! They spend hours putting together
starships and storm troopers. Their
allowances are saved until they can go shopping for – you guessed it – the newest
Star Wars Legos sets. But anything that
can keep them off a video device of some kind is fine with me.
This latest wave of Star Wars mania
reminds me of a story. Luke Skywalker
and Obi-Wan Kanobi are in a Chinese restaurant having a meal. Skillfully using his chopsticks, Obi-Wan
deftly dishes himself a large portion of noodles into his bowl, then tops it
off with some chicken and cashew nuts.
All this is done with the consummate ease you’d expect from a Jedi
Master.
Poor, old Luke, on the other hand,
is having a nightmare. Unable to use his
chopsticks properly, Luke is dropping his food all over the table himself. Obi-Wan looks at Luke disapprovingly and
says, “Use the forks, Luke. Use the forks.”
Of course, Star Wars buffs know that
the phrase, “use the forks,” is a play on words. In the first Star Wars film, Luke is
constantly reminded to “use the force!”
We are presently in that time of the
church year sometimes known as “The Green Season.” These Sundays after Pentecost focus on
spiritual growth. Every celebration of
Pentecost is a timely reminder for the people of God to let the force – the
Holy Spirit – be about His construction work in our lives. The transformation of the apostle Peter from
frightened disciple to powerful preacher and witness demonstrates the real
force the Holy Spirit is as we live out our life in Christ.
Think of it:
·
The
Spirit calls us by the Gospel to enable us to take hold of all the spiritual
blessing which are ours in Christ.
·
The
Spirit gives us the saving knowledge and confident faith to believe that Christ
is our Savior and to trust in Him alone for forgiveness and salvation.
·
The
Spirit transforms our entire lives so that our desire is to put off sin and live
lives filled with the fruit of the Spirit.
The Sundays
after Pentecost remind us of the tremendous force the Holy Spirit is in our
lives. Jesus promised His followers that
we would not be left alone. In John,
chapter 14, Jesus said: “If you love Me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and He will give
you another Counselor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth.” (verses15-16)
The Father and the Son sent the Spirit to make us holy by bringing us to
faith in Jesus and filling us with the desire to show and share the love of
Jesus with others. May the Holy Spirit
always be with you! And if chopsticks
give you trouble – use the forks!
