It is an interesting week to be in the film making business. For the first time that I am aware of, a major film company, Sony, cancelled a debut of a new movie because of cyber attacks, hacking of company data and email threats of terror attacks on theaters carrying “The Interview” on Christmas Day. The show was supposed to be a comedy about a plot to assassinate the North Korean leader. Though it is too early to tell, I suspect this will have a ripple effect, making it more difficult for filmmakers to come up with funding and investors for movies that need to be told, but take up controversial or religiously charged topics
Interestingly enough, this 4th week of Advent, the church asks us to consider just that: would we be willing to invest in not just a movie, but in Christmas? Now, most of us are not media moguls, with the deep pockets needed to fund a movie. So imagine, if you will, the work it would take to fund a movie about Christmas to someone who knew nothing about the Christmas story and the events of the world’s salvation. Even before the cyber attacks – I think they would have a hard time rousing support for that project. They’d ask for a synopsis. You’d show them today’s gospel. They’d read it. “This is about the salvation of the world – hmm. They are doing it all wrong.” (The internet judgment for this story has a simpler way to say that: “FAIL”.) Can you imagine the questions they’d be asking about the project?
You are going to set this story of salvation WHERE? If you were planning the event that will bring salvation to everyone, you’d put it on the grandest stage, where it could get the most exposure. God begins this story of Jesus in a small country barely noticeable on the world stage, and in a tiny village in that country barely noticeable on the Israeli stage. Nazareth was not Jerusalem, much less Athens or Rome.
Wait – how old is the main character and who is she? What an unlikely character was Mary to play such a starring role in God’s great mysterious plan of salvation! Mary would likely have been around 13 or 14 years old when the angel appeared to her. So a Middle School or Junior High girl from a nobody family with no acting training is going to play the ‘Best Supporting Actress role?” And you think that is going to work?
Where are the special effects? Explosions? The light sabers? Instead of splitting open the heavens with the arrival of a conquering Messiah accompanied by a legion of angels, amazing pyrotechnics and explosions to alert everyone of the impending good news, you’re going to do what? You are going to send this savior into our history, just as every other human has come into the world since the birth of Adam and Eve’s children – as a small baby? That’s your premise – that’s your ‘go to’ story about salvation?
And let me get this straight: It all hinges on ONE word, and you are shooting this scene LIVE, NO SCRIPT? What will you do if she says no? Mary is presented with a daunting calling by the angel. Her world will be turned upside down, in order for our world to be turned right side up. After the angel’s announcement; after the prophecy and assurances that God would bless this child; after the reassuring sign of the pregnancy of her kinswoman, Elizabeth;—after all of this, the angel fell silent, and all heaven with him, waiting for the answer of a young teenage girl. What would she say? What if she says, “no”? It was a huge risk for Mary and an even larger investment for her. All she was and hoped for and planned in the movie of her life, would go out the proverbial window with that simple yes. So the angel waited… And God waited… And the world waited…
But here is the hard truth of the fourth Sunday of Advent. God, the casting director, is still waiting for us to invest in this movie. God still waits for us to make the commitment to that drama of salvation, not as it was played out 2000 years ago in that nowhere town by a unknown teen, through a one word answer, – but as it is played out in the community of Ferguson, the classrooms of our failing Normandy Schools, and the violence of the drug and gang torn streets of St. Louis. God still waits on us, as he waited on Mary’s yes.
Will YOU invest in the story of Christmas this year?
Or, maybe the better question, because you are already here – HOW will you invest in the story of Christmas this year?
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I have received (already) about 10 email promotions about the movie series A.D. – to be aired beginning this Easter. The movie will cover the first ten chapters of the Acts of the Apostles. Got me to thinking about what goes into a good movie. You need plot – a story that must be told. Interesting characters to bring to life. Good actors to play the roles. A setting. A good visual location. A good beginning and a good ending. Lots of behind the scenes people to do sound and light and effects and the like. But most important, it needs to be bigger than life. Big enough to carry the story, the human drama, the mystery.
This 4th week of Advent, we are introduced to movie making process of the history of our salvation. The funny thing is this. If I was approached by the director to help finance their concept for this ‘movie’ – I think I would have a hard time plunking down any kind of cash to support the endeavor. It would be hard for me to invest in this movie/story. They are doing it all wrong. (the internet judgment for this story would be one word: “FAIL”.) I would have questions: