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Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Every once in a while, I enjoy a good disaster film. I remember a few I’ve seen over the years. The trick of course is knowing what’s reality and what’s fantasy. Artists enjoy getting our attention. And a very popular and lucrative formula is about control, who has it and who doesn’t, what happens when people get it and what happens when they lose it. I say disaster films are all about control. If the film industry convinces you to be afraid, and you enjoyed the experience even just a little, chances are you’ll tell your friends. And now they will have to go see it. Somebody just made money from your fear. Cha-ching! Monsters Inc. was right.

Of course, you and I, and most mature, intelligent, and reasonable individuals understand that these films fall in the category of fantasy and fiction. They are neither accurate depictions of historical events nor attempts to foretell the future. So the main reason for that occasional guilty pleasure while sitting in a dark theatre munching away on popcorn and candy might include among other things, a fascination for the artistry of special effects (the scarier and more fantastic the image, the more thrilling), the rush of adrenaline (exactly why we ride roller coasters, loving the sensation of our stomachs in our mouths while trusting we are completely safe), and the confidence we place in someone else’s capable hands to see us through the current horror show (which I think is the basic principle behind watching election returns, win or lose).

True to life disasters, including terrorist attacks, devastating tornadoes and wildfires, earthquakes, tsunamis, unending wars, mass shootings, industrial accidents, and global pandemics have not significantly altered most Americans’ taste for these movies. We’ve even added more improbable and unlikely story lines so to create new material to scare one another senseless, like alien invasion, zombie apocalypse, demonic possession, multiverse manipulation, and evil artificial intelligence. It’s like hot sauce for the brain. If you enjoyed it, you’ll want an even bigger thrill the next go around. We can imagine the reasons people watch these movies. We can ask directors, producers, writers, and actors why they make them. They appear harmless for the most part, maybe desensitizing us to the darkness just a bit. But the most obvious reason for their existence is to take somebody’s money. And sometimes that somebody is you.

Now when we encounter disasters and horrors in sacred scripture, we may be inclined to take them more seriously, as well any book or film that appears to make a connection. And understandably so, since the most sublime elements of our religious beliefs are also to be found in the same book. But we have to remember that the bible is more like a library than a single book, with many kinds of books, many viewpoints and perspectives, and many ways to convey these viewpoints and perspectives. The sacred writers write about what they know, influenced by the thinking and customs of their unique time and place, and with a specific audience in mind. Different books will have different levels of academic scholarship and gravity. So the bible is just that, a collection of many viewpoints and perspectives, written by many different people with a limited grasp of history and their own experiences, influenced by the thinking and customs of their unique time and place, and with a specific audience in mind. And yes, we still very much believe the Holy Spirit is a major factor in bringing it all together. So in this collection of human writings, we believe God speaks God’s mind. Sometimes the divine lessons are direct and clear, sometimes vague and mysterious. And God isn’t about to intervene in decisions regarding translation, choice of vocabulary, or literary style. In effect, what we get is what we get. We can argue and discuss its meaning, or we can ponder quietly and discern more deeply what God is trying to tell us.

Apocalyptic literature, which we find in the book of Revelation, excerpts from the book of Daniel and the gospel of Mark we read today, is often written at a time of great political and religious upheaval. The sacred writer will employ similar techniques used in disaster films, but they also intend neither to write history nor predict the future. Rather, they write to encourage their target audience, calling for greater trust and confidence in the God who saves. “At that time there shall arise Michael, the great prince, guardian of your people … Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake; some shall live forever, others shall be an everlasting horror and disgrace. But the wise shall shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament, and those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars forever.”

Despite the widespread hopelessness and despair that often meets the great upheavals and disasters of the end time, there is always a glimmer of triumph over chaos and vindication for those who persevere in faith. “And then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in the clouds’ with great power and glory, and then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky … Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” There will be lots of fireworks, explosions, destruction, and mayhem, and lots of signs in the heavens above, and on earth, widespread persecution, and massive confusion. But in the end, God is always triumphant. “You know not the day nor the hour …”

What smart people who study the bible say God is telling us is, don’t lose any sleep over it. Live your best life. Take proper precautions. But don’t lose focus. Trust that God is ultimately in control. But you still have to make good choices. Remember that you have been reconciled to God through the saving mystery of Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection. And God has sent his Holy Spirit to accompany us on life’s journey. So don’t forget that you belong to Jesus Christ. You are a child of God and a child of the light. And be kind to your neighbor. Love one another, especially the ones a little more difficult to love. And every now and again, it’s okay to enjoy a scary movie. Just take a reality check now and again. Or avoid scary movies altogether if you have a shaky grip on reality or you have trouble telling fact from fiction. I guess sometimes Hollywood and the bible have something in common. We don’t always get a disclaimer. Maybe the sacred writer and the people who make scary disaster films are confident you can tell the difference. Or maybe they know you can’t and they get to laugh at your expense.

Rolo B Castillo © 2024