WAR ON CALVARY

SERMON PREACHED BY FR. TONY NOBLE ON GOOD FRIDAY

MARCH 21^st, 2008

If you are in the habit of going to the local cinemas you will have realized that shortly the second in the series of movies based on C. S. Lewis' "Narnia Chronicles", is about to be released. Movies based on the children's books of C. S. Lewis, and also J. R. Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings", have been a phenomenal success in recent years .

C. S. Lewis' "Narnia Chronicles" and Tolkein's "Lord of the Rings" are both significant in that both of these writers were Christians. Their series of children's books had the underlying theme of good - against all odds - triumphing over evil. Good triumphing over evil. In the previous generation George Lucas did a similar thing in a sci-fi setting. "Star Wars" had an amazing impact 28 years ago, and like many people I was hooked on it.

The strange thing about "Star Wars" was that it didn't start at the beginning. It took us to the middle of the story, and introduced us immediately to that ominous figure, Darth Vadar, who was the personification of evil - complete with flowing black robes, deep voice and a hidden face.

Of course there was a hero, Luke Skywalker - young and almost innocent. And there was the slogan "the Force be with you" - with its suggestion of a supernatural power for good. We soon learn that the evil guys had a similar power, called "the dark side".

By the time we got to the final episode we discovered that Darth Vadar was actually the hero's father. He had been a good guy but went over to the dark side. There was a thin line between that supernatural force being used for evil - and not for good.

Finally episodes one and two were released at the end of it all, and we saw how the story began. We saw the young Annakan Skywalker who became Darth Vadar. At first this wasn't obvious - he was an adventurous young man, passionate and dashingly handsome. Too good to become Darth Vadar, it seemed.

But there is a telling moment when he confronts his urges and temptations, and real feelings of anger and revenge. Annakan says: "I am a Jedi; I know I am better than this". Yes, he knew better - but he still gave in. And in that moment, he is just like all of us. So Annakan Skywalker continues down the path that leads to the dark side, to become Darth Vadar.

There is a bit of Star Wars in the Bible.

Revelation 12: 7-9 "Now war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels attacked the dragon. The dragon fought back with his angels, but they were defeated and driven out of heaven. The dragon, that great serpent known as the devil, or Satan, who had deceived all the world, was thrown down to the earth".

Satan was an angel in heaven, who went over to the dark side - along with his angels. The battle was waged, and good triumphed over evil. But it wasn't the end of the story - Satan was hurled down to the earth, where, as Saint Peter says, "he goes about like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour!"

And that brings us to the present. Revelation is a colorful book with all sorts of images and stories. All sorts of people give their interpretations.

Revelation chapter 12 could well be a description of Good Friday. For what happened on Good Friday was not just the death of Jesus Christ on the Cross. It was a spiritual conflict and a spiritual triumph.

Revelation 12 starts with an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary - the women clothed with the sun, standing on the moon with twelve stars on her head as a crown. She is about to give birth to her son - the son it says who will rule the nations with an iron sceptre. This is Jesus. The dragon waits to devour the son - but the mother escapes. Then we go to the war in heaven.

Satan wants to lead the world away from God. Christ the Son of God, was born to stop that. And so the war happens.

The fight between good and evil climaxes today on Calvary. Revelation 12 is a marvelous Star Wars story of what happened on Calvary on Good Friday. Good vs evil - and it is spiritual and supernatural.

As if to underline all this, the woman of Revelation 12 is also at the Cross. In the moment of his passion and death, Jesus Christ gives her to the Church - represented by the beloved disciple, John. "Behold your Mother".

The meaning of Calvary is proclaimed in the verses that immediately follow Revelation's war in heaven:

"Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, and they have conquered by the Blood of the Lamb". The Blood of the Lamb gives the victory!

The source of all conflict in our world and in ourselves, is in the supernatural realm. Today, Jesus Christ triumphs in that realm - having suffered all the consequences of that conflict on the Cross. Good triumphs over evil!!

Truly when he says, "It is finished", it is accomplished!