Did Spider-Man Change the World? (a Steve Orr scripture reflection)

It was August 1962. In my hand was Amazing Fantasy #15, the first appearance of Spider-Man. No one knew how significant this would become for the entertainment industry. No one could have imagined that Spider-Man would still be going strong more than 60 years later. It was a milestone moment for me, too, one of those hinge points we look back on and say, "Something significant changed in my life because of that."

For those who don’t know Spider-Man’s origin: In 1962, Peter Parker is a high school student who lives with his elderly Uncle Ben and Aunt May in the New York City borough of Queens. A shy science nerd, he is routinely targeted by bullies and is always turned down for dates. Then—he’s bitten by a radioactive spider. He develops amazing spider-like abilities. Applying his scientific skills, he creates a super strong "webbing" so he can swing around the city's high ground.  

At first, he uses his new-found abilities to line his pockets with cash, quickly finding himself on prime-time television raking in the big dough. Soon, though, it all comes crashing down. When a thief runs past him, Peter ignores a security guard’s request to intervene. He is later crushed to learn his inaction led to the death of his beloved Uncle Ben. Peter then dedicates his life to fighting crime as penance for his hubris.

Like all good morality plays, the lesson comes at the end of that first Spider-Man story. In the final panel, above a lone person walking between shadowy cityscapes are these words: "And a lean, silent figure slowly fades into the gathering darkness, aware at last that in this world, with great power there must also come - - great responsibility!"

Maybe you're thinking something along the lines of, "Well, yes, everyone knows that phrase." Perhaps they do—now. But 60 years ago, to a boy still in his wonder years, that particular truth was a revelation. It’s no stretch to claim that, because of Spider-Man, some version of "With great power comes great responsibility" has been spoken millions of times in the decades since the superhero’s first appearance. Those with power may not always live like it, but you can bet they've heard it.

Did Spider-Man change the world? Maybe not. It was a startling new thought to me all those years ago, and one that shaped my thinking forever. It was my first brush with the idea of magnanimity. But the concept is not new. It’s been around a very long time. Why, even Socrates exhorted those in power to "Rule worthy of might."

Take, for example, Israel’s King David in this week’s 2 Samuel passage. I'm pretty sure David had been exposed to the concept. I think not abusing one's power easily falls under "love your neighbor as yourself" (Leviticus 19:18), a teaching David would well know. Yet, he egregiously abused his power by arranging Uriah's death to cover up his sin of adultery with Bathsheba. So egregiously did David sin, God condemned him and his family to generations of violence, from within and without.

Compared to a king, most of us possess very little worldly power. But power need not be at the royal level to qualify as great. No doubt we can think of someone over whom we exercise great power: the power of love, joy, acceptance, friendship, encouragement, charity, prayer, freedom.

You have great power.  Use it responsibly. 

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GRAPHIC - The Mystery Behind the Cover of Amazing Fantasy #15: 

https://carlscomix.com/the-mystery-behind-the-cover-of-amazing-fantasy-15/

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Will you be in Waco Friday morning? Join us at 8:00 for DaySpring’s Lectionary breakfast. We gather on Zoom** and in person at Our Breakfast Place. We have a great time discussing the coming week's passages, and the food is delicious.

Bring your own webbing.

 

Blessings,

Steve

 

**Zoom link (Zoom allows you to mute the camera and the microphone if you don’t wish to be seen or heard.):

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89947678414

 

 

SCRIPTURES FOR SUNDAY AND THE COMING WEEK 

Find them here: 

https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/texts/?y=382&z=p&d=67

Print them here:

https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/Bx_Proper13.pdf

2 Samuel 11:26 - 12:13a

Psalm 51:1-12

Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15

Psalm 78:23-29

Ephesians 4:1-16

John 6:24-35

Proper 13 (18) (August 4, 2024)

The “Don’t Be Evil” Rule (a Steve Orr scripture reflection)

Google wrote 8 golden rules for operating its business. Rule Number 8 might surprise you: Don't be evil. It appeared in Google's Initial Public Offering (“IPO”) prospectus in a letter from Google's founders. It stated: "Don't be evil. We believe strongly that, in the long term, we will be better served—as shareholders and in all other ways—by a company that does good things for the world even if we forgo some short-term gains."

 

I think "Don't Be Evil" could work very well as a personal motto. It ranks right up there with the Hippocratic Oath and Sun Tzu's "The greatest victory is that which requires no battle.” Why fight when it’s not necessary? For all of that, “don’t be evil” is not a new idea. Yes, it is surprising to find a corporation putting it out there for everyone to see (and to judge it by). But the concept has been around a very long time. 

 

We're all weak in one way or another, likely many ways. The Bible states that we all fall short ("sin" means "to miss the target"). Take, for example, this week’s 2 Samuel passage: I feel certain Israel’s King David knew he was not supposed to be evil. He apparently had some weakness when it came to beautiful women, however. Consider his seduction of Bathsheba and his accumulation of several wives. His weakness led to him sinning.

 

But there's weakness and then there's evil. Where exactly is that line between being really, really bad and being evil? When King David should have been leading his soldiers into battle, he elected to stay behind. While they were away fighting and he was at the palace, he seduced Bathsheba and got her pregnant. Then David attempted to cover up those sins. At that point, if he hadn’t already, David undeniably crossed the line into evil. 

 

First, he tried deceit. When that didn’t work, David decided to commit long-distance murder. He sent Bathsheba's husband, Uriah, back to the battle with a message for the commander. The loyal soldier didn’t know he was carrying his own death sentence. David’s order was to place Uriah in the front lines of a battle and then leave him there unprotected. His death was inevitable. That was evil.

 

Each of us is faced with choices every day. Whether as individuals or as corporate citizens, we must constantly choose how we will conduct ourselves in this life. Sometimes we mess up. None of us is perfect. When that happens—and it will—we can and should try to do better. But, regardless of our circumstances, there is never a scenario where any of us needs to break Rule Number 8.

 

Don't be evil.

 

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GRAPHIC 8: Adobe Express and Adobe Photoshop Express 

 

Brief article about Google’s 8 rules:

https://www.incomediary.com/google-follows-these-8-simple-rules-and-so-should-you/

 

 

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Join us Friday morning for DaySpring’s Lectionary Breakfast. As is our practice, we start at 8:00 and run for about an hour. Join us on Zoom** or at Our Breakfast Place. We discuss this week's scripture passages and scarf down some great food.

 

Blessings,

Steve

 

**Zoom link (Zoom allows you to mute the camera and the microphone if you don’t wish to be seen or heard.):

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89947678414

 

 

SCRIPTURES FOR SUNDAY AND THE COMING WEEK 

Find them here: 

https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/texts/?y=382&z=p&d=66

 

Print them here:

https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/Bx_Proper12.pdf

 

2 Samuel 11:1-15

Psalm 14

2 Kings 4:42-44

Psalm 145:10-18

Ephesians 3:14-21

John 6:1-21

Proper 12 (17) (July 28, 2024)

Just Get There (a Steve Orr scripture reflection)

His last request: Please take my body home. 

In the all-too-brief miracle that was the Firefly TV show, a lot of excellence was crammed into just 14 episodes. All of its fans have their favorite episodes. So, in a sense, every episode was the best. One, though, appears on everyone’s short list: “The Message.”

In it, the crew of the spaceship Serenity are asked to transport a dead man home to his family and his final resting place. They had served with him in the war; and in their memories, he was still Private Tracey. The request comes as a message he recorded in preparation for his death. They agree once they hear the recorded voice repeat a saying they know from their military past: “When you can’t run, you crawl, and when you can’t crawl, you find someone to carry you.”

When I read this week’s scripture from Mark, I thought of that Firefly episode, especially that saying about running, crawling, and being carried. Jesus and team had been actively healing people and sharing the good news. They needed a break. Hoping to get away for a little down-time, the sailed out into the sea looking for a quieter place to go ashore. But when they dropped anchor, the crowds were already gathered, waiting. 

As before, many ill people came to Jesus for healing. Those who couldn’t get there any other way were carried into His presence. I can’t help but believe the lyrics of The Hollies hit song “He Ain’t Heavy”—which seemed to be about carrying wounded soldiers to safety—would resonate with those who did the carrying. The needs of their friends and family members were so great, they begged that Jesus would allow them to touch just “the fringe of His cloak.” Apparently, they had all heard about the woman who was healed by touching the hem of His garment. 

People had to wonder if that story was true. Perhaps just so much talk? Was that all that was needed to be healed, just to touch his garment? Did you first have to sit through a sermon? Did Jesus have to grab your head and shout? Was there a 12-step program to complete in advance? Perhaps a statement of faith to declare? A pre-interview? 

No. 

Scripture tells us: "All who touched it were healed." They just needed to get there, to do as Private Tracey reminded his former comrades-in-arms: “When you can’t run, you crawl, and when you can’t crawl, you find someone to carry you.” 

How far would you travel to meet Jesus? What would you do to ensure you make that encounter? When it’s Jesus you’re going to see, you just need to get there—any way you can. 

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PHOTO: Department of Defense

Listen to The Hollies sing “He Ain’t Heavy”: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBI9i3HlFVE

The real story about “He ain’t heavy. He’s my brother”:

https://www.boystown.org/blog/Pages/story-behind-aint-heavy.aspx

_________________________. 

Join us Friday morning for an hour like no other. DaySpring’s Lectionary Breakfast meets at 8:00 on Zoom** and in person at Our Breakfast Place. We read, we pray, we laugh, and we discuss. Did I mention the laughter?

Get there any way you can.

Blessings,

Steve

 

**Zoom link (Zoom allows you to mute the camera and the microphone if you don’t wish to be seen or heard.):

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89947678414

 

 

SCRIPTURES FOR SUNDAY AND THE COMING WEEK 

Find them here: 

https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/texts/?y=382&z=p&d=65

Print them here:

https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/Bx_Proper11.pdf

2 Samuel 7:1-14a

Psalm 89:20-37

Jeremiah 23:1-6

Psalm 23

Ephesians 2:11-22

Mark 6:30-34, 53-56

Ninth Sunday after Pentecost 

Proper 11 (16) (July 21, 2024)

The End of the World? (a Steve Orr scripture reflection)

“It’s the end of the world as we know it.” —R.E.M.

 

Henry Palace always wanted to be a police detective—to see justice done. He’s trying to do that in Ben Winter’s The Last Policeman. A lot of people, including his peers, are puzzled by his dedication. The reason? Everyone has recently learned that a huge meteor is on its way to destroy all life on the planet. They don’t quite see the point. 

 

Why pursue law enforcement when, six months along, there may well be nothing left? Most think Henry should just cool it. Yet, in the face of such resistance, Henry continues to insist he is a police detective and must press on. 

 

Two people in this week’s Mark and Amos passages encounter similar push back: John the Baptist and Amos the “non-prophet.”

 

In the Mark passage, King Herod had broken God’s Law by marrying his brother’s wife. There were circumstances under which that might be permitted; Herod’s marriage didn’t qualify. Herod threw John in prison for just telling the truth. That might have been the end of it had Herod not talked himself into a corner. With one ill-considered promise, and too much pride to take it back, Herod endangered his world—as he knew it.   

 

Perhaps if John had stopped sooner, he might have kept his head. Of course, John couldn’t stop. God had sent him to call Israel to repentance—and that included the King. 

 

In the Amos passage, local leaders made it clear Amos was not welcome. They wanted him—and all his talk of justice for the poor—to move along. They begged him to peddle his prophesying elsewhere. Amos balked. All because of one word: prophet. You might think one word would not make such a difference. Amos rejected it, declaring, "I am no prophet!” 

 

Why would God’s prophet reject the title of prophet? Because it was an insult. The title of prophet had fallen into such disrepute that Amos, God’s actual prophet, could not abide being called one. It implied you were just spouting whatever message would earn you some money—telling people whatever they wanted to hear just to get a payday. 

 

Still, despite his reservations about being called a prophet, Amos responded to God’s call. He went where he was sent and said what he was told to say. It was not a popular message: death and destruction were on their way—the end of their world as they knew it.

 

Like Detective Palace, Amos pursued justice in the looming shadow of destruction. His ask: that people do right by one another despite what was to come. It was almost certainly the end of the world—as they knew it. That was no excuse, though, for continued injustice. 

 

Amos and John the Baptist persisted in their missions despite the resistance of those to whom they were sent. On one side, people doing what God sent them to do. On the other, people who should have welcomed them and respected their message.

 

What about us? Which of those people are we like when it seems our world is ending? Yes, there were circumstances. Aren’t there always circumstances, though? Perhaps it really was the end of the world—as they knew it. 

 

Wouldn’t that be an ideal time to do what God calls us to do?

 

 

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PHOTO CREDIT: Steve Orr’s 2012 calendar

Skeeter Davis sings “The End of the World”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjYJUBO0XWU

 

PLUS - Somehow, we keep missing the end of the world. Here’s a nifty little story about the end of the world and the Mayan calendar … with a twist!): 

https://english.alarabiya.net/amp/variety/2020/06/15/The-world-will-end-on-Sunday-according-to-reading-of-Mayan-calendar

 

_________________________

 

Waco is the place to be Friday mornings. The location is Our Breakfast Place or on Zoom**. DaySpring’s Lectionary Breakfast is the event.   The reasons we gather are food, fellowship, scriptures, and a lot more laughter than one might reasonably expect. 

 

Join us at 8:00 for an hour like no other.

 

Blessings,

Steve

 

**Zoom link (Zoom allows you to mute the camera and the microphone if you don’t wish to be seen or heard.):

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89947678414

 

 

SCRIPTURES FOR SUNDAY AND THE COMING WEEK 

Find them here: 

https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/texts.php?id=210

 

Print them here:

https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/pdf//Bx_Proper10.pdf

 

2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19

Psalm 24

Amos 7:7-15

Psalm 85:8-13

Ephesians 1:3-14

Mark 6:14-29

Eighth Sunday after Pentecost 

Proper 10 (15) (July 14, 2024)