You might be surprised to learn that real scientists can be upset by what is said by fictional characters. In fact, they can get in quite a tizzy about the most arcane things. There are heated debates about the accuracy, and more specifically, the likelihood, of such things.
Case in point: in the first Star Wars movie (Episode IV: A New Hope), Han Solo boasts that his spaceship, the Millennium Falcon, is more than fast enough to meet the needs of Luke and Obi-Wan. Han claims, "It's the ship that made the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs."
Astronomers and Astrophysicists, everywhere, shuddered.
That can’t possibly be how fast the spaceship made the Kessel Run. A Parsec is just a measurement of distance, not speed (time and distance). One Parsec is roughly 3.26 Light Years (about 19 trillion miles). So, if Han wasn't bragging about the speed of his ship, what did he mean?
Well, the Internet is full of answers.
Many serious scientists have weighed in on this, and their answers run the gamut. One theory suggests that Han took a short-cut through a dangerous region of space to reduce the distance, something a more risk-averse pilot would not. Another scientist talked of wormholes (or hyperspace). One even wrote a very learned paper on why it had to be time-travel.
The situation is similar to what happens when we read the words of Jesus, especially when He tells a parable. We often get caught up in the details of the parable ... completely missing the reason why Jesus told it.
In the case of Han Solo, it’s unlikely there will ever be an answer that is acceptable to everyone. However, Star Wars author, George Lucas, is on record with his answer (there's a note in the script: Han was "obviously lying.") The on-screen reactions to Han's claim, especially by Luke Skywalker, strongly support Lucas' answer.
And who knows better than the author?
We have a similar problem in this week's Gospel of Luke passage, which opens with: "Jesus told them a parable to show them they should always pray and not lose heart.“
What are we supposed to make of the hard-hearted judge and the widow who pesters him? It’s only eight verses, but the debates about the meaning of this parable are, seemingly, infinite. Is the judge God? Are we the widow? Are we supposed to act like the judge? Should we seek justice like the widow; keep pestering until we get our way? Is it important for us to figure out who her adversary is, so we can apply it to our lives? And what is Jesus trying to tell us with that last statement about faith? Or, was the parable told just for the benefit of the twelve apostles, and not for us, at all?
On and on the debates go ... all of it, in my opinion, missing the point.
Jesus indicates the purpose right there in the very first verse. If you read the parable and come away with any other meaning than we "should always pray and not lose heart," then you have drifted from what Jesus meant for His audience to take away from the parable.
And who knows better than the author?
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A somewhat different version of this reflection appeared in October, 2013 as The Kessel Run.
PHOTO: Created by Steve Orr with Adobe Spark Post
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READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK
Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Proper 24 (29) (October 20, 2019)
https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/texts.php?id=284
Jeremiah 31:27-34
Psalm 119:97-104
Genesis 32:22-31
Psalm 121
2 Timothy 3:14-4:5
Luke 18:1-8
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DaySpring continues to meet for Lectionary Breakfast every Friday morning at Our Breakfast Place (the former "Egg and I" restaurant). Join us at 8:00 for some excellent earth-based foods and some celestial discussions.
Astrophysicists are welcome, but must limit themselves to language we can all understand. 😜
Enjoy the week!
Steve
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