I love a good story, especially if it carries the theme of redemption in it. I admire JR Tolkien, CS Lewis, and JK Rowling for creating fictional stories which subtly tell the Christian redemption story in new and imaginative ways. Let’s look together at a conversation between Dumbledore and Harry in JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series. Voldemort, the Dark Lord, murdered others so he could hide bits of his soul into Horcruxes in order to conquer death and live forever. Dumbledore begins:
“Without his Horcruxes, Voldemort will be a mortal man with a maimed and diminished soul. Never forget, though, that while his soul may be damaged beyond repair, his brain and his magical powers remain intact. It will take uncommon skill and power to kill a wizard like Voldemort even without his Horcruxes.”
“But I haven’t got uncommon skill and power,” said Harry, before he could stop himself.
“Yes, you have,” said Dumbledore firmly. “You have a power that Voldemort has never had. You can —”
“I know!” said Harry impatiently. “I can love!” It was only with difficulty that he stopped himself adding, “Big deal!”
“Yes, Harry, you can love,” said Dumbledore, who looked as though he knew perfectly well what Harry had just refrained from saying. “Which, given everything that has happened to you, is a great and remarkable thing. You are still too young to understand how unusual you are, Harry.”
“So, when the prophecy says that I’ll have ‘power the Dark Lord knows not,’ it just means — love?” asked Harry, feeling a little let down.
“Yes — just love,” said Dumbledore. (HP6, 508-509)
Girard writes, “It is an age-old human problem, really. When confronted by powers of violence to kill, the only power we seem to trust to vanquish it is more of the same. … Like most of us, Harry can see no other way, either. But Dumbledore can.” [1]
Does this sound familiar? It should. In Biblical times, the Israelites were expecting a Messiah who would conquer the Roman Empire and free them from oppression through power of force, but Jesus used a different power: love. Jesus used love to save and free all people. His disciples walked with him for three years, and still, when the Roman soldiers came to arrest Jesus, Peter tried to defend him using force, but Jesus would not have it. Jesus’ life and teaching was one of peace, mercy, and love, even when faced with a violent death. It’s a message we continue to struggle with today. We must come to the realization that violence and death are not God’s will but love and life are. The cross shatters the idea that God comes to us with a divine force and violence, even to protect us from others or to vanquish death. Instead, God uses the power of love. The cross exemplifies a sacrificial love; and it’s this love and God’s life-giving self which brings about the resurrection and our salvation. Read Luke 22:47-53, and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.
Annie
Joy Lutheran Church Ocala, Florida 