A Sermon Delivered to
Trinity Presbyterian Church PC(USA)
29 June 2003
He shouldn’t have been out of his room wandering the halls, trying to sneak into the restricted section of the library, but he was. He knew there were risks but he thought they were acceptable for he had his invisibility cloak, a mere piece of cloth that was delivered to him by an anonymous person which, when placed over the wearer, rendered them invisible. Surely with such a covering he could go where he wanted.
Even so, Harry Potter, the mischievous wizard at Hogwarts School for Wizards felt like he could still be seen so he slipped into an empty classroom through a door that was left slightly ajar. As some of his professors walked past him in the hall, our beloved Harry breathed a sigh of relief and took a look around the room. It looked like nothing but a vacant classroom, a room in a section of the school not often used, but there was something different about this room. Propped against a wall there was a piece of furniture that looked to be very old. As Harry approached it he realized that it was a magnificent old mirror. It was held in place by an ornate gold frame and standing on two clawed feet. Carved in the top of the frame was the inscription Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi.
Harry, feeling secure that he was alone now, stepped in front of the mirror expecting to see his reflection but he was not to be so lucky. He peered into the mirror and saw not his own reflection, but the reflection of others. He spun around to see who had entered the room and was standing behind him but he saw no one. He looked back into the mirror and they were there again. He reached behind hoping to touch the woman he saw standing in the mirror but she was not there.
Harry stepped closer to see what was in the mirror. He began to notice the woman’s eyes looked much like his own. The man standing next to her had hair sticking up at the back of his head, just like Harry’s hair. Harry then realized that he was looking at his mother and father in the mirror. Harry’s knees became wobbly because he had only seen pictures of his parents. Harry’s parents had been killed when he was but a child by the evil Lord Voldemort. Harry, an orphan, had been living with his cruel Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon, and Cousin Dudley Dursley since his parents had died. For ten years he tolerated the treatment until the day the letter of admissions to Hogwarts was delivered to Mr. H. Potterat The Cupboard Under the Stairs, 4 Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey.
Harry had to share this magnificent find of the mirror so he returned the next night with his friend Ron. He took Ron to the mirror and asked him what he saw. Ron Weasley, overshadowed by the accomplishments of his older brother, saw himself in the mirror. But he saw a much older self, an older self who was head boy. And he was also the Quidditch captain holding the Quidditch Cup.
The two youngsters hypothesized about the mirror. Ron suggested it showed the future but Harry pointed out that couldn’t be the case because his parents were already dead. They left that night not knowing what the mirror was.
Harry, we learn, is a very special wizard. In his exploits as told by J. K. Rowling, he goes on to many adventures and fights evil. He seems to be an ordinary boy, by wizard standards anyway. He is not the brightest student at Hogwarts. He is an orphan and his Aunt and Uncle are Muggles; they don’t have the slightest amount of magic in their blood. Harry is not particularly attractive. His hair is untidy, he wears thick glasses, and he is not a particularly spiffy dresser. To make matters worse he has friends who are not from the upper crust of the wizard world. Harry, by all accounts, is a nobody. What sets Harry apart from others is his courage, his desire to do what is right, and his concern for his friends.
David was also a “nobody”. The youngest of eight, David was the son of the servant Jesse. While his three oldest brothers followed Saul into battle, David stayed behind to care for the sheep. After all, what was a youngster like David to do? Surely he couldn’t fight. One day Jesse told David to take to his eldest sons an ephah of grain (a little over a bushel) and ten loaves of bread and to take their commander ten cheeses. David left the next day on his mission.
As David arrived at the camp, he found the men were preparing for battle. For forty days the Philistine Goliath had been coming and challenging the army. Goliath, a giant of a man who towered over the Israelites at a height of nine feet, nine inches, had been taunting Saul’s army to choose a man to fight him one-on-one in a winner take all match. For forty days no one would fight.
David was accused of just sneaking of to watch a battle by his brothers and they chastised him for leaving the sheep unattended. David continued to ask “What would happen to the person who killed Goliath?” and when word of his questioning reached Saul, he was called to meet with him. David was brave and knew he had the Lord on his side. He was not afraid to fight the giant and said as much to Saul. However Saul was hesitant; he asked how David, a mere boy with no training, could take on Goliath who had been trained as a warrior from his youth.
As a shepherd, David explained, he had tracked down lions to rescue lost sheep and when the lions turned on him, he killed them. He told Saul that just as God had delivered him from the lions, he would ensure victory against Goliath. Saul then clothed David in armor, gave him a shield and gave him a sword to strap across himself. But David, unused to the weight of the armor, could not walk so he removed the garb of a warrior and instead grabbed his staff, placed five smooth stones in his shepherd’s bag, and held his sling in his hand.
Goliath was amused at the sight he saw. Here came this boy, not a man, to call him out for a fight. He wore no armor and had no serious weapons. He had a stick and a slingshot, weapons of children. Goliath stepped nearer to David, and instead of running away like the other soldiers had been doing for 40 days, David ran towards Goliath, slingshot in hand, and scored a direct hit on Goliath’s head. As the giant crumbled to the ground, David stepped forward and killed him.
How often have we met a David or a Harry Potter and underestimated their strength, their resolve, their intent? How often have we ignored the voice of someone because they did not have the proper level of education, wear the proper clothes, or come from the right family? How often have we underestimated someone’s ability because of their age? Just a few weeks ago we recognized some very small boys with very big hearts for collecting enough money to buy a flock of chickens to help the poor. How many of us looked at them as doing something cute and sweet but never really appreciating the impact they could have? And how many of us have personally thanked them and told them what they did was a great thing?
We need to walk a fine line in life but we tend to walk too far on either side of the line. At times we are quick to judge others and at other times we are too hesitant to judge. Some days we are quick to label people, other days we are too slow. Some days we are too critical, other days we do not offer encouragement. More times than not we fail to realize what an impact a few good words can have on someone or how great of an impact a few bad words can have.
A few years ago I was called into the conference room by my then commanding officer in the Naval Reserve. It was once again time for my annual fitness report, that piece of paper we get every year where we are evaluated by our commanders; that piece of paper that can lead to a long career or can cut it short. It had been a tough year for me and I was tired. The recruiting slogan of one weekend a month and two weeks a year was just that—a slogan. Then, as now, I was spending much more than one weekend a month and two weeks a year for the Navy. I have missed countless birthdays and anniversaries. I have missed my daughter’s performances, and I missed visits with friends and family. I was ready to quit.
I went into the conference room and was ready to tell my CO that I was ready to hang up the uniform. Whether he sensed how I was feeling that day or not, I don’t know. As I sat down he started talking to me. He began by telling me how tough it was to ever become an Admiral in the navy, how the chances of anyone making it that far were astronomical. I thought this was great, he’s telling me I can’t go much further so quitting is going to be easy. Then he let the other shoe drop. This Navy Captain, this officer with years of experience, this man who graduated from the Naval Academy, this person who was not far from being an Admiral himself, said that if he had known someone who had what it would take to go that far, that I was the person. Now how could I quit after a pep talk like that? Obviously I didn’t quit and am glad I didn’t, but seldom does a day go by that I don’t think about the faith he showed he had me at a time when I needed it most. Now I ask myself, how many opportunities have I passed up that allowed me the opportunity to do the same for someone else?
In the tenth grade, we had a new student come to our school. He did not dress nicely, he did not know anyone, and he had no friends. He was however in the band. And if you were in a band you knew you were in a family, a little nerdy maybe, but in a family. He was eating lunch with some of us and as he was finishing his meal he picked up his roll and began to mop up the gravy left in his tray. This was certainly not the way you ate in our lunchroom and some of those at the table began to ridicule him asking him if all hicks ate that way? Later in the day others asked him what he was doing in the band; what did he intend to accomplish? He said he was there to be first chair saxophone. Needless to say, our first chair saxophonist was none too happy which led to further belittling. I’m not sure what happened to that student but he was only at school for a few months. I often wonder what would have happened had he received some positive comments that day rather than nothing but critical statements.
Jesus was not one to worry much about what others thought. He was also able to see within people and know what they needed. The woman Jesus met at the well was a Samaritan—someone who respectable Jews did not want to be seen with, much less talk to. To make a bad situation worse, this particular woman was on her fifth husband. She was a Samaritan and a hussy to boot. What would bring Jesus to her? Why would Jesus talk to such a low-life?
Jesus knew that he had what she needed. He had the water that would quench her thirst forever. His conversation with her led her to go to others and tell them about Him. Once they saw for themselves, they told others who then came to drink of the water only our Lord can provide. What would have happened had Jesus not had the courage to talk to this woman? How many would have never known Him? What if instead of telling her about His water, he ridiculed her for her five husbands or commented on her ancestry?
Antoine Fisher was an abandoned child who grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. Born in a woman’s prison, he was placed in a foster home until his mother was released and could come for him. His mother never came. His father had been murdered before he was born. He grew up in an abusive family, was molested by his foster mother’s daughter, and was routinely threatened with harm. He was called names and treated with derision. He did not see what he ultimately wanted out of himself but he knew he wanted out of where he was. He was an angry young man living on the edge of crime with a life that could go either way.
After being thrown out of the house by his foster mother, he signed up with the Navy. He said he couldn’t see himself sleeping in tents and that’s why he didn’t join the Army. On his ship, Antoine was a trouble maker; his anger got him in many fights and did not earn him any friends. He was also a bright kid who had not been given many opportunities to succeed. After one particular fight, Antoine was taken to Captain’s mast. Captain’s mast is relatively unique to the Navy in that it allows the Commanding Officer to hold hearings and mete out punishment without the formalities of a trial. Antoine was sentenced to a reduction in rate, forfeiture of several months pay, and perhaps most importantly, to an examination by a psychiatrist.
It is with the psychiatrist that Antoine’s life began to change. The doctor had faith in Antoine, believed that he wanted to be a good Sailor and that he wanted to be a good person. Antoine was difficult though, he didn’t want to talk, and he didn’t want to cooperate. The doctor saw something inside Antoine and kept working with him.
One of the bonus features with the Antoine FisherDVD is an interview with Antoine. He talks about how his commanders in the Navy changed his life. How the sentencing to see the psychiatrist was the beginning of turning his life around. He talks about how he was standing on the flight deck as a helicopter was coming in for a landing and the Chief handed him the wands and said it was time he learned how to bring in a helicopter. As he was standing there, scared to death, he realized that the life of the helicopter crew was in his hands while he directed them to their landing. He realized that the Navy had just placed a tremendous amount of faith in him that day. If the Navy could trust a poor black kid from a foster home with such an important task, maybe there was hope for him after all.
We often act on faith. We try to see the inside of people, to determine their intent, to guess their motives. This is natural, particularly when we meet a stranger and oftentimes necessary for our safety and well-being. Looking at the inside of someone is hard to do but it is what we must do if we wish to be more Christ-like.
On the third night, Harry returned to the room to look at the mirror. Nothing was to stop him from looking at his mother, father, and grandparents all night. As he sat looking, he heard a voice, “So—back again Harry?” Sitting in the room was Albus Dumbledore, the school headmaster. Harry apologized for not seeing him. “Strange how nearsighted being invisible can make you”, said Dumbledore.
Dumbledore told Harry he had discovered the Mirror of Erised and asked if Harry figured out what it showed. As Harry thought about it he gave him a hint. “The happiest man on earth would be able to use the Mirror of Erised like a normal mirror, that is, he would be able to look into it and see himself exactly as he is.” As Harry thought, Dumbledore explained that the Mirror of Erised showed nothing more than your heart’s deepest desire. In fact Rowling gives us a hint at this in the very name Erised, which is nothing more than “desire” spelled backwards. And if the carving above the mirror is read backward, the purpose of the mirror is revealed: “I show not your face but your hearts desire.” Dumbledore explained that the mirror would be moved for “it does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live”.
If you had the mirror here today, what would you see in yourself? If you could look into the desires of others, would you see a little boy who misses his family? Would you see a little shepherd boy trying to watch a fight or would you see a little boy with a keenly accurate slingshot who would slay a giant? Would you hand the poor black Sailor the wands on the flight deck or would you tell him to get out of the way? Would you see a poor woman who had been divorced four times drawing water from a well, or would you see the woman who would bring many to know Christ? Would you see the little boys being cute and collecting money at the church door, or would you see the flock of chickens they would give to the poor? Perhaps what we see in others is really an indication of what we see in ourselves.
God is able to see inside of us and know what we desire. He knows what we are capable of doing. God has faith in us to do what is right; is it asking too much for us to have faith in each other?
Amen.
Rowling, J. K. (1997). Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.New York, NY: Scholastic.
Washington, Denzel (Director). (2003). Antoine Fisher [Motion Picture]. United States: Twentieth Century Fox Home Video.
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