Fr. Dale Matson
There is probably no one
reading this posting that hasn't used the expression, “Knock on wood” after
making a statement about their good health, financial well-being or any string
of positive experiences. It is intended to mean that one is not taking things
for granted and things could still ‘go south’ at any time.
The derivation of the
expression possibly came from an account in the life of St. Boniface who was an
Anglo-Saxon apostle to Germany in the 700’s. The Germans were essentially pagan
and believed that spirits inhabited trees. “Now at that time many of the
Hessians, brought under the Catholic faith and confirmed by the grave of the seven-fold spirit, received the laying on of hands; others indeed, not yet strengthened
in soul, refused to accept in their entirely the lessons of the inviolate
faith. Moreover some were wont secretly, some openly to sacrifice to trees and
springs; some in secret, others openly practiced inspections of victims and
divinations, legerdemain and incantations; some turned their attention to
auguries and auspices and various sacrificial rites.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donar_Oak
Much to the dismay of the
local pagans St. Boniface began cutting down their holy tree. A mighty wind
came up to finish the felling of the tree. This tree and others were linked to
a world tree (Yggdrasil). Seeing the tree felled with no retribution visited
upon St. Boniface by the resident spirits, the pagans became Christians.
Boniface later "Christianized" the tree by having it made into a small chapel dedicated
to St. Peter.
St.
Boniface was eventually martyred in 754. His feast day is celebrated by Roman
Catholics, Lutherans, Eastern Orthodox and Anglicans on June 5th.
So, what does this story
have to do with the movie “Avatar” (2009)? Avatar is really a modern story of
paganism (neo-paganism) with an incarnational protagonist named Jake Sully.
Jake reminds me of the character Neo in “The Matrix” and Luke Skywalker in “Star
Wars” etc., etc., etc. It also reminds me of a Star Trek episode, “The Way To
Eden”. In fact it reminds me of so many stories, that it is what could called "Sampling" if the movie was music.
In Avatar, Jake Sully is
initially an invader and eventually a savior of the residents of Pandora (an
Eden- like planet). The Na’vi. are a peace loving, Eywa “All Mother” worshiping
culture who live in harmony with their environment. “Hometree is an important
gathering place for the Na’vi but an impediment to human exploitation of the
minerals beneath it. (Think of Donar Oak here). It is eventually destroyed. The
“Tree of Souls” (Think of Yggdrasil here or pagan spirit) is successfully defended
because Jake prays to Eywa as an intercessor for the Na’vi and the rapacious humans are
expelled from Pandora forever.
“I charge you in the
presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the
dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach
the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort,
with complete patience and teaching. For the time
is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having
itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own
passions, and will turn away from listening
to the truth and wander off into myths. As
for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an
evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” (2 Timothy 4:1-5)
Second week in Advent.
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