Creative Peace (Job 1)

Creative Peace
Ordinary 27
Oct 4, 2015
Mountain Ministry Parish

Scripture-
Job 1:1; 2:1-10

A tree grows despite adversity

In 1933, two Jewish men named Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster created the first modern superhero – Superman. Now, most of us have encountered Superman at some point in our lives – the comics, the movies, the audio dramas, they’re all around us – but just in case you haven’t, let me give you a bit of background. He is an undocumented immigrant to this country, arriving as a baby to be raised by a couple from Kansas with no ties to his birth family. He blends in with society as best he can, and ends up reporting for a newspaper in the biggest city in America. He struggles with his identity – who is he really, the immigrant or the Kansas farm boy? – and falls in love with a fellow reporter, Lois Lane, who is initially indifferent towards him. As part of his identity crises, “Clark Kent” uses his gifts to help the people of Metropolis while wearing his ancestral crest proudly, but hiding his identity as the reporter. When physically reminded of his origin by a rock from his homeland, he becomes weak and nauseated, and loses many of his special gifts. His gifts are many – originally, speed, strength, and a terrifically tall jump, but later “improved” with flight, heat and x-ray vision, cold breath, and nigh-invulnerability. Yet none of these physical gifts, which are taken away by kryptonite, match his moral gift – his ability to maintain morality in the face of difficult choices. This gift is one instilled by his adopted parents, and at its core, is the true super-power of Superman.