From Tatooine to the Force; From Earth to Heaven

Last Thursday was 40 days since Pascha, called Easter by most of our neighbors in the English speaking world.  On the 40th day, we celebrate the Ascension of Christ, from earth to Heaven.  Here is the account in the Acts of the Apostles.

     The work that Jesus had to do was completed, and it was time for the next step in salvation history.  When it was finished, as he had mentioned on the cross, he ascended back to sit at the right hand of the Father.  He went back from whence he came.  This was done for many reasons, among them being the salvation of all humankind.

     Now how am I going to tie this into Star Wars? Well, it is more obvious than you might imagine. The central family in our favorite saga is the Skywalker family: of unknowable ancestry, a gravitas that exceeds that of normal folks, and central to the events of an entire galaxy (if not beyond). The Skywalker family have among their number the Chosen One. We can debate later on who that specifically refers to. But one of them, and presumably Anakin, was to bring balance to the Force. Shmi describes him as someone who changes the lives of those around him for the better. "You have brought hope to those who have none. I'm so very proud of you," she said after the podrace. Even as a young child, (or perhaps, because he is a young child) his intentions are pure and good. They are full of light. As he grew in stature and years, he was tempted with power and prestige. This is an image of the sins we all commit when we begin to ourselves as more important than our neighbors. The name

Skywalker in itself has to be significant. There is some connection to the mystical, in the Star Wars universe. We don't know where they come from, but the name Skywalker is associated with the height of morality, goodness and the triumph of Light over the darkness. In this name we see the hopes of trillions of beings, but also the tremendous depths to which one could fall. There is much value in a name, especially in literary sources. I would like to share something that I heard on one of the excellent podcasts I listen to. On the History of English podcast, the name Jupiter was examined. Did you ever think that Jupiter as a name was related to Zeus? Well check this out, though this explanation comes from the Online Etymology Dictionary:

Jupiter (n.):  "supreme deity of the ancient Romans," from Latin Iupeter, from PIE *dyeu-peter- "god-father" (originally vocative, "the name naturally occurring most frequently in invocations" [Tucker]), from *deiw-os "god" (see Zeus) + peter "father" in the sense of "male head of a household" (see father). Compare Greek Zeu pater, vocative of Zeus pater "Father Zeus;" Sanskrit Dyauspita "heavenly father."

     The Skywalkers are useful to remind us of our connection to the Sky-Father, and by that I am not proposing any weird understanding of God outside of the Orthodox Christian tradition, but simply using a poetic way of describing the Father who is part of the Trinity, as we understand Him.  In fact, let's examine how close humanity has now come to God.  A fourth century saint named Athanasius of Alexandria said in his work On the Incarnation that "God became man so that man might become a god."  (Get ready for the Force ghosts).  When Christ was incarnate, he took on a human body.  That body was resurrected.  And because His body was freed from the bondage of death, that same benefit was now the trajectory for all humankind.  If you are a person reading this, you are part of this inheritance.  Sorry, non-sentient beings.  Now that body which Jesus possesses has ascended to Heaven on the fortieth day after the Resurrection.  He ascended, and made it possible for all of us to ascend. 

     This is a simple eternal truth.  God became man so that man might become a god.  We are not going to be immortal and replace the Trinity, get our own universe or planet or anything.  We are offered the same life that the Son has in His own humanity.  We will taste of all good things forever because Jesus Christ made it possible for us.

     And when you watch the Original Trilogy, you can see the relationship between the Force ghosts and this world.  Looking at the end of the Return of the Jedi, there is the trio of heroes.  Anakin was indeed redeemed at the battle with the Emperor, having completely chosen the good and forsaking his evil past.  Even though there was so much evil in his past, the repentance was deep and sincere. 

     Let us understand these apparitions are those who have joined themselves to the good, in terms of the movies.  In terms of our spirituality, we can see them as a type of those who have joined themselves to Christ and found their redemption as Athanasius described it.  Our Father wants us to gather around a great banquet table with Him and smile upon one another, as Anakin, Obi-Wan and Yoda did.  When the Skywalker chose the good path, he became powerful with the life-giving Force.  Even more so, in a greater and more exalted sense, when Jesus Christ rose to the clouds and through them into the heavens, He healed us because we could not heal ourselves.  We may not appear in blue shimmering opaqueness, but we hope to be counted among the saints who have united themselves to Jesus Christ.