Losing Hands

During today's service, I read the Gospel of Matthew 5.29-30:  

"If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.  And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

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            Hands.  What an iconic image within our favorite franchise.  Lots of people lose their hands.  Anakin and Luke - but also Mace Windu in the magnificent showdown between the Jedi and Sith Orders.  There are also the losses suffered by Count Dooku, Panda Baba, Grievous and other beings.  Now that you have all of those images brought back to mind, let's move on.  They can lose power when a hand is cut off, or lose a bar fight, or lose an identity.  In all times, this loss has the potential to lead to a deeper understanding of the universe.

            Our world was first confronted with the image of a lost hand at the end of the duel at Cloud City.  A pathetic and outmatched Luke Skywalker is standing on a precipice, about to learn the dire truth, his hand is severed and falls down the chute along with his weapon.  His power is severely diminished at this point.  Then Darth Vader really lays it on him.  "I am your father."  Man, could you imagine how much of your self-identity would be taken away at that point?  Luke's ultimate response is an unprepared sky dive.  Some have said it was suicidal.  Maybe. 

            One more image and then I will get to the faith part.  When Mace Windu and the other masters enter Palaptine's office, we are seeing the showdown between the Jedi and the Sith, between good and evil.  Evil has the upper hand here and is going to win this fight.  When Mace is standing over Palpatine with the opportunity to bring peace to the galaxy, he loses his hands to Anakin, who is rushing to be made a Sith himself.  Mace loses his hands.  He loses both of them and cannot even fend for himself with his left hand, since it's gone as well.  Darkness, evil, has taken away all power from the guardians of peace and replaced it with the Sith ideals. 

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            In many ways, these images are a reflection of our spiritual lives.  Quite often, when we sin or choose to do something contrary to the will of God, the fruitfulness of our life is diminished.  We can do no good apart from the Holy Spirit through whom all life is given.  Luke was not ready and suffered terrible consequences.  Mace tried to confront the devil in front of him, but even he was not strong enough.  In our lives, when we try to confront the terrible things we may have done in our past or to realign our behavior to the good, there is a push back.  Yes, the evil of this world, the prince of death (the devil, I'm being poetic), will claw and fight for what he believes is rightly his.  Our redemption, in the real world, is that Christ is all powerful and will overcome the hellfire.  It's true - the Bible already contains the last chapter of the book.  Check it out. 

            Sometimes powerlessness is OK.  On my own, I am powerless over my sins, I am powerless to achieve my own salvation.  I am powerless in this world.  But the good news is this:  Christ has done all things for us.  He was crucified, died and resurrected to offer to us protection in our lives.  We are under his protection, and do not have power of our own.  So the hand thing is not really a concern of ours.  Every time we go after power in itself, we will make it into an idol eventually.  When we allow our Creator to take care of His creatures, than all is right in the universe and we will live joy filled and blessed lives. 

            Here is a final thought to take with you throughout the week.  Every time a priest gets vested for a service in the Orthodox tradition and puts on the cuffs, He says it with this prayer:  "Your right hand, O Lord, has been glorified in power, Your right hand, O Lord, has shattered the enemies.  In the greatness of Your majesty You have overthrown Your adversaries." 

            His hand is gentle and life-giving.  His hand guides us to a fullness, a completeness we cannot know without counting ourselves as His children.