Two months ago, amid a backdrop of pandemic fatigue, Netflix released the film Don’t Look Up. The timing, in some ways, was brilliant. With many being cautious as Omicron surged, we were home more. And we had time to spare for some must see tv.

The film proved popular. To date it is the second most watched Netflix original movie of all time. And potentially award-winning.  Don’t Look Up has received three Oscar nominations, including for best picture, so it resonates with critics too.

Apologies in advance for any upcoming spoilers – check it out when you have the chance ?.

The film features an ensemble cast and includes Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Ariana Grande, Merril Streep. Each brings their own character, take and perspective on what the story delivers overall.

The plot centers on a giant asteroid hurling towards earth. An asteroid that will destroy the planet in six months’ time. First discovered by two scientists, others soon confirm yes, it’s true. Unless something is done this will end us all.

There are, fortunately, possible solutions. A plan soon forms. The asteroid could be blasted out of the sky and all would be well.

It is then when various vested interests take hold.

• Is blasting it the best approach for political gain? Better do some polling.
• And who would do it better, the government or the private sector?
• Will the US lead? Or should other countries ready a solution, just in case?

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Not surprisingly, how people respond to this news depends on the groups they are in.
There are the –

Science-adherents, and the science deniers,
Political party in control, and the one that is not.

As the plot develops – and the asteroid nears – two more groups form.

Frustrated by inaction, the scientists organize a protest campaign on social media, asking people to Just Look Up. The evidence is clear, they claim. Hoping for the best they call on other countries to help.

A counter-response quickly materializes. This group goes by the film’s title, Don’t Look Up. Things are going fine, they claim. Nothing to see here. It’s a hoax. Keep on keeping on.

As you might imagine things soon get ugly.
The groups scream at each other.
In person, on the news, and online.

No one listens to the other side.
There is no dialogue between the two groups.

Only fear, anger, rage.

As you also might imagine this dystopian tale doesn’t end well.

Then
Two millennia ago the heavens released the divine, here on earth, in human form. The timing, in many ways, was brilliant. Many were waiting for salvation from that which held them down. They’d been waiting for a while. And now finally, a new day had begun.

As Jesus’ ministry launched the cast of characters he would lead quickly formed.

There was Peter, Andrew, James, Thomas, twelve in all. They weren’t a perfect cast, to be sure. They argued and doubted and ran from responsibility. Perhaps this was by design. For if Jesus could save people like that then salvation truly could be for us all.

Word of this new script Christ was writing, on the hearts of God’s beloved, began to spread. Inspired from above earthly scribes took ink to scroll, ensuring miracles, parables, and signs could be known for generations to come.

The compilation these writings became created the most widely distributed book of all time. Seven billion bibles have been printed to date. The texts they contain continue to inspire, challenge, inform.

As is now was also then: the trickiest part of life is figuring out how people can get along. Groups naturally form. Birds of a feather have flocked together since the beginning of time.

Groups offer safety, identity, purpose.
But they have downside.
Groups create the other.

Jews and Greeks,
Israelites and Romans,
Pharisees and Sadducees,
Healthy and unclean,
Slave and free.

Often with one group trying to dominate the other.
Which brings with it shouting and anger and rage.

And before you know it that other person in that other group is known by something else to you and your tribe.

They are your enemy.

Today’s text has something to say about that. Jesus, in a continuation of the Sermon on the Plain we heard last week, offers additional insight on what it is to be a follower of Christ.

Love your enemies, he said.
Help those who hate you,
Bless those who curse you,
Pray for those who abuse you.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

A rule so Golden it is part of most every major world religion there is.

It’s worth noting that Christ didn’t say don’t have enemies.
Instead, he makes it clear they exist.

And that sometimes people will hate, curse and abuse you too.

Using more than mere words Christ modeled what living this out looks like.

He ate with –
Tax collectors,
Prostitutes,
Sinners.

He spoke with –
Women,
Children,
Slaves.

He healed –
Lepers,
Blind,
Mute,
Paralyzed,
Mentally unwell.

He engaged with people many choose to shun.
He engaged with people many labeled in unkind ways.
He engages with people many would call enemy.

And slowly, ever so slowly, Christ followers began to do the same.
Slowly, every so slowly, the world began to transform.

Now
The beauty of the film Don’t Look Up is that people can’t quite agree on what exactly it is about.

Depending on who you talk to it is an allegory for either –

Climate change, or
Media run amok, or
Government dysfunction, or
The ills of being anti-science, or even
What happens when you blindly follow the CDC.

Speaking personally I saw it as a climate change story. But Kathi? She saw it as a tale of what happens when we don’t adhere to science during pandemic.

Regardless of where you land with it, most conclude one particular message comes through loud and clear:

When we stubbornly dig in –
to the groups we are part of,
shouting insults at the other,
instead of listening to them,
no one wins.

In fact we all lose.

Our country has a lot of challenges right now. That almost goes unsaid. Whether you’re a –

Republican or Democrat,
White or Black or Brown,
Gay or Straight,
Citizen or Refugee,
Millennial, GenXer, or Boomer;

Depending on what groups you are part of –

You might see things like:
Healthcare,
Immigration reform,
Inflation,
Voting rights, and
Climate Change…

…very differently. And from that you may find yourself in groups that compel you to, or even demand that you demonize the other. To make enemies of them.

This is our culture as it exists here today.
God knows we need help.

Yet regardless of how much hate or cursing or abuse you may want to hurl at the other, or even how much they hate, curse or abuse you, Christ’s call is clear.

We are to –
Love them,
Help them,
Bless them,
Pray for them.

Regardless of who “them” may be.

For it is then, and only then, when we can seek to understand. For it is then, and only then, we can transform society towards a better way.

And that, my friend, is the world as it should be. And a world according to divine design. A world that fulfills, heals and unites us all. Amen.