The Order of the Phoenix started off with a bang but the chapters that followed slowed down quite a bit. Once Harry and his friends got back to Hogwarts they began following the well-trudged path of classes, homework and getting to know a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Even though nothing terribly exciting happened in these chapters, I felt the tension building between Dumbledore and the Ministry and can’t wait to see it finally reach its breaking point.
Below are some thoughts from chapters 9-14 in The Order of the Phoenix.
Harry’s Hearing
I read about Harry’s hearing at the Ministry before I had my ordination council on Monday. As I was preparing for my council, I kept worrying that it was going to be a lot like Harry’s hearing. I thought there would be a bench full of scowling faces just looking for an opportunity to judge me and ruin my life. Thankfully my council wasn’t like that and thankfully God isn’t like that either. 2Pac said it best: only God can judge me. God is our judge but, because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, he’s not looking to condemn us and ruin our lives.
Poor Molly
One of my favorite passages of scripture comes out of Philippians 4.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
I generally don’t carry a lot of anxiety and a lot of it has to do with this passage and God’s amazing peace. I wish I could give this passage to Mrs. Weasley because she seems like she could really use it. The boggart in Black Manor revealed a number of Mrs. Weasley’s anxieties, most of them revolving around losing her children and loved ones. God doesn’t want us to live anxious lives; he wants to pour his peace upon us. We just have to be willing to let go of our cares and replace them with the easy yoke of our Lord.
The Sorting Hat
The Sorting Hat is one of my favorite parts about Harry Potter. I’m impressed at J.K. Rowling’s ability to write a new song for almost every book. The song in The Order of the Phoenix, though, has much more meat than any of the others. In Harry’s fifth year, the Sorting Hat implores the students at Hogwarts to pursue unity and stay connected. The Sorting Hat sees a storm brewing and knows that the only way for the students to weather it is to stay together. The Sorting Hat has a lot in common with both Jesus and Paul, who both wanted Christians to maintain unity. If we want to be as effective as possible, as followers of Jesus we need to look beyond our differences and embrace the core truths that unify us. It’s only through our unity that we can spread God’s kingdom and stand up against our enemy, who is far scarier than You-Know-Who.
These chapters dropped into a lower gear but, with Percy’s letter and Sirius’ head in the fire, things look like they’re about to pick up. I’ve enjoyed The Order of the Phoenix so far but, if Harry doesn’t fix his horrible attitude, I might just be angry the whole time while reading it.
What thoughts do you have from chapters 9-14 of The Order of the Phoenix?
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