I love Holy Week. It gives us the opportunity to join with Christians all over the world in preparing for Easter. To help us make the most of Holy Week I’ll be writing some Harry Potter Holy Week reflections. Today we reflect on Holy Tuesday.
A wizard without his wand is like a Jedi without her lightsaber.
During their trip to Godric’s Hollow, Harry and Hermione were ambushed by Nagini. During the fight Harry’s wand was damaged.
No more Accio.
No more Expelliarmus.
No more Lumos.
Harry had a difficult time after his wand broke. He wasn’t really prepared for his Horcrux hunt. Harry and Hermione had to keep sharing her wand, passing it back and forth whenever either of them needed to cast a spell. A coming showdown with Voldemort is something for which Harry should have been better prepared.
On Holy Tuesday we reflect upon the Parable of the Ten Virgins from Matthew 25. Like Harry, five of the virgins weren’t prepared. When the bridegroom returned five of the virgins were off looking for oil for their lamps. There was no Lumos left in their lamps.
While I wouldn’t mind having some of Harry’s experiences, I hope that I’m better prepared than he was. Sure it was Hermione who accidentally damaged Harry’s wand, but in the end Harry wasn’t prepared for whatever came next. Staring Voldemort in his snake face probably isn’t the best time to go looking for a wand.
Some day Jesus is going to return and we are going to look at him face-to-face. He won’t be the humble Messiah who rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. Instead he’ll be the conquering King, returning to make everything right. I’ve longed to see Jesus face-to-face and I want to be prepared for that moment when it finally comes.
For me, that means living a life worthy of Jesus when he returns. I don’t want to be like a kid caught with my hand in a sinful cookie jar. I don’t want my eyes to be filled with shame when I meet Jesus face-to-face.
Being prepared for that moment also means actively living with purpose. We shouldn’t just live lives avoiding sin because Jesus could return, but we should live lives fulfilling the purpose for which he created us. I’m sure Jesus would be happy if he returned to not find me sinning; that’s the bare minimum in pleasing Jesus. But how much more joy would he have in his eyes if he returned to find us doing all of the good work that he created us to do?
How are you preparing for Jesus’ return?
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