Early in the Movie “Superman Returns,” Jor-El Tells His Son, “Even Though You’Ve Been Raised As a Human Being You’Re Not One of Them

I Want To Know: Is There a Real Life Superhero? 07/30/2017 Romans 15:1-3; Psalm 34:14 Rev. Dr. Sunny Ahn

Early in the movie “Superman Returns,” Jor-El tells his son, “Even though you’ve been raised as a human being you’re not one of them. They can be a great people, Kal-El. They wish to be. They only lack the light to show the way. For this reason above all, I have sent them you, my only son.”

Of all the different superheroes, Superman is a real evident type of Christ. Sent to earth by his father, only son, to be a Light to show the Way? That’s just like Jesus!

The question we have before us today is: “Is there a real life superhero?” To this, I would say, it depends on the context where we are. Please hear the names I will call out and see what these bring you in your mind.

Hitler, Caeser, Kim Jung-un, Trump, Hilary Clinton, Obama…when you hear these names what comes to your mind? Please keep the answer to yourself. Let me try other names: Gandhi, Mother Theresa, Jesus…what comes to your mind? The people in the first group are named in the context of “kingdom” and the second ones are in the “kin-dom.”

When we talk about “Superheroes,” we usually think of them in the context of “kingdom”—political ruling. The kingdom terminology we use in the Bible is a radical political statement against the ruling of the world. For example, this kingdom terminology we use in the Lord’s Prayer—“Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven”—is the alternative “kingdom” for Jesus and His followers to the Roman Empire in His time. He is asking God to set up God’s reign on earth instead of the martial, stratified, and repressive reign of Caesar.

The word “kingdom” was used in the Bible because there was no alternative term at that time to describe the reign of God on earth—even though God’s reign through Jesus is radically different from Caesar’s.

In 2010, a Hispanic Theologian Ada María Isasi-Díaz at Drew University suggested the use of the word “kin-dom” in place of “kingdom” for the new community God wants to create on earth as it is in Heaven. God’s new community is relational in love, not hierarchical in power. In His reign, strength is for service, not status or overpowering others (Romans 15).

She uses the metaphor of “Kin-dom,” grounding the concept in the hopes and dreams of family and relationship as a sustaining foundation for all societal and spiritual experience. In this community, the shared experience of life forms the basis for how people survive and flourish. This framework is a multi-generational and multi-cultural uniting the voices and experiences of all. In this community, there is room for everyone.

The “kin-dom” not “kingdom” is the kind of community Jesus envisions. In this “kin-dom” context of Christianity, the true superhero is not about having the military or political power. It is about reflecting God’s character in life which is LOVE.

In this “kin-dom” context, let us ask again: “Is there a real life superhero?” In the “kin-dom” at Kona, I see not one, but many superheroes who go extra miles for God by showing God’s characters. Let me name some today. • Joyce Brady who got hospitalized this week and learned that she had a stroke and a heart attack! Even in the hearing of this shocking news, she was so amazingly graceful to everyone around her. After for a while, her focus shifted back to the ministry of the church, not on her health. She started the conversation about worship, Vacation Bible School, and also asked about the people who were somewhat in “Pastoral Intensive Care.” Simply she was inspirational. • Walter Chung who got hospitalized two times! He had an open heart surgery two weeks ago at Kaiser in Honolulu and got home last Saturday. When I visited him in the hospital, I saw him inviting his nurse to Christ and to our church. I also saw him sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with the person who shared the room in the hospital. He was asking me to talk to his nurse and his “roommate” about Christ’s love and the loving community we have here at Kona United Methodist Church. • Kristy Woolsey who is pregnant and only can eat bananas because of the morning sickness! She volunteered to lead the Science Learning Station at the Vacation Bible School we just had. • Magik Meyers who does magic! He reorganized his work schedule to make himself available for sharing God’s message by using magic at the Vacation Bible School. • Peta Mareko who works afternoon/evening shift! She made herself available for Vacation Bible School by reorganizing her work schedule.

• Charlene Amsden who has consistent pain after the car accident! Even in pain, she never lost her smile on her face and patiently engaged the kids of all ages through the craft. • Tupu Paogofi surely went extra miles to recruited more people to decorate the church for the Vacation Bible School. • Judy Ross and Darlene Wetzel opened their house pool for the pool party and lunch. • Oh…how about Shery Talasinga. She led the music and recreation, and always she is there if you need help.

Let me be little more personal here. I believe that we all have a superhero who helped us to be who we are now. For my hubby, it is his father who passed away two months ago. For me, it is my mother who passed away 8 years ago, 10 days after my wedding day. My hubby and I missed our superheroes greatly each an every day, but especially last week. The real life superheroes give themselves sacrificially to others in love and kindness.

Is there a real life superhero? Of course! Even you and I can be a superhero if we are willing because we are more than conquerors through our superhero Jesus Christ who loved us. Would you be willing to be a superhero in life? The answer is yours. Amen.