Knowing that their planet krypton is about to destruct

two desperate parents build a spacecraft and put their child

in it. The spacecraft lands and the baby is found by the Kents , who raise him. As he

grows up on Earth, they discover that he has

superhuman powers. The Kents teach Clark to use these

powers responsibly to help others and fight crime. This

is the origin of Superman

When he was one year old, the most evil wizard for

hundreds and hundreds of years attempted to kill this young man. As a result,

Harry is orphaned and sent to live with his only remaining family, the Dursleys. On his

eleventh birthday, Harry learns he is a wizard when

Hagrid arrives to tell him that he is to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and

Wizardry. He eventually learns that he is chosen one.

Peter Parker is bitten by a radioactive

Spider

And becomes Spider Man

Luke lived a normal life on Tatooine

until he realizes that he is a Jedi. He eventually

discovers that he has a twin

sister (Leah) and thatDarth Vader is

HIS FATHER.

Steve Austin, astronaut: a man barely alive

Gentlemen we can rebuild him. We have the

technology.We have the capability to

make the world’s first bionic man

Steve Austin will be that man.

Better than he was beforeBetter, Stronger, Faster

(Oscar Goldman)

Our significant heroes – real or otherwise- have an origin story

that is some how fantastic . This was

not invented by comic books or

authors , or movie writers – but by

ancient story tellers.

Back stories are invented when somebody does

something great to proclaim their birth as

great. Thus linking them to the divine.

Which is why it is so odd that for

ancient Israel, new hope comes to be

through desperate prayer of a

powerless Woman.

Hannah, asks God for help and is given the child Samuel.

Here the way of the divine triumphs over

the social circumstances that

marginalize women.

Important to note – what this story is not about - it is not about God letting

you have kids – nor about God letting you have two

wives.What does this text say

about God? God does not give everybody what they want if they ask enough

God does not meet the expectations of the

norm but lifts up the lowly.

God Meets people in their suffering – It is

the dark Knight of our soul. Think of our

heroes- torment is part as much a part of their

reality – as are superpowers

So it is with each of us and our own unfulfilled hope – that where we

bear scorn, and are marginalized – when what you want more

than anything else – Is the very thing that can

not be. That still we find hope, identity

purpose.

In faith we say…. God enters and turns the world upside down ‘God raises up the

poor from the dust; God lifts the needy

from the ash heap, to make them sit with

princes and inherit a seat of honour.’

This is who you can expect God to be and how you can expect God to find

you. Obvious question – will God do this for me?- God will not act in the same way - this is not a cookies cutter… God will do this…if you do this…

that’s the part of religion we have messed up .

This ancient song of Hannah tells the story of how they see

God working in ordinary people in everyday things.God works with nothing.

Brings something out of it. The Bible starts by saying… In

the beginning there was nothing …and God created.

Which again is not our proof against evolution… but rather our understanding that God

creates …

Danger lurks all around not the Valdemort,

Empire, Kryptonite, but the soul crushing – and

far more frightening danger of everyday reality

in which we think that world can not change –

that we can not help our kids – that violence –

hatred and bullying wins.

When you feel this way –

remember not only does God reach out to the powerless, but God elevates them to strength. This is God's business it is what

God does. Nothing turns into something.

Barrenness turns to fruitfulness. Hopelessness transforms into

hopefulness. Regret from the past moves to joy over the future.

So walk in hope, walk in faith, walk in the knowledge that you can

make a difference and challenge yourself to see how God is working in the everyday reality that is the

miracle of life.

When the world says, “Give Up”

Hope Whispers,“Try it one

more time.”