Battle for Middle Earth

I am not a Tolkein geek. I read the Trilogy a couple of times and really liked the movies, which I have watched many times. (If I like a movie I can watch it over and over, a feature of my personality which baffles my wife.) Over time, the movies have blotted out the books as my primary source for the Lord of the Rings story.

In one poignant scene, the mighty Wizard gazes out of the castle at an approaching army. He speaks to himself the horrible words, "And so begins the battle for Middle Earth." I do not know where the term middle earth came from. I know Mediterranean means something to that effect (I did not strudy Latin). I know it is a fantasy world which found its source in European myths and Tolkein's creative imagination. I also know the reality of the story, the fact underlying the myth, is that we are all on a quest and we are all in a world torn between two warring factions, light and dark.

As I will celebrate eucharist tonight at 5:00, I am beginning my Holy Week before most people. I want to reflect on aspects of this week in the coming days. Somehow, those words, "And so begins the battle for Middle Earth," seem appropriate to Jesus. I can imagine His heart racing as He dispatched the disciples to prepare the meal with the words, "My time is near" (Mt. 26:18). The moment in time, frozen in anticipation, was a brief respite from what can only be termed traumatic and awesome. What thoughts raced through Jesus' mind as he watched the backs of those men, headed on their errand?

The Jesus of my youth, fully God and all knowing, had no human fears. He was above it all. Over time I have learned that heresy includes both the denial of divinty and the denial of humanity. What does it mean that God is a man? How did it work, inside Jesus? Was He able to experience sheer terror? Was He ever disheartened or discouraged? Could He quake with fear or anger? Did He rely on trust and hope or was He in perfect peace at all times because He knew all? My thinking, based on Scripture study, is Jesus knew most of our worst human emotions. I may be wrong, but I think He knew worry, doubt and fear. I also think He faced the worst with the best of human faith, hope and love. He faced it from a place of intimate unity with the Father, a God Whom He knew, to His core, through prayer, study and service.

Tonight we will read of Jesus' ride on the donkey amidst "Hosannas" as He declares in deed, I am KING! Later, after the procession, we will read of the preparation and meal, the torment in the garden, the arrest and abuse, the denial and crucifixion, the heart wrenching cry, "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?"

So it begins, the battle for Middle Earth. The battle for above and below earth, left and right earth, holy and profane earth, believing and doubting earth, merciful and cruel earth, man and woman earth, adult and child earth.... The battle for earth in all its various manifestations. And it is a battle. It is a battle that was won so many years ago on that cross and in the empty tomb three days later. It is won.
Yet the battle continues to rage. In our hearts and minds. Today. So we gather as pilgrims to retrace His steps, remembering the battle He won, the battle we continue to fight today.