This Looks Like a Job For…

When I was a kid, I was a fan of superhero shows and movies.  As a kid, it was cool to think of having superpowers and what you could do with them.  This remains true of superheroes today. 

When I was a kid the hero part also had its importance.  Superheroes were real heroes because they weren’t just people with superpowers.  They were examples of good moral living.  For example, Superman fought for “truth, justice, and the American way.”  The truth was important, starting with the fact that everyone accepted that there was truth.  Justice sought fairness and equality.  The American way did not ask, “what’s in it for me.?”  It sought something bigger. 

I don’t find today’s superheroes inspiring.  In one sense, the personalities of superheroes (and their alter egos) may seem more real compared to the struggles we face and how they interact with one another.  They have egos and conflicts between each other.  However, I don’t need superheroes who are like me.  I need heroes that give me inspiration and hope for a better future.  I don’t find that in today’s superheroes.

When I look at the news today, superheroes with superpowers could be a great help in fighting the wildfires in California.  Do you remember Superman III with Christopher Reeve?  There was a fire at a factory.  The firefighters’ water supply broke. 

“This looks like a job for Superman.” 

Superman flies to a nearby pond, freezes it solid with his super breath, and then flies the ice to the factory.  He holds the ice over the fire where it begins to melt.  As the water melts, the fire is put out. 

When I look at the news today, I see the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas/Hezbollah, etc. and wonder what can be done to stop it.  Could a good old-fashioned superhero fix this for us?  Is this a job for Superman? 

This question was answered in Superman IV:  The Quest for Peace.  If I remember the storyline correctly, a group of school students were writing leaders to ask them to work for peace and the end of nuclear weapons.  One boy decides to write Superman because he thought Superman could do something to bring peace.  Hearing the boy’s letter, Superman set out to “rid our planet of all nuclear weapons.”  He tries but he comes to realize he can’t do it alone.  Superman says, “And there will be peace – there will be peace when the people of this world want it so badly that their governments will have no choice but to give it to them.”

Superman couldn’t rid the world of nuclear weapons.  Who is this a job for?

People need to change.  We are part of the “people.”  We need conversion.  In what way do we need conversion?  We need to change from the radical individualism prevalent in our society back to solidarity with one another.  We need to love our neighbor more than our desire for pride, power, and personal wealth.  We need to move our thoughts from fixing things our way (like war) to fixing things in a way that really brings peace.  An example of this is the Israeli group who recently asked Pope Francis “to “refrain from making incendiary comments” about the war between Israel and Hamas” (see Jonah McKeown, “Jewish leaders ask Pope Francis to stop ‘making incendiary comments’ about Gaza war.”  Catholic News Agency.  January 10, 2025.  https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/261471/jewish-leaders-ask-pope-francis-to-stop-making-incendiary-comments-about-gaza-war.).  They think they can end the conflict with war.

Hatred does not end hatred.  Love can change the world.  Israel has the right to defend itself but only with proportionate means (you can find articles I have written applying Just War Theory to the conflict between Israel and Hamas in the “Just War Theory – Real Life Application” section category on my blog.”).

This is a pretty tall order.  Who can fix the world?  I can’t do it alone and neither can you. 

Who is this a job for?

This looks like a job for Jesus Christ!

When there was a job for Superman, mild-mannered reporter Clark Kent would change into Superman.

Many prophets brought God’s message to our world.  The prophets couldn’t fix it all themselves.  This is why God sent his son Jesus, not to condemn the world but to save it (see John 3:16-17).

At Christmas During the Night the first reading comes from Isaiah 9:1-6.  This reading says, “For a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests” and provides titles that the child will be known by.  One of these titles is “God-hero.” 

Jesus Christ is my hero.  Is He your hero?

In his humanity, Jesus Christ was a mild-mannered carpenter who, at the appointed time, becomes our Savior and Redeemer.

Yet, Jesus can’t rid our planet of all nuclear weapons and bring all wars to an end by himself.  Well, actually He could if He took away everyone’s free will.

The one thing that stands in the way of Jesus is us.  We need to let him change us and to change the world.  Jesus can bring about conversion if we let him.  We need to recognize that Jesus was most powerful at the moment when He submitted himself to our Father’s Will to die for us (see Luke 22:42).

You might feel too insignificant to change the world.  Alone you are but Jesus can take your effort and my effort and multiply them “a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold” (Matthew 13:23).

Jesus is ready to change our hearts.  He will then call us to be the Body of Christ using the gifts He has given us to work with him to change the world (see 1 Corinthians 12, which, incidentally, is the source of the second reading for the next couple of Sundays).

I repeat the quote from Superman IV, when Superman says, “And there will be peace – there will be peace when the people of this world want it so badly that their governments will have no choice but to give it to them.”

It is the job of each one of us to work for peace through the one who strengthens us, our Lord (see Philippians 4:13). 

This looks like a job for Jesus Christ and for us.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff