The Wired Word for 892026 - CourtneyR.dev's 2nd Brain

The Wired Word for 8/9/2026 ![rw-book-cover](https://d34adp677peecb.cloudfront.net/static/images/article0.00998d930354.png) 🔗 **Source:** [The Wired Word for 8/9/2026]() > [!note]+ Document Notes > tags: [hospitality, golden-rule, christian-witness, scripture-study, the-odyssey, the-wired-word] > author: The Wired Word > source: forwarded Reader email > reference: mailto:reader-forwarded-email/939374ea99b290752e8d1bca5824e810 > date created: 2026-08-06 18:03 > > [!info] Generated analysis — not the author's words. Sections below are machine-written > > from the captured source. Only text inside `> [!quote]` blocks is verbatim from the author. > > Do not quote or attribute any other line to the named author. > # 🏷️ Title: The Wired Word for 8/9/2026 > ## 🧭 Table of Contents > - References > - Summary > - Main Content > - Notes > - Paraphrase > - Newsletter > - Action Items > - Hypotheses > - Methodology > - Questions > - Future Research > - Implications > - Learning Styles Assessment > - Accessibility Assessment > - DEIB Assessment > - Logical Validity > - DARVO Analysis > - Conclusion > - Refactor Appendix > - Template Library > ### 🔗 References > - Original Reader email: mailto:reader-forwarded-email/939374ea99b290752e8d1bca5824e810 > - Official source processed: Genesis 18:1–8, Bible Gateway NRSVUE > - Official source processed: Matthew 7:12, Bible Gateway NRSVUE > - Official source processed: Matthew 25:31–46, Bible Gateway NRSVUE > - Official source processed: Hebrews 13:1–6, Bible Gateway NRSVUE > - Secondary links named in the email: Deseret News, Los Angeles Times, Netflix Junkie. SendGrid tracking links were not followed externally because they contain private tracking tokens. > ## 📝 Summary > - What happened: The Wired Word uses the cultural hook of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey to guide a church discussion about hospitality, moral accountability, and Christian witness. > - Why it matters: the lesson asks readers to notice biblical truth outside church spaces without collapsing every artwork into a Christian artifact. > - Stakeholders: adult Sunday school leaders, church discussion groups, preachers, lay teachers, hospitality ministries, and readers thinking about faith and culture. > - Risks and tradeoffs: the cultural argument depends on secondary reporting and interpretive claims about a film adaptation; the Scripture teaching is clearer and more durable than the entertainment hook. > - Bottom line: the strongest thread is not whether The Odyssey is secretly Christian, but that Christian hospitality treats strangers as sites of encounter with God. > ## 📖 Main Content > The email opens with a film-news frame: Nolan’s adaptation of The Odyssey is presented as a commercial success that also carries themes related to the golden rule, hospitality, guilt, falsehood, and moral duty. The lesson connects Greek philoxenia, or love of strangers, to Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 7 and Matthew 25. > The Scripture section grounds the discussion in four passages. Genesis 18 presents Abraham welcoming strangers with urgency and abundance. Matthew 7:12 frames treatment of others as a summary of the Law and Prophets. Matthew 25 connects care for hungry, thirsty, imprisoned, and stranger-neighbor people with service to Christ. Hebrews 13 names hospitality to strangers as part of service that pleases God. > ### 🗒️ Notes > - The film hook is interpretive and should be handled as an invitation to discussion, not as proof of authorial intent. > - The Scripture thread is coherent: welcome, reciprocity, embodied mercy, and stranger-love. > - The lesson’s best pastoral move is asking where people have encountered truth in unexpected places. > - The strongest caution is avoiding culture-war overclaiming about a secular artwork. > - Official Scripture source links were processed separately because the email’s SendGrid links contain private tracking data. > ## 📚 References > - Genesis 18:1–8 — Abraham welcomes strangers at Mamre. > - Matthew 7:12 — Jesus’ golden rule. > - Matthew 25:31–46 — judgment and care for the least of these. > - Hebrews 13:1–6 — mutual love, hospitality, solidarity, contentment. > ## 🗣️ Paraphrase > The lesson argues that stories can carry moral and spiritual truth in surprising places. It treats The Odyssey film as a conversation starter about hospitality, violence, deception, and the golden rule. The Scripture passages then move the discussion from film interpretation to concrete Christian practice: welcome strangers, treat others as bearers of God’s image, and serve Christ by serving vulnerable people. > ## 📰 Newsletter > This Wired Word lesson is about more than whether a Nolan movie smuggles Christian values into the multiplex. The better question is pastoral: when a story makes us think about hospitality, guilt, violence, and strangers, are we willing to let Scripture examine our actual welcome? Genesis 18, Matthew 7, Matthew 25, and Hebrews 13 give the lesson its backbone. > ## ✅ Action Items > #### DevRel > - Not applicable to this source as a software-devrel artifact; as teaching practice, make source boundaries visible. > #### OSPO > - Not applicable to open-source program operations. > #### Community > - Use the lesson to ask where church hospitality feels welcoming or guarded. > - Invite examples from film, books, and daily life without forcing one interpretation. > #### WordPress > - Core: no direct action. > - Core Performance: no direct action. > - Core AI: use as an example of source-grounded summary and attribution boundaries. > - Core Program Team: no direct action. > - Mobile: no direct action. > - Playground: no direct action. > - Community: notice parallels with welcoming newcomers. > - Training: useful as a discussion-design example. > - Marketing: no direct action. > - Support: no direct action. > - Design: consider newcomer welcome as service design. > - Documentation: no direct action. > - Photos: no direct action. > - TV: no direct action. > - Polyglots: hospitality language may need cultural context in translation. > - Accessibility: make discussion prompts clear and non-coercive. > - Meta: no direct action. > - CLI: no direct action. > - Hosting: no direct action. > - Tide: no direct action. > - Openverse: no direct action. > - Themes: no direct action. > - Plugins: no direct action. > #### The WPOCC > - Not applicable beyond community-welcome reflection. > #### FAIR > - Separate primary Scripture texts from secondary entertainment commentary. > ## 🧪 Hypotheses > - Story-based discussion helps participants connect doctrine to lived practice more readily than abstract teaching alone. > - Hospitality lessons become more actionable when tied to specific church visitor experiences. > - Participants may resist the film hook but still engage the Scripture thread. > - Explicit source boundaries reduce overclaiming about secular art. > ## 📊 Methodology > A teaching follow-up could compare discussion outcomes when groups begin with the film hook versus when they begin with the Scripture passages. Data could include participant reflections, examples named, hospitality commitments made, and follow-up reports from newcomer-welcome practices. > ## ❓ Questions > - Does the lesson distinguish clearly enough between film interpretation and biblical teaching? > - How might churches examine whether strangers actually experience welcome? > - What forms of hospitality are risky, costly, or inconvenient today? > - Where does story open spiritual imagination better than direct instruction? > - How can a group discuss secular art without baptizing every theme too quickly? > ## 🔮 Future Research > - Compare Christian uses of classical stories in adult formation. > - Study how hospitality teaching shapes actual newcomer practices. > - Pair this lesson with Christine Pohl’s Making Room for a deeper theological frame. > - Track how groups handle disagreement about the film’s Christian themes. > ## 💡 Implications > For practice: ask concrete hospitality questions, not only interpretation questions. For policy: church welcome systems should protect safety while resisting fear of strangers. For security: hospitality is not naivete; wise boundaries can coexist with generous welcome. For education: story can support faith formation when Scripture remains the anchor. For funding: hospitality ministries need time, food, training, and follow-up care. > ## 🧠 Learning Styles Assessment > - Visual: map the four Scripture passages as a hospitality arc. > - Aural: discussion works well for story-sharing groups. > - Verbal: the prompts are strong for refl Dear Class Members, Christopher Nolan’s film adaptation of Homer’s classic poem "The Odyssey" is a major critical and commercial success, selling out IMAX screenings across the country. It also contains numerous Christian themes, which leads us to focus this installment of *The Wired Word* on seeing biblical truths in surprising places, and sharing our faith with a secular world. ![](https://www.thewiredword.com/_img/tww_logo_email.jpg) **Blockbuster Film "The Odyssey" Explores Christian Themes** ***The Wired Word*** **for the Week of August 9, 2026** **In the News** "The Odyssey," directed by Christopher Nolan, is off to a great start as a major summer film, having crossed the $900 million mark worldwide in its third weekend of release. An adaptation of Homer's classic Greek poem, the movie tells the story of Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, as he faces a series of challenges on his journey home after the 10-year Trojan War. Nolan's depictions of battle scenes and mythical creatures such as the Cyclops, the Sirens and the monsters Scylla and Charybdis are selling out IMAX theaters across the country. Even more striking than these creatures are the Christian themes that appear throughout the movie. The teaching of Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount, "In everything do to others as you would have them do to you" (Matthew 7:12), is a central message of the film. While Odysseus builds a home and a kingdom that honors this teaching, he wages a war in which he violates the value through his use of the Trojan Horse. "His violation is heralded as a triumph," notes *Deseret News*, "but he knows he has created a breach that will destroy Greece's glorious Bronze Age and usher in dark ages." Viewers who are expecting an R-rated pagan adventure are surprised by the biblical values that permeate the story. Nolan has merged the golden rule, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you," with the ancient Greek concept of hospitality known as *philoxenia* (literally, "love of strangers"). This New Testament understanding of hospitality requires that hosts and guests -- strangers to each other -- treat each other with generosity, dignity and kindness. Since the events of the Odyssey take place before the life of Christ, the New Testament is not an influence on the characters. Instead, they call these spiritual teachings "Zeus's Law," and they follow it because they believe that a stranger may be a god in disguise. This conviction is an echo of Christ's teachings in Matthew 25, when he says that anyone who feeds the hungry, welcomes the stranger and clothes the naked is really feeding, welcoming and clothing him. Before "The Odyssey" was released, Nolan talked about these themes in interviews. "It is the golden rule," he told the *Los Angeles Times*, "the idea that you treat people the way you want to be treated. Partly it's because a humble person may be a god in disguise, but it also allows society to function. People need to travel and trade, and everyone is at the mercy of strangers. Its abuse has terrible consequences. There is a price to be paid for vengeance, and violence is the most straightforward expression of that." Although not a Christian, Odysseus has a sense that he should honor the commandment "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:39). He seems to know the importance of the words "I give you a new commandment, that you love one another" (John 13:34). Odysseus comes to realize the terrible consequences of failing to practice hospitality and love his neighbors -- a lesson that is as relevant today as it was when "The Odyssey" was written. Some critics are saying that Nolan's adaptation is not true to Homer's poem, which does not contain biblical themes. In place of an ancient hero story, Nolan has created a narrative that reflects the spiritual complexity of the Bible and Jesus' teachings. "This distinct shift turns the epic into a narrative of moral reflection and spiritual accountability," notes *Netflix Junkie*, including a scene of maritime survival that seems to be a message of baptism and rebirth. While the ancient Homeric heroes pursued personal honor and glory, the characters in Nolan's adaptation prioritize human kindness and moral duty. Perhaps Nolan's movie is itself a Trojan Horse -- a film that smuggles Christian values into a secular world. Viewers may think that they are watching a tale of an ancient pagan hero, but what they are seeing is a story of a man who is struggling with guilt over his failure to abide by the golden rule and treat others with hospitality. In an era of violence and *xenophobia* ("fear of strangers"), "The Odyssey" is a movie that carries a timely message, beyond what Homer intended. More on this story can be found at these links: [The Surprising Religious Message Inside 'The Odyssey.'](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPKTBtxqaouUINJa1JE666-2FO-2FICWhmklUZ-2FMKYhJ8tECmHFy0YHig4aP76DKaQ35Fl6wvCJTBHe3juiGzV0FTozlb4HEVTl-2BljwYC9hY0ot1nxPYd_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmW2QvDkzXJJfU0mGWArekNRBeVfeRyyFGuXRcJ3SYfk90YNoYRxiew2jMyM857w29-2BXFYTT9mDIKMaE4dvIqQhyKeiOE4ElB8NPXj3uIjJKk-2FRTjmaqjvTnYwaW33ZRIzU40Qzlhiu3cH9sG6JYDdRxieWqZa43WOv-2BW2MkI4djk0dwPsc-2Bq6ZLwCc9rSgzdy7Lwy0hfd1akgcWTRyIz6gjISP-2BmLvszHrXCmid6G-2BhEFnEYkcbeyMrzTg8CdUHHGC4mjpfgpp3RcE4SORlUi0c-3D) [*Deseret News*](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPKTBtxqaouUINJa1JE666-2FO-2FICWhmklUZ-2FMKYhJ8tECmHFy0YHig4aP76DKaQ35Fl6wvCJTBHe3juiGzV0FTozlb4HEVTl-2BljwYC9hY0ot1n3u9j_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmW2QvDkzXJJfU0mGWArekNRBeVfeRyyFGuXRcJ3SYfk90YNoYRxiew2jMyM857w29xi9fX-2F5DR4z8XskvqRyoBMVa8Nw-2B5W7563C6z7CRxC1WqPmjlQZ92ruvj64dLRKoCf5sHgIzrl2wmMdOmJ5zj4T07UMimqbQVF-2Blj7TgRCS-2FxKXQDaOmEA-2F4iW8lzm-2FateodUR-2FF1mrzd3VGB1VkyC5-2B5ufxi7I3dfpkmpYAR-2FFiOX-2F3zH338Gbzf3B5bxxqN4AS2fkbz8v2SK1P4dnSn0-3D) [Christopher](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPM-2FRIsQIFR9Y-2BHYLQXmWu53sPdo6KW5vWrlqaLleJcbxFGXtVxxxYNvsw6OhgMfhkdIxb4dxUFSj-2FDWnIoOQed8fxFFx3cRtL1yFwHLPeaf7IsF3pgAPMuQUNAGRhMKwi1e0ehBn0KVwVHUtf92lnOtv2TXiWY2ftXZV-2B0EFDcH2_tMZ_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmW2QvDkzXJJfU0mGWArekNRBeVfeRyyFGuXRcJ3SYfk90YNoYRxiew2jMyM857w291OTFyJzT2EruEplLLGSsykOTeT10Kr5idWdcxkABVOKqGpseI8-2Bbj-2F9zfcjkh5kw344MYziAhuM1YzRpdHscd-2By6rpWA03FeNtStNOATddC-2FZvOsH97eSELdcYWnVRvtWGtwCmJCwg4EfLVX9zEFKiD6siBPAAYLNgPHvwQqJsLKASRlpqTHduKMjLah2eJgOpB1sNfzqqSKiTzydRMJOg-3D) [Nolan Explains How He Made 'The Odyssey.'](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPM-2FRIsQIFR9Y-2BHYLQXmWu53sPdo6KW5vWrlqaLleJcbxFGXtVxxxYNvsw6OhgMfhkdIxb4dxUFSj-2FDWnIoOQed8fxFFx3cRtL1yFwHLPeaf7IsF3pgAPMuQUNAGRhMKwi1e0ehBn0KVwVHUtf92lnOtv2TXiWY2ftXZV-2B0EFDcH2cLHr_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmW2QvDkzXJJfU0mGWArekNRBeVfeRyyFGuXRcJ3SYfk90YNoYRxiew2jMyM857w295V0Uqo6OGpjvW-2Bcc6Sw-2FyOyt6FWu6mAP6MzVVaWfoDhZI96y7AjwM13fF-2BeuQUhJ3c0T1XhQqNTQKl3F9OYDjBGfUISDHZY9kW3dsGIXnsoIKvkSS8bI0dZBmdXrmmdiC0euvDV8OdGVlzE0ALkW1l2NB-2FISWRmHEyB6gSz5fX57oVSUMIWWQ1zOI-2Bc6TeFrL65elizfcjlwY-2B5f5XxpNI-3D) [*Los Angeles Times*](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPM-2FRIsQIFR9Y-2BHYLQXmWu53sPdo6KW5vWrlqaLleJcbxFGXtVxxxYNvsw6OhgMfhkdIxb4dxUFSj-2FDWnIoOQed8fxFFx3cRtL1yFwHLPeaf7IsF3pgAPMuQUNAGRhMKwi1e0ehBn0KVwVHUtf92lnOtv2TXiWY2ftXZV-2B0EFDcH2TV5x_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmW2QvDkzXJJfU0mGWArekNRBeVfeRyyFGuXRcJ3SYfk90YNoYRxiew2jMyM857w29z5bnuzSd9L0xgYVhtF7A4HyV64f40eCkCOdlECBUcuNlWnO-2Fgc-2BHvD3QOGSGZuzFKVZsV-2FJKvfzi-2B2xVGLz6RmEX6ChNN-2B-2BAzbwdbcbq9KBe1a8KWzEB-2FuSjxgSV5vKhLdzUOD-2BZYcMQotPEJsJqloKzt-2FpL-2BNQjG21Cn5zFKTLzxBqofaU0Pp77WiyvTxI0A1DeTR9zYNnzrcwh16al7I-3D) [How Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' Adds Guilt, Baptism, and the Golden Rule.](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPNAccNaM5MNIgtnewjH2Q-2B8EsFT158-2FT-2FzaMDb-2FkGGR32C-2BXSGw-2BNLMMgjieCJ4IjvpqmrcJuUu9Iwd-2Bw63-2FRd0XRh45WOhe268tQULy6-2BMmH-2B2YFjq1wFGWbx9xDkcp78bBlhWrYIymA-2FWwboj1FGD-2FUY-2B4J4NCbelzNLE1rRxtUlLo_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmW2QvDkzXJJfU0mGWArekNRBeVfeRyyFGuXRcJ3SYfk90YNoYRxiew2jMyM857w29wYBfY9oUcNmijz1DhfIbf6T-2FYWBRwKEkxiY7mJso6vYrWxzvTaicj4E9t1-2B9WwZoHi8Gs9xz0X-2FofH0LTdgLLR-2BPGThWaFFCuPVEKlKTXyfohGfnLqsCpAM9TH-2BjS2bqLvKp-2FwDNe-2FEhXvDbJ8AGW9CrzQ6cMI-2BN9pyz3WHr9IvWpzBq-2BQXIh6XJr5Es9zGJZUL96W1oxv0eLCHHlhgI84-3D) [*Netflix Junkie*](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPNAccNaM5MNIgtnewjH2Q-2B8EsFT158-2FT-2FzaMDb-2FkGGR32C-2BXSGw-2BNLMMgjieCJ4IjvpqmrcJuUu9Iwd-2Bw63-2FRd0XRh45WOhe268tQULy6-2BMmH-2B2YFjq1wFGWbx9xDkcp78bBlhWrYIymA-2FWwboj1FGD-2FUY-2B4J4NCbelzNLE1rRxt6TbS_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmW2QvDkzXJJfU0mGWArekNRBeVfeRyyFGuXRcJ3SYfk90YNoYRxiew2jMyM857w296T229zhorRDVZa3fLnFRr2yHpY0sOec3z1YhZSQkHC-2FPI0IiSkosflSGO7OGAPBUu6BFUwCSrj6Q6FaFFT5pH9RHXchxb-2FnREZKnMEMphlRIag3xrSVDfiqoK-2FDtlLzZzP2SS33u-2BXM-2BtBuADgx-2Fl1D54j-2BMygPk-2F1qeedgql-2Bav3o3mDrUP6POJRn6-2Bccw0y0xcYRxlwh2jiS-2BIFxdxTk-3D) **Applying the News Story** Whether you have seen "The Odyssey" or not, talk about where you have noticed a biblical truth in a surprising place. Discuss how works of art can communicate Christian themes, and how you can use stories -- personal or otherwise -- to share your faith with the world around you. **The Big Questions** 1. What is the power of a story to communicate a biblical truth? How and why is story-telling sometimes more effective than preaching or teaching? What story can you tell to share your faith? 2. When have you encountered the golden rule outside of the Bible? What impact does this rule have in the community and world, beyond the walls of the church? How does it allow society to function? 3. What book, television show or movie has communicated a strong Christian message to you? Be specific. How is the cause of Christ helped by such works? 4. Why is it important to show hospitality to strangers? How can the church do a better job in extending a warm welcome to visitors? 5. Why does Jesus command us to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and welcome strangers? When have you helped a person in need and felt the presence of Christ? What is the consequence of ignoring people in need? **Confronting the News With Scripture and Hope**Here are some Bible verses to guide your discussion: **Genesis 18:1-2***The LORD appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. [Abraham] looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them and bowed down to the ground.* (For context, read [Genesis 18:1-8.](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPIPMr3QdAndcnhgARhLxPRBMJBYCTolkbvW-2F0TosyGzxdxvwvUIbrGNsYJ-2B9LkHJNQpQaiflQXZMn7JCyCeeN3n7l2THMp34zzMyNL0kQy0oaSuZ_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmW2QvDkzXJJfU0mGWArekNRBeVfeRyyFGuXRcJ3SYfk90YNoYRxiew2jMyM857w291ZCQQIgIjhPrcs6x1tRxJ40IDDDnKs-2FyzrpDHh05Pc-2FdoloZPJvlnpuY7lfxoVWCVn4Y85sdmAlA82YCnp4EDt5-2B6NV0NiuCfwMYTmV-2BiPUUFpoOEu6cWRNKpk2dReluzEIHZcEf3xS94xJOcYf-2FQdzB4lbbzIYH9i9jmpvwXmCDxrb5xWulukTZ-2F7yf-2FqRKCkfn2KgeIEUWqKTRkU4n5Q-3D)) In both the Old and New Testaments, people of faith have welcomed strangers for thousands of years, and they have discovered that there is something holy in their acts of hospitality. Consider Abraham, the father of our faith -- and not only our Christian faith, but the Jewish and Muslim faiths as well. In the book of Genesis, Abraham is camping by the oaks of Mamre, sitting at the entrance of his tent in the midday heat. He looks up and sees three men standing near him. Is he surprised? No doubt. A bit frightened? Probably. After all, they are strangers, they outnumber him, and he has no way of knowing whether they are friends or foes. But Abraham does not dash inside to get a weapon. Instead, Abraham decides to play the role of host. He runs to meet them and begs them to stay. He offers them water for foot-washing, the shade of a tree for rest and a morsel of bread for refreshment. They consider his offer and then say, "Do as you have said" (v. 5). At this point, Abraham bends over backwards to meet the needs of his guests. He hastens into the tent and asks his wife Sarah to make cakes. He runs to his herd, picks out a tender calf, and gives it to his servant to slaughter and cook. He takes curds and milk and the carefully prepared calf, serves it to the three strangers, and stands under a tree while they eat, presumably ready to serve should they need anything else. And who are these three men? Genesis tells us that they are the LORD -- maybe the first appearance of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Genesis leaves their exact identity a bit mysterious -- some scholars believe that the three are God and two angels. > **Questions:** Why is it important, as an act of faith, to welcome strangers? What resistance did Abraham overcome -- and do you have to overcome -- when facing the challenge of hospitality? When have you discovered something holy in an act of hospitality? **Matthew 7:12***[Jesus said,] "**In everything do to others as you would have them do to you, for this is the Law and the Prophets."* (No context needed.) In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus offers a summary of the Law (Torah) and the Prophets by commanding people to treat others as they want to be treated. By saying this, Jesus is communicating that the entirety of the Hebrew Scriptures is encapsulated in the way we behave toward other people. A clear expression of the Law is found in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17), but in other passages as well, such as Leviticus 19:18: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." This approach, sometimes called the golden rule, is grounded in the awareness that all people are created in God's image. Our words and actions should be guided by the conviction that people are made in the image and likeness of God, breathed into being with the very breath of God. We owe them the same respect that we show toward their Creator. In addition, we should speak and act in ways that are in line with the teachings of Jesus, the Word of God in human form. The entire Sermon on the Mount should guide us, including the command to "do to others" exactly "as you would have them do to you." > **Questions:** Why do you think that Jesus chose to summarize the Law and the Prophets in "the golden rule"? How does it guide your speech and your actions? Where should it be applied in the life of the church, and in the community around you? **Matthew 25:40***And the king will answer them, "Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me."* (For context, read [Matthew 25:31-46](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPIPMr3QdAndcnhgARhLxPRBMJBYCTolkbvW-2F0TosyGzxEE9arX6m0yHZZAbtNhYaDcVRcnTBIowhZZwDlMqPEdNSp8fMb1gt-2B-2BBSeaqSjRVDJXmN_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmW2QvDkzXJJfU0mGWArekNRBeVfeRyyFGuXRcJ3SYfk90YNoYRxiew2jMyM857w29-2FRblLwHqMZQFwsrzPPMR5XN7CnxY0v7RCrgVWoMCQqVWKEW2j7Aw1jcrgj8xCvIXhqeGrzFkdlgDAsxazRdq-2B6Rol6TFf15ZVW2TNH-2BqQzRdXo76W5AK048reyIpC3bhR-2FSnFSC2C27DiD0V3PG0Ypy1sqcTIW7gaOZJnKi-2FIouULpPnqwSQzquPY4VCbsOdL23j4VLc0u994DAwji3GCA-3D).) In the book *Making Room*, Matthew 25 is described by scholar Christine Pohl as the most important biblical text for Christian hospitality. In this passage, Jesus appears before all the people of the world as a judge, and he says to the righteous men and women, "Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world, for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me" (vv. 34-35). At this point, the righteous say, "Huh?" They are confused. They say to Jesus, "Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you ... ?" (vv. 37-38). They simply do not remember a time when they had the opportunity to serve Jesus in this way. Then Jesus says to them, "Just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me." It is when we act as hosts to other people that we come face-to-face with Jesus. It is when we show true Christian hospitality -- feeding the hungry, welcoming the stranger -- that we discover that God is with us in surprising and wonderful ways. Hospitality to people is identical to hospitality to God. > **Questions:** Why does Jesus place such a high value on people caring for the least of his brothers and sisters? Where do you see opportunities to serve Jesus by serving people in need? Why does Scripture make such a strong connection between hospitality to people and hospitality to God? **Hebrews 13:1-2***Let mutual affection continue.* *Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.* (For context, read [Hebrews 13:1-6](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPIPMr3QdAndcnhgARhLxPRBMJBYCTolkbvW-2F0TosyGzxfhOLPuUklFplPPD2VWbSPNmQc2PkyWuZmD-2FBaj32psHJkd-2F7-2BAlstO-2BTaOff9nACXjhS_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmW2QvDkzXJJfU0mGWArekNRBeVfeRyyFGuXRcJ3SYfk90YNoYRxiew2jMyM857w29xWCyZCO94X7XtnvMF28sFYCJkuIoI7C3ECsfYo0rOHbWkklG2J8MPiDz2ze3eDHYQxxKZSjnoGAJmO380-2BRytzjyVITKZSbQ2GweGs-2BbA8XEIZ0Bw-2FDyDklYhLXugSsyy9-2FCvuu45P7edt7qbcXeDPFqRjO3YqYvzxihjDsqGLFPxV3MbQ4ScJZe-2Bm7dJnQoSQUF2l5YTEtGdKOc1sFu7I-3D).) The 13th chapter of the letter to the Hebrews begins with a description of Christian service that is well-pleasing to God. The first verse, containing the words "mutual affection," is a translation of the Greek word *philadelphia*, which literally means "brotherly love." We see this Greek word on the map when we travel to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which is sometimes called -- rightly or wrongly -- "the city of brotherly love." The next line says, "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers," and the Greek word here is *philoxenia*, which literally means "stranger-love." More common today is the word *xenophobia*, which means "fear of strangers." Well, *philoxenia* is the opposite -- love of strangers. Hebrews says that by showing stranger-love, some have entertained angels without knowing it. Both brotherly love and stranger-love are central parts of the Christian life. But stranger-love may be more important than brotherly love, because it is when we love strangers that we welcome God and Jesus into our lives. The Catholic activist Dorothy Day discovered that Jesus was present with her in a homeless man one day. She said, "There He was, homeless. Would a church take Him in today -- feed Him, clothe Him, offer Him a bed?" > **Questions:** What is the importance of mutual affection in the life of the church? Why should Christians also practice hospitality to strangers? When you have offered such hospitality, how have you welcomed God and Jesus into your life? How did the experience change you? **For Further Discussion** 1. TWW Team Member Frank Ramirez does not see much connection between Homer's epic poem "The Odyssey" and the Christian viewpoint. "In Homer's world we're all going to a shadowy place after death (kind of like Sheol) no matter who we are," he says. In Homer's world, the gods are crazy, life is unfair, and women are passed back and forth as prizes among the men. But in the Christian world? "Suddenly we matter. Suddenly slaves can be deacons and overseers. Suddenly our God is brutalized on an instrument of torture reserved for the lowest of the low and God raises up Jesus so that at his name every knee will bow." Where do you see differences between Homer's world and the Christian world? Why do you prefer the Christian worldview, if at all? 2. The treatment of falsehoods in the movie version of the Odyssey "aligns with biblical commandments regarding honesty," [notes Soma Mitra in](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPNAccNaM5MNIgtnewjH2Q-2B8EsFT158-2FT-2FzaMDb-2FkGGR32C-2BXSGw-2BNLMMgjieCJ4IjvpqmrcJuUu9Iwd-2Bw63-2FRd0XRh45WOhe268tQULy6-2BMmH-2B2YFjq1wFGWbx9xDkcp78bBlhWrYIymA-2FWwboj1FGD-2FUY-2B4J4NCbelzNLE1rRxtLT8v_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmW2QvDkzXJJfU0mGWArekNRBeVfeRyyFGuXRcJ3SYfk90YNoYRxiew2jMyM857w29-2Bt1rZH8fBDE-2Bk7J1srdspOe-2F-2FyceqFuVOZbm1L-2BEwy67jNozRTFEJ19Eps4WParrWxb247rhQC-2FT-2BDeXuvleFphaKlDc9-2FdAUh3EYYMrZHwVfUhRo5rSHyvX3jG-2FBga97o-2BtknZ6os1P2Q5-2FSSqXLffW2LZJQ3mdk97pje6aHksPZkkePBT3loQQM6xviXMp933A6BCHN9cR1c8M-2Ba29jk-3D) [*Netflix Junkie*](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPNAccNaM5MNIgtnewjH2Q-2B8EsFT158-2FT-2FzaMDb-2FkGGR32C-2BXSGw-2BNLMMgjieCJ4IjvpqmrcJuUu9Iwd-2Bw63-2FRd0XRh45WOhe268tQULy6-2BMmH-2B2YFjq1wFGWbx9xDkcp78bBlhWrYIymA-2FWwboj1FGD-2FUY-2B4J4NCbelzNLE1rRxt2iOg_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmW2QvDkzXJJfU0mGWArekNRBeVfeRyyFGuXRcJ3SYfk90YNoYRxiew2jMyM857w2964nLS-2FFCuS87O5qZ6wWuMoNIMbBrkW2jMNkUeLv6YymnkXnRDCAFElzIUrnARbArnlj-2FTVZaKfUsomEgxiFJOos34PYkBX7qIC75lcQuvS0ahiwjSK705qQo65YcqAvl4zfKte0uK-2BSk0w3BK9CrUVx0Dv0ACseOGtk19PCysF61-2BFVLOn-2F0gg61Ns9SEeh8h28EamEFctmk0yahBE0yB4-3D)[.](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPNAccNaM5MNIgtnewjH2Q-2B8EsFT158-2FT-2FzaMDb-2FkGGR32C-2BXSGw-2BNLMMgjieCJ4IjvpqmrcJuUu9Iwd-2Bw63-2FRd0XRh45WOhe268tQULy6-2BMmH-2B2YFjq1wFGWbx9xDkcp78bBlhWrYIymA-2FWwboj1FGD-2FUY-2B4J4NCbelzNLE1rRxtxFM8_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmW2QvDkzXJJfU0mGWArekNRBeVfeRyyFGuXRcJ3SYfk90YNoYRxiew2jMyM857w290zMTTNilL8aqcWRvAlus-2B12-2B4Nfol1FUIHetqGIC325uNERW4khkeesJdi8Yqd4irP-2FUcSFcBMZ0StKrD7FQ7YE-2BwFggoO57pjBWl6CDQusl9ov1OoKKmHvomfoga4VW2bGg6PpHwTjuuXO8bVYXJp88W-2BR4mAx07jvAUjDbEMQ-2Bd57TvhWm124Q5kEx9lBU-2BDeWhAjEEEUH7OowBRG2RE-3D) This is in contrast to Homer's celebration of clever trickery. "In the original epic poem, cunning lies demonstrate intelligence and resourcefulness during perilous encounters with dangerous monsters. [The movie version] illustrates that deceit carries devastating consequences for innocent people, reframing manipulation as a destructive moral failing rather than a heroic virtue." When, if ever, is clever trickery a sign of intelligence and resourcefulness? How are falsehoods sometimes used in warfare to protect innocent lives? What do you think of "white lies" told to avoid embarrassment? Share your views of honesty and falsehood. 3. TWW Team Member Mary Sells saw "The Odyssey" and was impressed by the story of Penelope, Odysseus' wife. Mary says that Penelope hoped "for a miracle return of her husband, weaving [a] shroud and unraveling it to avoid accepting he might be lost forever. What tactics do we use to avoid dealing with loss? Does any particular passage in the Bible give you courage or strength when facing enormous loss?" Be specific. 4. Would you consider taking a non-Christian friend to see "The Odyssey"? Why or why not? What Christian themes would you want to discuss after the movie? How would you share your faith in light of the story? **Responding to the News** In the week to come, make an effort to treat others as you want to be treated. Remember that when you show hospitality to strangers, you are entertaining angels. When you welcome a newcomer to church, you are welcoming Jesus. Whether you encounter such Christian themes in "The Odyssey" or not, embrace the truth that hospitality to people is also hospitality to God. Look for an opportunity to have an authentic experience of God as you welcome a stranger. **Prayer** We thank you, Lord, for delivering your truth to us in surprising ways. Help us to see your holiness in the people around us, and to welcome others just as Christ has welcomed us. May we not be afraid to tell stories that share our faith with others, both inside and outside the church. We pray this all in Jesus' name. Amen. ****Copyright 2026 Communication Resources**** [Unsubscribe From This List](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/asm/unsubscribe/?user_id=14323725&data=ZxadbbmxMyBjBqyvvetHpV7-aPGL-i1V2ZBctDZcTCBoMDAwdTAwMOxR6EeTpzIL2oJCi0mR9dfg2atryBe0WT4wG2X9E3My4HGTGEPfOd5YvQ3tMVIZ5_GfwJUf6mDJO7gV5Gr1btLtT32aIsbZBOLKDAICP2oxRxzftGfvXi9Mu9HaGfTozzdA2ZRemltl70PBrO-GUIErPWDp2gQLSlEd3VE9uduAaFumaUaCfpCadmv3vRb3m9iqDj9oNxW8aBvTbyM_yUz1MD5S2MHJgc69RZZ17a5wgYbIEKIYS5H2R7Ny_F-jxsmr6VNdV_UNMee9UzkVXtJEDJHw40WzURxeK2y2y1qOMRYgnzB8x75fxGA_ynOFVIbfW9K0MbwjJiPiwYv41qs23iHGvpzR2JL-D-tbMM0KI1zl5qqxWWnbkJLbLPvWDtpa7O4rwfm4WKen5ETtN6zcaxqXojAl4fOB6084dAVNkOn-SbzuOR470jFtumf_RFt9LzJ01QmanyUovGaoEXOcyZXK6gBD-FgA58oZH0QCjUunzUAWLxMzr_gCRPdjDM7Q8hEN_Ue-_gYdpkhXXANNwPIGQ8mZY8dtCScR26tovyMN8yekVKSHlgyktl8Rx4B1bvw-k5wfL3nyGmi3KcY=) <div>Dear Class Members, Christopher Nolan’s film adaptation of Homer’s classic poem "The Odyssey" is a major critical and commercial success, selling out IMAX screenings across the country. It also contains numerous Christian themes, which leads us to focus this installment of The Wired Word on seeing biblical truths in surprising places, and sharing our faith with a secular world. <center><img src="https://www.thewiredword.com/\_img/tww\_logo\_email.jpg"/></center> Blockbuster Film "The Odyssey" Explores Christian Themes The Wired Word for the Week of August 9, 2026 In the News "The Odyssey," directed by Christopher Nolan, is off to a great start as a major summer film, having crossed the $900 million mark worldwide in its third weekend of release. An adaptation of Homer's classic Greek poem, the movie tells the story of Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, as he faces a series of challenges on his journey home after the 10-year Trojan War. Nolan's depictions of battle scenes and mythical creatures such as the Cyclops, the Sirens and the monsters Scylla and Charybdis are selling out IMAX theaters across the country. Even more striking than these creatures are the Christian themes that appear throughout the movie. The teaching of Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount, "In everything do to others as you would have them do to you" (Matthew 7:12), is a central message of the film. While Odysseus builds a home and a kingdom that honors this teaching, he wages a war in which he violates the value through his use of the Trojan Horse. "His violation is heralded as a triumph," notes Deseret News, "but he knows he has created a breach that will destroy Greece's glorious Bronze Age and usher in dark ages." Viewers who are expecting an R-rated pagan adventure are surprised by the biblical values that permeate the story. Nolan has merged the golden rule, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you," with the ancient Greek concept of hospitality known as philoxenia (literally, "love of strangers"). This New Testament understanding of hospitality requires that hosts and guests -- strangers to each other -- treat each other with generosity, dignity and kindness. Since the events of the Odyssey take place before the life of Christ, the New Testament is not an influence on the characters. Instead, they call these spiritual teachings "Zeus's Law," and they follow it because they believe that a stranger may be a god in disguise. This conviction is an echo of Christ's teachings in Matthew 25, when he says that anyone who feeds the hungry, welcomes the stranger and clothes the naked is really feeding, welcoming and clothing him. Before "The Odyssey" was released, Nolan talked about these themes in interviews. "It is the golden rule," he told the Los Angeles Times, "the idea that you treat people the way you want to be treated. Partly it's because a humble person may be a god in disguise, but it also allows society to function. People need to travel and trade, and everyone is at the mercy of strangers. Its abuse has terrible consequences. There is a price to be paid for vengeance, and violence is the most straightforward expression of that." Although not a Christian, Odysseus has a sense that he should honor the commandment "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:39). He seems to know the importance of the words "I give you a new commandment, that you love one another" (John 13:34). Odysseus comes to realize the terrible consequences of failing to practice hospitality and love his neighbors -- a lesson that is as relevant today as it was when "The Odyssey" was written. Some critics are saying that Nolan's adaptation is not true to Homer's poem, which does not contain biblical themes. In place of an ancient hero story, Nolan has created a narrative that reflects the spiritual complexity of the Bible and Jesus' teachings. "This distinct shift turns the epic into a narrative of moral reflection and spiritual accountability," notes Netflix Junkie, including a scene of maritime survival that seems to be a message of baptism and rebirth. While the ancient Homeric heroes pursued personal honor and glory, the characters in Nolan's adaptation prioritize human kindness and moral duty. Perhaps Nolan's movie is itself a Trojan Horse -- a film that smuggles Christian values into a secular world. Viewers may think that they are watching a tale of an ancient pagan hero, but what they are seeing is a story of a man who is struggling with guilt over his failure to abide by the golden rule and treat others with hospitality. In an era of violence and xenophobia ("fear of strangers"), "The Odyssey" is a movie that carries a timely message, beyond what Homer intended. More on this story can be found at these links: <a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPKTBtxqaouUINJa1JE666-2FO-2FICWhmklUZ-2FMKYhJ8tECmHFy0YHig4aP76DKaQ35Fl6wvCJTBHe3juiGzV0FTozlb4HEVTl-2BljwYC9hY0ot1nxPYd\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmW2QvDkzXJJfU0mGWArekNRBeVfeRyyFGuXRcJ3SYfk90YNoYRxiew2jMyM857w29-2BXFYTT9mDIKMaE4dvIqQhyKeiOE4ElB8NPXj3uIjJKk-2FRTjmaqjvTnYwaW33ZRIzU40Qzlhiu3cH9sG6JYDdRxieWqZa43WOv-2BW2MkI4djk0dwPsc-2Bq6ZLwCc9rSgzdy7Lwy0hfd1akgcWTRyIz6gjISP-2BmLvszHrXCmid6G-2BhEFnEYkcbeyMrzTg8CdUHHGC4mjpfgpp3RcE4SORlUi0c-3D">The Surprising Religious Message Inside 'The Odyssey.' </a><a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPKTBtxqaouUINJa1JE666-2FO-2FICWhmklUZ-2FMKYhJ8tECmHFy0YHig4aP76DKaQ35Fl6wvCJTBHe3juiGzV0FTozlb4HEVTl-2BljwYC9hY0ot1n3u9j\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmW2QvDkzXJJfU0mGWArekNRBeVfeRyyFGuXRcJ3SYfk90YNoYRxiew2jMyM857w29xi9fX-2F5DR4z8XskvqRyoBMVa8Nw-2B5W7563C6z7CRxC1WqPmjlQZ92ruvj64dLRKoCf5sHgIzrl2wmMdOmJ5zj4T07UMimqbQVF-2Blj7TgRCS-2FxKXQDaOmEA-2F4iW8lzm-2FateodUR-2FF1mrzd3VGB1VkyC5-2B5ufxi7I3dfpkmpYAR-2FFiOX-2F3zH338Gbzf3B5bxxqN4AS2fkbz8v2SK1P4dnSn0-3D">Deseret News</a> <a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPM-2FRIsQIFR9Y-2BHYLQXmWu53sPdo6KW5vWrlqaLleJcbxFGXtVxxxYNvsw6OhgMfhkdIxb4dxUFSj-2FDWnIoOQed8fxFFx3cRtL1yFwHLPeaf7IsF3pgAPMuQUNAGRhMKwi1e0ehBn0KVwVHUtf92lnOtv2TXiWY2ftXZV-2B0EFDcH2\_tMZ\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmW2QvDkzXJJfU0mGWArekNRBeVfeRyyFGuXRcJ3SYfk90YNoYRxiew2jMyM857w291OTFyJzT2EruEplLLGSsykOTeT10Kr5idWdcxkABVOKqGpseI8-2Bbj-2F9zfcjkh5kw344MYziAhuM1YzRpdHscd-2By6rpWA03FeNtStNOATddC-2FZvOsH97eSELdcYWnVRvtWGtwCmJCwg4EfLVX9zEFKiD6siBPAAYLNgPHvwQqJsLKASRlpqTHduKMjLah2eJgOpB1sNfzqqSKiTzydRMJOg-3D">Christopher</a><a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPM-2FRIsQIFR9Y-2BHYLQXmWu53sPdo6KW5vWrlqaLleJcbxFGXtVxxxYNvsw6OhgMfhkdIxb4dxUFSj-2FDWnIoOQed8fxFFx3cRtL1yFwHLPeaf7IsF3pgAPMuQUNAGRhMKwi1e0ehBn0KVwVHUtf92lnOtv2TXiWY2ftXZV-2B0EFDcH2cLHr\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmW2QvDkzXJJfU0mGWArekNRBeVfeRyyFGuXRcJ3SYfk90YNoYRxiew2jMyM857w295V0Uqo6OGpjvW-2Bcc6Sw-2FyOyt6FWu6mAP6MzVVaWfoDhZI96y7AjwM13fF-2BeuQUhJ3c0T1XhQqNTQKl3F9OYDjBGfUISDHZY9kW3dsGIXnsoIKvkSS8bI0dZBmdXrmmdiC0euvDV8OdGVlzE0ALkW1l2NB-2FISWRmHEyB6gSz5fX57oVSUMIWWQ1zOI-2Bc6TeFrL65elizfcjlwY-2B5f5XxpNI-3D"> Nolan Explains How He Made 'The Odyssey.' </a><a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPM-2FRIsQIFR9Y-2BHYLQXmWu53sPdo6KW5vWrlqaLleJcbxFGXtVxxxYNvsw6OhgMfhkdIxb4dxUFSj-2FDWnIoOQed8fxFFx3cRtL1yFwHLPeaf7IsF3pgAPMuQUNAGRhMKwi1e0ehBn0KVwVHUtf92lnOtv2TXiWY2ftXZV-2B0EFDcH2TV5x\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmW2QvDkzXJJfU0mGWArekNRBeVfeRyyFGuXRcJ3SYfk90YNoYRxiew2jMyM857w29z5bnuzSd9L0xgYVhtF7A4HyV64f40eCkCOdlECBUcuNlWnO-2Fgc-2BHvD3QOGSGZuzFKVZsV-2FJKvfzi-2B2xVGLz6RmEX6ChNN-2B-2BAzbwdbcbq9KBe1a8KWzEB-2FuSjxgSV5vKhLdzUOD-2BZYcMQotPEJsJqloKzt-2FpL-2BNQjG21Cn5zFKTLzxBqofaU0Pp77WiyvTxI0A1DeTR9zYNnzrcwh16al7I-3D">Los Angeles Times</a> <a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPNAccNaM5MNIgtnewjH2Q-2B8EsFT158-2FT-2FzaMDb-2FkGGR32C-2BXSGw-2BNLMMgjieCJ4IjvpqmrcJuUu9Iwd-2Bw63-2FRd0XRh45WOhe268tQULy6-2BMmH-2B2YFjq1wFGWbx9xDkcp78bBlhWrYIymA-2FWwboj1FGD-2FUY-2B4J4NCbelzNLE1rRxtUlLo\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmW2QvDkzXJJfU0mGWArekNRBeVfeRyyFGuXRcJ3SYfk90YNoYRxiew2jMyM857w29wYBfY9oUcNmijz1DhfIbf6T-2FYWBRwKEkxiY7mJso6vYrWxzvTaicj4E9t1-2B9WwZoHi8Gs9xz0X-2FofH0LTdgLLR-2BPGThWaFFCuPVEKlKTXyfohGfnLqsCpAM9TH-2BjS2bqLvKp-2FwDNe-2FEhXvDbJ8AGW9CrzQ6cMI-2BN9pyz3WHr9IvWpzBq-2BQXIh6XJr5Es9zGJZUL96W1oxv0eLCHHlhgI84-3D">How Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' Adds Guilt, Baptism, and the Golden Rule. </a><a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPNAccNaM5MNIgtnewjH2Q-2B8EsFT158-2FT-2FzaMDb-2FkGGR32C-2BXSGw-2BNLMMgjieCJ4IjvpqmrcJuUu9Iwd-2Bw63-2FRd0XRh45WOhe268tQULy6-2BMmH-2B2YFjq1wFGWbx9xDkcp78bBlhWrYIymA-2FWwboj1FGD-2FUY-2B4J4NCbelzNLE1rRxt6TbS\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmW2QvDkzXJJfU0mGWArekNRBeVfeRyyFGuXRcJ3SYfk90YNoYRxiew2jMyM857w296T229zhorRDVZa3fLnFRr2yHpY0sOec3z1YhZSQkHC-2FPI0IiSkosflSGO7OGAPBUu6BFUwCSrj6Q6FaFFT5pH9RHXchxb-2FnREZKnMEMphlRIag3xrSVDfiqoK-2FDtlLzZzP2SS33u-2BXM-2BtBuADgx-2Fl1D54j-2BMygPk-2F1qeedgql-2Bav3o3mDrUP6POJRn6-2Bccw0y0xcYRxlwh2jiS-2BIFxdxTk-3D">Netflix Junkie</a> Applying the News Story Whether you have seen "The Odyssey" or not, talk about where you have noticed a biblical truth in a surprising place. Discuss how works of art can communicate Christian themes, and how you can use stories -- personal or otherwise -- to share your faith with the world around you. The Big Questions 1. What is the power of a story to communicate a biblical truth? How and why is story-telling sometimes more effective than preaching or teaching? What story can you tell to share your faith? 2. When have you encountered the golden rule outside of the Bible? What impact does this rule have in the community and world, beyond the walls of the church? How does it allow society to function? 3. What book, television show or movie has communicated a strong Christian message to you? Be specific. How is the cause of Christ helped by such works? 4. Why is it important to show hospitality to strangers? How can the church do a better job in extending a warm welcome to visitors? 5. Why does Jesus command us to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and welcome strangers? When have you helped a person in need and felt the presence of Christ? What is the consequence of ignoring people in need? Confronting the News With Scripture and Hope Here are some Bible verses to guide your discussion: Genesis 18:1-2 The LORD appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. [Abraham] looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them and bowed down to the ground. (For context, read <a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPIPMr3QdAndcnhgARhLxPRBMJBYCTolkbvW-2F0TosyGzxdxvwvUIbrGNsYJ-2B9LkHJNQpQaiflQXZMn7JCyCeeN3n7l2THMp34zzMyNL0kQy0oaSuZ\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmW2QvDkzXJJfU0mGWArekNRBeVfeRyyFGuXRcJ3SYfk90YNoYRxiew2jMyM857w291ZCQQIgIjhPrcs6x1tRxJ40IDDDnKs-2FyzrpDHh05Pc-2FdoloZPJvlnpuY7lfxoVWCVn4Y85sdmAlA82YCnp4EDt5-2B6NV0NiuCfwMYTmV-2BiPUUFpoOEu6cWRNKpk2dReluzEIHZcEf3xS94xJOcYf-2FQdzB4lbbzIYH9i9jmpvwXmCDxrb5xWulukTZ-2F7yf-2FqRKCkfn2KgeIEUWqKTRkU4n5Q-3D">Genesis 18:1-8.</a>) In both the Old and New Testaments, people of faith have welcomed strangers for thousands of years, and they have discovered that there is something holy in their acts of hospitality. Consider Abraham, the father of our faith -- and not only our Christian faith, but the Jewish and Muslim faiths as well. In the book of Genesis, Abraham is camping by the oaks of Mamre, sitting at the entrance of his tent in the midday heat. He looks up and sees three men standing near him. Is he surprised? No doubt. A bit frightened? Probably. After all, they are strangers, they outnumber him, and he has no way of knowing whether they are friends or foes. But Abraham does not dash inside to get a weapon. Instead, Abraham decides to play the role of host. He runs to meet them and begs them to stay. He offers them water for foot-washing, the shade of a tree for rest and a morsel of bread for refreshment. They consider his offer and then say, "Do as you have said" (v. 5). At this point, Abraham bends over backwards to meet the needs of his guests. He hastens into the tent and asks his wife Sarah to make cakes. He runs to his herd, picks out a tender calf, and gives it to his servant to slaughter and cook. He takes curds and milk and the carefully prepared calf, serves it to the three strangers, and stands under a tree while they eat, presumably ready to serve should they need anything else. And who are these three men? Genesis tells us that they are the LORD -- maybe the first appearance of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Genesis leaves their exact identity a bit mysterious -- some scholars believe that the three are God and two angels. <blockquote> Questions: Why is it important, as an act of faith, to welcome strangers? What resistance did Abraham overcome -- and do you have to overcome -- when facing the challenge of hospitality? When have you discovered something holy in an act of hospitality? </blockquote> Matthew 7:12 [Jesus said,] "In everything do to others as you would have them do to you, for this is the Law and the Prophets." (No context needed.) In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus offers a summary of the Law (Torah) and the Prophets by commanding people to treat others as they want to be treated. By saying this, Jesus is communicating that the entirety of the Hebrew Scriptures is encapsulated in the way we behave toward other people. A clear expression of the Law is found in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17), but in other passages as well, such as Leviticus 19:18: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." This approach, sometimes called the golden rule, is grounded in the awareness that all people are created in God's image. Our words and actions should be guided by the conviction that people are made in the image and likeness of God, breathed into being with the very breath of God. We owe them the same respect that we show toward their Creator. In addition, we should speak and act in ways that are in line with the teachings of Jesus, the Word of God in human form. The entire Sermon on the Mount should guide us, including the command to "do to others" exactly "as you would have them do to you." <blockquote> Questions: Why do you think that Jesus chose to summarize the Law and the Prophets in "the golden rule"? How does it guide your speech and your actions? Where should it be applied in the life of the church, and in the community around you? </blockquote> Matthew 25:40 And the king will answer them, "Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me." (For context, read <a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPIPMr3QdAndcnhgARhLxPRBMJBYCTolkbvW-2F0TosyGzxEE9arX6m0yHZZAbtNhYaDcVRcnTBIowhZZwDlMqPEdNSp8fMb1gt-2B-2BBSeaqSjRVDJXmN\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmW2QvDkzXJJfU0mGWArekNRBeVfeRyyFGuXRcJ3SYfk90YNoYRxiew2jMyM857w29-2FRblLwHqMZQFwsrzPPMR5XN7CnxY0v7RCrgVWoMCQqVWKEW2j7Aw1jcrgj8xCvIXhqeGrzFkdlgDAsxazRdq-2B6Rol6TFf15ZVW2TNH-2BqQzRdXo76W5AK048reyIpC3bhR-2FSnFSC2C27DiD0V3PG0Ypy1sqcTIW7gaOZJnKi-2FIouULpPnqwSQzquPY4VCbsOdL23j4VLc0u994DAwji3GCA-3D">Matthew 25:31-46</a>.) In the book Making Room, Matthew 25 is described by scholar Christine Pohl as the most important biblical text for Christian hospitality. In this passage, Jesus appears before all the people of the world as a judge, and he says to the righteous men and women, "Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world, for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me" (vv. 34-35). At this point, the righteous say, "Huh?" They are confused. They say to Jesus, "Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you ... ?" (vv. 37-38). They simply do not remember a time when they had the opportunity to serve Jesus in this way. Then Jesus says to them, "Just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me." It is when we act as hosts to other people that we come face-to-face with Jesus. It is when we show true Christian hospitality -- feeding the hungry, welcoming the stranger -- that we discover that God is with us in surprising and wonderful ways. Hospitality to people is identical to hospitality to God. <blockquote> Questions: Why does Jesus place such a high value on people caring for the least of his brothers and sisters? Where do you see opportunities to serve Jesus by serving people in need? Why does Scripture make such a strong connection between hospitality to people and hospitality to God? </blockquote> Hebrews 13:1-2 Let mutual affection continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. (For context, read <a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPIPMr3QdAndcnhgARhLxPRBMJBYCTolkbvW-2F0TosyGzxfhOLPuUklFplPPD2VWbSPNmQc2PkyWuZmD-2FBaj32psHJkd-2F7-2BAlstO-2BTaOff9nACXjhS\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmW2QvDkzXJJfU0mGWArekNRBeVfeRyyFGuXRcJ3SYfk90YNoYRxiew2jMyM857w29xWCyZCO94X7XtnvMF28sFYCJkuIoI7C3ECsfYo0rOHbWkklG2J8MPiDz2ze3eDHYQxxKZSjnoGAJmO380-2BRytzjyVITKZSbQ2GweGs-2BbA8XEIZ0Bw-2FDyDklYhLXugSsyy9-2FCvuu45P7edt7qbcXeDPFqRjO3YqYvzxihjDsqGLFPxV3MbQ4ScJZe-2Bm7dJnQoSQUF2l5YTEtGdKOc1sFu7I-3D">Hebrews 13:1-6</a>.) The 13th chapter of the letter to the Hebrews begins with a description of Christian service that is well-pleasing to God. The first verse, containing the words "mutual affection," is a translation of the Greek word philadelphia, which literally means "brotherly love." We see this Greek word on the map when we travel to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which is sometimes called -- rightly or wrongly -- "the city of brotherly love." The next line says, "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers," and the Greek word here is philoxenia, which literally means "stranger-love." More common today is the word xenophobia, which means "fear of strangers." Well, philoxenia is the opposite -- love of strangers. Hebrews says that by showing stranger-love, some have entertained angels without knowing it. Both brotherly love and stranger-love are central parts of the Christian life. But stranger-love may be more important than brotherly love, because it is when we love strangers that we welcome God and Jesus into our lives. The Catholic activist Dorothy Day discovered that Jesus was present with her in a homeless man one day. She said, "There He was, homeless. Would a church take Him in today -- feed Him, clothe Him, offer Him a bed?" <blockquote> Questions: What is the importance of mutual affection in the life of the church? Why should Christians also practice hospitality to strangers? When you have offered such hospitality, how have you welcomed God and Jesus into your life? How did the experience change you? </blockquote> For Further Discussion 1. TWW Team Member Frank Ramirez does not see much connection between Homer's epic poem "The Odyssey" and the Christian viewpoint. "In Homer's world we're all going to a shadowy place after death (kind of like Sheol) no matter who we are," he says. In Homer's world, the gods are crazy, life is unfair, and women are passed back and forth as prizes among the men. But in the Christian world? "Suddenly we matter. Suddenly slaves can be deacons and overseers. Suddenly our God is brutalized on an instrument of torture reserved for the lowest of the low and God raises up Jesus so that at his name every knee will bow." Where do you see differences between Homer's world and the Christian world? Why do you prefer the Christian worldview, if at all? 2. The treatment of falsehoods in the movie version of the Odyssey "aligns with biblical commandments regarding honesty," <a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPNAccNaM5MNIgtnewjH2Q-2B8EsFT158-2FT-2FzaMDb-2FkGGR32C-2BXSGw-2BNLMMgjieCJ4IjvpqmrcJuUu9Iwd-2Bw63-2FRd0XRh45WOhe268tQULy6-2BMmH-2B2YFjq1wFGWbx9xDkcp78bBlhWrYIymA-2FWwboj1FGD-2FUY-2B4J4NCbelzNLE1rRxtLT8v\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmW2QvDkzXJJfU0mGWArekNRBeVfeRyyFGuXRcJ3SYfk90YNoYRxiew2jMyM857w29-2Bt1rZH8fBDE-2Bk7J1srdspOe-2F-2FyceqFuVOZbm1L-2BEwy67jNozRTFEJ19Eps4WParrWxb247rhQC-2FT-2BDeXuvleFphaKlDc9-2FdAUh3EYYMrZHwVfUhRo5rSHyvX3jG-2FBga97o-2BtknZ6os1P2Q5-2FSSqXLffW2LZJQ3mdk97pje6aHksPZkkePBT3loQQM6xviXMp933A6BCHN9cR1c8M-2Ba29jk-3D">notes Soma Mitra in </a><a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPNAccNaM5MNIgtnewjH2Q-2B8EsFT158-2FT-2FzaMDb-2FkGGR32C-2BXSGw-2BNLMMgjieCJ4IjvpqmrcJuUu9Iwd-2Bw63-2FRd0XRh45WOhe268tQULy6-2BMmH-2B2YFjq1wFGWbx9xDkcp78bBlhWrYIymA-2FWwboj1FGD-2FUY-2B4J4NCbelzNLE1rRxt2iOg\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmW2QvDkzXJJfU0mGWArekNRBeVfeRyyFGuXRcJ3SYfk90YNoYRxiew2jMyM857w2964nLS-2FFCuS87O5qZ6wWuMoNIMbBrkW2jMNkUeLv6YymnkXnRDCAFElzIUrnARbArnlj-2FTVZaKfUsomEgxiFJOos34PYkBX7qIC75lcQuvS0ahiwjSK705qQo65YcqAvl4zfKte0uK-2BSk0w3BK9CrUVx0Dv0ACseOGtk19PCysF61-2BFVLOn-2F0gg61Ns9SEeh8h28EamEFctmk0yahBE0yB4-3D">Netflix Junkie</a><a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPNAccNaM5MNIgtnewjH2Q-2B8EsFT158-2FT-2FzaMDb-2FkGGR32C-2BXSGw-2BNLMMgjieCJ4IjvpqmrcJuUu9Iwd-2Bw63-2FRd0XRh45WOhe268tQULy6-2BMmH-2B2YFjq1wFGWbx9xDkcp78bBlhWrYIymA-2FWwboj1FGD-2FUY-2B4J4NCbelzNLE1rRxtxFM8\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmW2QvDkzXJJfU0mGWArekNRBeVfeRyyFGuXRcJ3SYfk90YNoYRxiew2jMyM857w290zMTTNilL8aqcWRvAlus-2B12-2B4Nfol1FUIHetqGIC325uNERW4khkeesJdi8Yqd4irP-2FUcSFcBMZ0StKrD7FQ7YE-2BwFggoO57pjBWl6CDQusl9ov1OoKKmHvomfoga4VW2bGg6PpHwTjuuXO8bVYXJp88W-2BR4mAx07jvAUjDbEMQ-2Bd57TvhWm124Q5kEx9lBU-2BDeWhAjEEEUH7OowBRG2RE-3D">.</a> This is in contrast to Homer's celebration of clever trickery. "In the original epic poem, cunning lies demonstrate intelligence and resourcefulness during perilous encounters with dangerous monsters. [The movie version] illustrates that deceit carries devastating consequences for innocent people, reframing manipulation as a destructive moral failing rather than a heroic virtue." When, if ever, is clever trickery a sign of intelligence and resourcefulness? How are falsehoods sometimes used in warfare to protect innocent lives? What do you think of "white lies" told to avoid embarrassment? Share your views of honesty and falsehood. 3. TWW Team Member Mary Sells saw "The Odyssey" and was impressed by the story of Penelope, Odysseus' wife. Mary says that Penelope hoped "for a miracle return of her husband, weaving [a] shroud and unraveling it to avoid accepting he might be lost forever. What tactics do we use to avoid dealing with loss? Does any particular passage in the Bible give you courage or strength when facing enormous loss?" Be specific. 4. Would you consider taking a non-Christian friend to see "The Odyssey"? Why or why not? What Christian themes would you want to discuss after the movie? How would you share your faith in light of the story? Responding to the News In the week to come, make an effort to treat others as you want to be treated. Remember that when you show hospitality to strangers, you are entertaining angels. When you welcome a newcomer to church, you are welcoming Jesus. Whether you encounter such Christian themes in "The Odyssey" or not, embrace the truth that hospitality to people is also hospitality to God. Look for an opportunity to have an authentic experience of God as you welcome a stranger. Prayer We thank you, Lord, for delivering your truth to us in surprising ways. Help us to see your holiness in the people around us, and to welcome others just as Christ has welcomed us. May we not be afraid to tell stories that share our faith with others, both inside and outside the church. We pray this all in Jesus' name. Amen. 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