Where there is love, I'll be there....

Walking to Emmaus by Fritz von Uhde
On the Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35)

Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.

He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?"

They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?"

"What things?" he asked.

"About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see."

He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them.

When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"

They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, "It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon." Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

Source: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+24%3A13-35&version=NIV

"North of Neverland"

This weekend, my family watched the animated film "Tinkerbell and the Lost Treasure," based on the book "Tink, North of Neverland." Of course I thought of Michael, his love of Peter Pan and Neverland.

A lengthy plot review is not included in this post, but if you'd like to read the full plot, visit the link listed at the end of the post.

This is the most relevant paragraph to the points at hand:

"When she unveils the scepter, the assembled fairies are alarmed to see the fragments of the moonstone. However, the broken moonstone shards create an unexpected benefit – increased surface area through which the rays of the blue moon could pass, which creates the most blue pixie dust ever seen in Pixie Hollow."

There are some strong metaphors related to Michael in this story. First of all, Neverland itself represents eternal childhood, escapism and immortality. Michael exhibited the former in 3-dimensional life, and has achieved the later since his passing. Pixie Hollow is North of Neverland, North representing not just compass position, but a higher, greater state of Neverland.

The blue moonstone is also an important symbol. The moon is an obvious one and some variations of blue are considered "angel blue." Add to this, the fairies were to activate this blue moonstone on the first night of the autumn harvest to sprinkle pixie dust on Pixie Hollow. This would allow the town to rejuvenate its powers.

The night that Michael's physical body was laid to rest, the autumn harvest moon was shining brightly. Is it hard to imagine the MJFAM as the fairies sprinkling his pixie dust on the world?

Finally, the fragmented moon stone imitates Michael’s love, since his passing. Though his physical presence was destroyed (fragmented) his eternal presence is so much more powerful and abundant as before.

"Tink, North of Neverland" illustrates that Michael's passing has had an unexpected effect on each of us, and his love stronger than ever. Communion with MJFAM reveals that he is positioned to reach a happier, even more blissful state than the Neverland that he had imagined.

But first, we must continue to call out for justice for him, so that he can reach this state of bliss.

What do you think?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tinker_Bell_and_the_Lost_Treasure