Homily, The Battle of Thor and Christ
The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany (Year A)
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church
Plant City, FL
The Rev. Derek M Larson, TSSF
As a Christian with Scandinavian ancestry and an interest in mythology, I love this little collection of poems by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. It’s called The Saga of King Olaf and it tells in verse form stories about the first encounters of the Norse people with the Christian faith and how Scandinavia slowly became Christian.
At the beginning of the 10th century, many folks across Sweden, Norway, and Denmark held around their neck an image of Mjölnir, the war hammer of the most popular of the Norse gods, Thor. By the end of the 12th century, the majority had switched them out for a cross.
In the same way, in Longfellow’s collection of poems he begins in the voice of Thor, but ends with the voice of Christ.
Here’s is that first poem in which Thor challenges Christ.
“The Challenge of Thor” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
I am the God Thor,
I am the War God,
I am the Thunderer!
Here in my Northland,
My fastness and fortress,
Reign I forever!
Here amid icebergs
Rule I the nations;
This is my hammer,
Miölner the mighty;
Giants and sorcerers
Cannot withstand it!
These are the gauntlets
Wherewith I wield it,
And hurl it afar off;
This is my girdle;
Whenever I brace it,
Strength is redoubled!
The light thou beholdest
Stream through the heavens,
In flashes of crimson,
Is but my red beard
Blown by the night-wind,
Affrighting the nations!
Jove is my brother;
Mine eyes are the lightning;
The wheels of my chariot
Roll in the thunder,
The blows of my hammer
Ring in the earthquake!
Force rules the world still.
Has ruled it, shall rule it;
Meekness is weakness,
Strength is triumphant,
Over the whole earth
Still it is Thor’s-Day!
Thou are a God too,
O Galilean!
And thus single-handed
Unto the combat,
Gauntlet or Gospel,
Here I defy thee!”
These days, there are very few who worship Thor, and yet I can’t help but feel in some way “still it is Thor’s Day.”
The ways of Thor—the ways of war, power, strength, force, and fierce independence—continue to be the dominant forces of society.
If you turned on the news this week it looked like Thor’s Day. Little mercy. Lots of might. Little empathy. Lots of force. It’s all around us.
And even within us. Within each one of us dwells a “Thor.” (I’m speaking metaphorically of course—within each one of us a “Thor”.) That part of us obsessed with control. That part of us that demands a stiff upper lip. That part of us that has no patience for our own vulnerability. We can see a lot of Thor in ourselves, can’t we?
And so if we are listening carefully, the words of Christ in our gospel reading this morning can be for us quite a shock. Jesus says, Blessed are the poor in spirit. Blessed are those who mourn. Blessed are the persecuted. Blessed are the peacemakers. While Thor’s voice thunders, “Might is right, meekness is weakness” Christ’s voice whispers, “Blessed are the meek.”
These are the opening words of Jesus’ longest recorded sermon, The Sermon on the Mount, and if you want to know what it is Jesus believed and taught—how he lived his life—this is where you’ll find it. It’s three chapters long and it will take us three weeks just to get through a portion of it. And it opens today with the famous words of the Beatitudes. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Many of us are familiar with these words. They’ve been beautifully cross-stitched on lacy fabric and hung up in our grandmother’s homes, but do we believe them? Do we live our lives by them?
Do we allow ourselves to mourn and feel grief? Do we show ourselves and others mercy when we fail? Do we foster a sense of inner poverty and openness that makes room for God’s presence? Do we believe God will bless us in our vulnerabilities?
Or do we expect ourselves to be stronger than that? Do we fill ourselves solely with lofty ideals of self-sufficiency, invulnerability, control, and might?
There is within each one of us a battle between Christ and Thor. Who will hold sway over our hearts?
And yet, even the framing of that question uses the language of Thor. Who will be defeated? Who will be killed? Who will be stronger? Who will be the last man standing?
But Jesus, does not use a hammer. And if Jesus is to hold sway in our lives, it will not be by striking down Thor, but by the showing of mercy.
For the “Thor” within us—that part of us that has no patience for vulnerability—deep down longs for healing. Because the “Thor” within us is actually our wounded selves. The Thor within us wages war because war has been waged on him. The Thor within us demands strength because he’s afraid of being stepped on. The Thor within us chases power because he’s experienced powerlessness. Deep down the Thor within us is our own wounded selves.
And seeing our woundedness, Christ does not war against it with the weapons of Thor. Christ looks upon our wounded self with love and compassion rather than condemnation and disdain. Christ looks upon our wounded self inviting us to sit with it and learn from it rather than demanding us to grow up and shake it off. Blessed are those who acknowledge their own woundedness for that’s where they will truly experience the love and grace of God.
Where do you see the reign of Thor in your life? Where do you see impatience with your own vulnerability? Where do you demand from yourself might? Where do you cast out of yourself meekness?
Listen to the words of Christ. Allow the words of the beatitudes to wash over you. Your wounded self is begging to experience the blessing of God. Who will hold sway over your heart, Christ or Thor?
Longfellow begins his collection of poems with the challenge of Thor. He ends the collection with the response of Christ.
“It is accepted
The angry-defiance
The challenge of battle!
It is accepted,
But not with the weapons
Of war that thou wieldest!
Cross against corselet,
Love against hatred,
Peace-cry for way cry!
Patience is powerful;
He that o’ercometh
Hath power o’er the nations!
…
Stronger than steel
Is the sword of the Spirit;
Swifter than arrows
The light of the truth is,
Greater than anger
Is love, and subdueth!
…
The dawn is not distant,
Nor is the night starless;
Love is eternal!
God is still God, and
His faith shall not fail us
Christ it eternal!”
You don’t have to follow Thor. You don’t have to be strong all the time. You don’t have be in control all the time. You don’t have to be the top dog all the time. You don’t have to follow Thor. Nor do you have to fight him.
Blessed are the poor in Spirit. Blessed are those who mourn. Blessed are the meek. Blessed are the merciful. Blessed are the peacemakers.
For the love of Christ and the peace of God will reign in them forever. Amen.
Questions for Reflection
- In what ways do you identify the “Thor” within yourself that seeks control, strength, and power over vulnerability and meekness?
- How can you cultivate a deeper sense of openness to allow room for God’s presence in your life?
- Reflect on a recent experience of grief or struggle. How did you respond, and how might approaching it with the mindset of Christ’s teachings change that response?
- What practical steps can you take to embrace the blessings of the Beatitudes in your everyday life?
- How can you support others in acknowledging their own woundedness and help them experience the love and grace of God?
Thoughts on Faith 