By Jennifer Beutz
During a prayer walk I frequently make, I was contemplating the fact that this article will appear on May 4th. If any of you have a Star Wars fan in your life, you know that to wish someone “May the fourth be with you” is to recognize the unofficial Star Wars fan day, a play on the iconic line, “May the Force be with you,” from the film series. Characters in the films use this phrase when going off to battle, facing a time of trial, or saying goodbye. Although it is a sci-fi film, people can recognize that it is a way of spiritually blessing or empowering one another with an invisible, mystical “force.”
I have many Star Wars fans in my life, and one of them is my son who was confirmed at the Cathedral of St. Paul last night. He was empowered and sealed with a blessing of the Holy Spirit, and I was moved to tears remembering when he was a baby and was baptized with the Holy Spirit.
When he was little and started watching Star Wars, it was an easy crossover to relate the Holy Spirit to the force. In teaching our children about the faith, they can touch and see a crucifix and know that Jesus was a divine person. They can imagine God as a Father who provides a list of rules by which to live, because many of our fathers do that to form our character. But I am thankful that my child learned at a young age that there is a powerful force within him that will guide him through life, strengthening him in grace to follow Christ. This very real force is known as the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, and has now left an indelible spiritual mark on his soul. Thanks be to God!
May the fourth be with you!
About the Author:
Jennifer Beutz lives out her vocation in marriage to her husband of 17 years. They have been blessed with three amazing children. Jennifer works toward the mission of the New Evangelization as the small group coordinator at St. Hubert Catholic Community in Chanhassen, MN. She has been published in The Catholic Spirit and co-authored a weekly column in the Star Tribune with her mother, who is her writing mentor.
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