stevans (11/15/82)
E.T.cetera
A
Christmas
Sermon
I suppose that, by now, most of you have seen the motion picture E.T. The
Extra-Terrestrial. It's a wonderful movie, full of excitement and warmth.
Except for a few lines of its dialogue -- quite unnecessary to the story,
I might add -- I would have no hesitation in recommending the film to the
entire family.
But, you know, as I was watching E.T., I couldn't help being reminded of
another story. It's a beautiful story -- older than E.T., but the
similarities are quite remarkable. Listen: This is the story of another
mysterious stranger, a person who appeared "and dwelt amongst us" a long
time ago. They tell of strange lights in the night sky over the little
town where this person was first seen here on earth.
This person -- let's call him our hero -- was not wealthy or powerful;
his first dwelling place was a humble one, ewxposed to the elements. But
in spite of his strange manner and appearance, there was something special
about this stranger, a gentleness that little children were the first to
see, and love.
Now, this mysterious visitor to our planet was too good, too kind, too
gentle for this world. Wicked men hated him, and hunted him, to mock
him, and torment him, and put him on cruel display.
At the end of the story, this other E.T., this wise and loving person,
sadly, dies. But that isn't really the end, you see.
For, by some power beyond our human understanding, this person -- the
extra-terrestrial hero of this other tale of mine -- came back to life.
For he could not die! And they say he lives...forever!
Now, does that story sound familiar? I hope it does. Because, of course,
I have just told you the story of Frankenstein's monster.
Merry Christmas.
Retyped without permission from The National Lampoon magazine, December
1982 issue (with E.T. parody cover), page 55.
Mark Stevans, U of Rochester, NY
(seismo or allegra)!rochester!stevans