The commercial below must have taken weeks to film. Regardless of its intent (selling homeowner’s insurance), there is something of an admonition in both the video and the accompanying music: life and the things of life slip away. Not a bad theme in November, when the Church bids us to meditate on the last things.
The lyrics of the background music set forth the theme: “Don’t stop thinking about tomorrow. Don’t stop; it’ll soon be here.” As the song plays, the objects in the house start to get up and leave the house and its owners. Then, the occupants themselves begin to be swept out. By the end of the commercial, all that was within and all who were within have been swept outside.
This is a paradigm for life. No thing and no person in this world will survive the passage of time. All will be swept away; all will pass, down the river of time. Even lofty mountains were once on the sea floor—and to that floor they will eventually erode and return. Jesus says, Heaven and Earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away (Mat 24:35).
Scripture also says,
- For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come (Heb 13:14).
- The end of all things is near. Therefore, be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray (1 Peter 4:7).
- But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3:13).
This commercial is not morbid. Rather, it is almost joyful. For indeed, although earthly glories fade, Scripture says (in many different passages) that trouble doesn’t last forever (cf Psalm 30:6).
The commercial ends with a photograph being taken. Ultimately, each moment in life is but a snapshot in time. Time itself and all things are moving downstream, down the river of time and slipping away. God alone remains forever. Our only hope is to be anchored to Him. He is our rock, our firm foundation. His Kingdom is our lasting city. All else fades and slips away.
There’s a certain fear among some theists that, after Judgment Day, God will destroy us to create a new universe. Whether they mean reincarnation or annihilation or whatever, they base this fear on the Jewish legend of God creating and destroying many worlds before creating our own. Legends, though, can’t compete with God, Who promises an eternal covenant in Scripture, in Jesus, and in the Sacraments. All things pass, are contingent and temporary, save for Him Who is no thing but the Maker of all things.
The very words of the song are a dead give-away of the fact that this ad is nothing more nor less than human beings actually wishing to ‘hang on to things’ in this life! That’s why it’s selling ‘insurance’!! Which, of course, is a misnomer – as you can’t actually insure – or ‘ensure’ holding on to anything, in the end, as Mgr Charles says!
Jesus, on the other hand, tells us to ‘NOT THINK ABOUT TOMORROW’!!
Matthew 6 – verses 31 to 34 has Our Lord telling us in no uncertain terms – “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
I would entreat each and every one of us to read and ponder the whole of Matthew chapter 6 – it is a great treatise on ‘living the eternal life’ right here and now, with and in The Lord! Which all fits in beautifully with what we have been reading here over the last few days.
By the way – the actual movie itself would have taken no more than a few hours (maybe a day!) to put together! It’s all CGI – so ‘easy-peasy’ for the producers!!
Take care – and God bless to all.