Warrior

In scene 1, Just Passing Through, we're introduced to our antagonist Tommy and the reunion with his estranged father Paddy after 14 long, hard years.  While this scene lays the foundation for the remainder of our story, it does little in offering any solutions to deeply rooted issues leading to today's major problems.  Tho Paddy has found faith, it's definitely lost on Tommy who's pain of yesterdays blinds him to any sense of restoration for today.

Exodus 34:5-8

⁵ And the Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there and proclaimed the name of the Lord.

⁶ And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord! the Lord! a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in loving-kindness and truth,

⁷ Keeping mercy and loving-kindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but Who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children, to the third and fourth generation.

⁸ And Moses made haste to bow his head toward the earth and worshiped.

In scene 19, Proud of You, Paddy attempts once more to reconcile with Tommy who's not open to the idea to say the least.  After being denied a last ditch reconciliatory attempt, Paddy turns to "the devil that he knows" in returning to their room to get drunk.  Tommy, upon finding his father wildly out of control, appears to react to his displayed vulnerability with acceptance and compassion.  

1 Corinthians 9:18-24

¹⁸ What then is the [actual] reward that I get? Just this: that in my preaching the good news (the Gospel), I may offer it [absolutely] free of expense [to anybody], not taking advantage of my rights and privileges [as a preacher] of the Gospel.

¹⁹ For although I am free in every way from anyone’s control, I have made myself a bond servant to everyone, so that I might gain the more [for Christ].

²⁰ To the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to men under the Law, [I became] as one under the Law, though not myself being under the Law, that I might win those under the Law.

²¹ To those without (outside) law I became as one without law, not that I am without the law of God and lawless toward Him, but that I am [especially keeping] within and committed to the law of Christ, that I might win those who are without law.

²² To the weak (wanting in discernment) I have become weak (wanting in discernment) that I might win the weak andoverscrupulous. I have [in short] become all things to all men, that I might by all means (at all costs and in any and every way) save some [by winning them to faith in Jesus Christ].

²³ And I do this for the sake of the good news (the Gospel), in order that I may become a participator in it and share in its [blessings along with you].

²⁴ Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but [only] one receives the prize? So run [your race] that you may lay hold [of the prize] and make it yours.

In scene 24, New Beginnings, we follow the action as two combatants enter the cage vying for so many things but exiting with the likelihood of becoming so much more...brothers.  While a distant, displaced Paddy watches from the distance, his two sons literally fight for more than a prize, but for the chance for reconciliation.  How fitting that we often arrive at the same place in our walks, only with the willingness to fight for them?

2 Timothy 4:2-7

² Herald and preach the Word! Keep your sense of urgency [stand by, be at hand and ready], whether the opportunity seems to be favorable or unfavorable. [Whether it is convenient or inconvenient, whether it is welcome or unwelcome, you as preacher of the Word are to show people in what way their lives are wrong.] And convince them, rebuking and correcting, warning andurging and encouraging them, being unflagging and inexhaustible in patience and teaching.

³ For the time is coming when [people] will not tolerate (endure) sound and wholesome instruction, but, having ears itching [for something pleasing and gratifying], they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to foster the errors they hold,

⁴ And will turn aside from hearing the truth and wander off into myths and man-made fictions.

⁵ As for you, be calm and cool and steady, accept and suffer unflinchingly every hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fully perform all the duties of your ministry.

⁶ For I am already about to be sacrificed [my life is about to be poured out as a drink offering]; the time of my [spirit’s] release [from the body] is at hand and I will soon go free.

⁷ I have fought the good (worthy, honorable, and noble) fight, I have finished the race, I have kept (firmly held) the faith.