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From Intern Quentin . . .

Grace and peace from God our Father and Lord Jesus Christ,

One of my favorite books to read growing up was The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, which is about a troubled twelve year old who finds out his father is the Greek god of the ocean Poseidon. The Lightning Thief is part of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, which follows Percy Jackson as he navigates life as a demigod. Demigods are children who are half mortal and half god. Their lives consist of surviving everyday life and going on adventures, quests, and battling gods and monsters. It became one of my favorite book series because it took the Greek stories I loved to learn about and retold them with a modern spin, which made for great books to read.

And it wasn’t until I was at seminary that I began reflecting on the Christian symbolism Riordan used in his modern spin of these stories. Throughout the series, Riordan uplifts themes of betrayal and redemption, healing and transformation, and sacrifice to save the world. And an element that Riordan uses is water because Percy is the son of the god of oceans, Poseidon. And so, the scene I wanted to breakdown comes from The Lightning Thief when Percy finally discovers who his godly father is and how it alludes to the baptism of Jesus.

Part of the modern spin on these Greek myths is that the demigods don’t know they’re demigods until they are either attacked by a monster or claimed by their parent, which tends to happen around the age of thirteen. At the start of The Lightning Thief, Percy Jackson is twelve years old and hasn’t been attacked yet. However, all of this changes when Percy gets attacked by a monster at school. So, Percy’s mom quickly brings him to a camp designed to protect demigods until they are ready to protect themselves from monsters. One of many ways the camp trains demigods how to fight is by throwing a whole camp of teenagers into an arena to capture the flag with swords, javelins, bow-and-arrows, shields, and more. All very safe.

It’s during this game that Percy becomes surrounded by a group from the opposing team, gets wounded, and falls into a nearby creek of flowing water. Miraculously because of the water, Percy is transformed with a newfound strength to fend off the enemy team long enough for his team to win. After the game, Percy discovers the water completely healed his wounds and sees the whole camp kneeling before him because his father Poseidon, Greek god of the oceans, claims Percy with the symbol of a trident hanging over his head.

Now when we compare this scene from The Lightning Thief with the baptism of Jesus, it is true that Jesus does not reach John the Baptist and the river Jordan by fighting his way through an army of teenagers to capture a flag. Instead, Jesus simply approaches John and the river to receive his baptism. But when Percy falls into the creek, he does experience a transformation and healing through the flowing water in a way that alludes to Jesus receiving the Holy Spirit and being transformed to begin his ministry in the wilderness. Additionally, both are then claimed by their godly fathers in a public proclamation that begins their personal stories of going into the world to do great things for the world rather than themselves. It’s a powerful scene that brings together two completely different worlds through water’s healing and transformative symbolism.

And this scene brings me to remember and give thanks for our baptism. Because it is through the waters of our baptism that God also transforms us by preparing us with God’s grace and Holy Spirit to venture into the world to help others, just like Percy and Jesus are transformed by their waters. Because it is through the waters of our baptism that God also claims us as God’s adopted children, just like Percy and Jesus are claimed by their godly fathers. This scene about a Greek demigod stands for and symbolizes a powerful reminder in our faith life that we are God’s transformed and claimed children through baptism. And as we uplift Jesus’ baptism during the Season After Epiphany, it leads me to wonder where else in the world and pop culture are you reminded of the powerful transformation of your baptism and where that remembrance leads you
to follow God in the world today?

Peace and Blessings,
Quentin Surace

(Please note: Percy Jackson and the Olympians is a 
new series on Hulu/Disney+ streaming services)