September 16th, 2024
Groundhog Day of the Lord
by Jacob Hancock

Image from Groundhog Day, directed by Harold Ramis, © Columbia Pictures.
“Groundhog Day”, the 1993 Harold Ramis rom-com starring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell, is one of my favorite movies. I’ve probably watched it close to a hundred times, but it wasn’t until reading Matthew 21-28 (and a few other texts) that I realized how similar these two stories are.
“Groundhog Day” tells us the tale of how Phil Connors, a narcissistic weatherman, confronts and overcomes his issues by reliving his least favorite day of the year: Groundhog Day. Over the course of dozens of time loops, Phil Connors lives life hedonistically, pursuing wealth, sex, and generally overindulging. Ever unsatisfied, Phil’s eyes set their sights on Rita, his producer, who he hopes to begin a romantic relationship with. Using knowledge obtained through the time loops, Phil tries to trick Rita into sleeping with him, but to no avail. He falls into a deep depression, and comes out on the other side ready to redeem his actions, and truly become a better person. Rita watches as Phil interacts positively with the people of Punxsutawney, and she truly falls for him. Once that happens, the time loop is broken and Phil and Rita wake up on February the 3rd, and live happily ever after.
Phil’s story shares a great deal in common with many aspects of Matthew 21-28. Similarly to Phil, the Pharisees are more focused on their own praise and desires, than desiring a relationship with Christ. They pursue ulterior motives, and do not act in a way desirable to God. Unlike Phil though, the Pharisees do not change and Jesus tells them that their evil will not go unpunished. They are deaf to his warnings, and they arrest him and get him killed. Jesus rises from the dead, however, tells the world that the Day of the Lord will come, and gives his disciples the Great Commission: “to go therefore and make disciples”, a job that we as disciples have inherited.
The first two chapters of Isaiah are also an important addition to each of these stories. In “Groundhog Day”, Phil has no idea when February the 2nd will end, but he still becomes a better person. We are in the same boat as Phil; ignorant of when the Day of the Lord will come, but our calling is to act in a way deserving of God. Phil is not a perfect person, and neither are we, but we can always become better. With the knowledge that Christ’s death and resurrection has redeemed us, we can walk in a way like Christ, and experience spiritual growth. Just as David trusts and follows God in Psalm 41, Phil took a look at his life’s temptations, and made the choice to act in a moral way, and for that he is rewarded with the end of the loop. Likewise, we are given the ultimate grace in the form of our salvation, as well as the gift of the Holy Spirit, so that we can faithfully follow the path that Christ has already tread.
“Groundhog Day” tells us the tale of how Phil Connors, a narcissistic weatherman, confronts and overcomes his issues by reliving his least favorite day of the year: Groundhog Day. Over the course of dozens of time loops, Phil Connors lives life hedonistically, pursuing wealth, sex, and generally overindulging. Ever unsatisfied, Phil’s eyes set their sights on Rita, his producer, who he hopes to begin a romantic relationship with. Using knowledge obtained through the time loops, Phil tries to trick Rita into sleeping with him, but to no avail. He falls into a deep depression, and comes out on the other side ready to redeem his actions, and truly become a better person. Rita watches as Phil interacts positively with the people of Punxsutawney, and she truly falls for him. Once that happens, the time loop is broken and Phil and Rita wake up on February the 3rd, and live happily ever after.
Phil’s story shares a great deal in common with many aspects of Matthew 21-28. Similarly to Phil, the Pharisees are more focused on their own praise and desires, than desiring a relationship with Christ. They pursue ulterior motives, and do not act in a way desirable to God. Unlike Phil though, the Pharisees do not change and Jesus tells them that their evil will not go unpunished. They are deaf to his warnings, and they arrest him and get him killed. Jesus rises from the dead, however, tells the world that the Day of the Lord will come, and gives his disciples the Great Commission: “to go therefore and make disciples”, a job that we as disciples have inherited.
The first two chapters of Isaiah are also an important addition to each of these stories. In “Groundhog Day”, Phil has no idea when February the 2nd will end, but he still becomes a better person. We are in the same boat as Phil; ignorant of when the Day of the Lord will come, but our calling is to act in a way deserving of God. Phil is not a perfect person, and neither are we, but we can always become better. With the knowledge that Christ’s death and resurrection has redeemed us, we can walk in a way like Christ, and experience spiritual growth. Just as David trusts and follows God in Psalm 41, Phil took a look at his life’s temptations, and made the choice to act in a moral way, and for that he is rewarded with the end of the loop. Likewise, we are given the ultimate grace in the form of our salvation, as well as the gift of the Holy Spirit, so that we can faithfully follow the path that Christ has already tread.
More from the blog:
Bearing False Witness is More Than We Think
May 13th, 2025
God is holy and he desires that his chosen race, his priesthood, his nation, and his people be holy too. This is the point of the book of Leviticus–“You shall be holy for I am holy” (Leviticus 11:44). God wants his people to be holy because God’s people are a revelatory people, meaning they exist to reveal God not only to each other as the people of God, but also to the people without God in the w...
Faith Over Fear
May 6th, 2025
If I am being honest, I am a fearful person. I do not live my day to day life overcome with fear but to say I am not afraid of anything would be a lie. Do I want to go swimming in a lake where I cannot see anything around me and a swamp monster could bite my toes off? Nope. When there is a thud in the middle of the night and my wife wants me to go check it out; would I rather hide under the covers...
Be Still and Know that I Am God (Let the Reader Read the Rest)
April 29th, 2025
“Aslan is on the move.” Upon their entrance through the wardrobe into the magical land of Narnia, this statement was repeated over and over to the 4 Pevensie Children. “Aslan is on the move.” To those who knew Aslan, this fact brought great comfort, excitement, and anticipation. But the Pevensies didn’t know Aslan. They didn’t know who or what he was, what he was like, if he was safe. “Who is Asla...
Make Your Face Shine on Your Servant
April 22nd, 2025
But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors! Make your face shine on your servant; save me in your steadfast love!— Psalm 31:14-16David began this psalm asking for deliverance from his enemies and guidance. David trusts the Lord for his provision and protection while continuing to have an attitude of ...
Here Comes the Son (Do Do Do Do)
April 15th, 2025
Most stories are really the same if you think about it. Nearly every movie, book, or TV show follows a simple formula similar to this: a character has a conflict and takes an action which creates another conflict. This cycle repeats over the course of a story until the final conflict, typically the most daunting challenge for the character, results in one final action which resolves the story. Thi...
Recent
Archive
2025
February
March
April
2024
March
April
September
October
2023
April
May
July
August
October
November
2022
2021
No Comments