Groundhog Day of the Lord

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.