In Heaven with the Mob
- Stephen Orr
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
(a Steve Orr scripture reflection)
“I’m with you.”
No matter who is saying it, when you need to believe that, you want to believe that. In the Steve Martin comedy My Blue Heaven, it’s a mid-level mafioso saying it to an FBI agent. Can the agent believe it? Should he believe it?
If he were skeptical, would you blame him?
The FBI agent, Barney Coopersmith, is assigned to keep the mafioso, Vinnie Antonelli, out of trouble until he can testify against one of his Mafia bosses. It proves to be anything but simple. In the scene where Vinnie tells Barney, “I’m with you,” the audience knows Vinnie is trying to leverage himself out of having been caught committing credit card fraud—while in Witness Protection!
Is he just manipulating Barney? Perhaps. But for someone in his “profession,” Vinnie has some flaws. He makes and keeps friends. He likes children. He is a romantic. He is loyal. He likes to help people.
He tells Barney, "Now when I say 'I'm with you,' I don't mean it like an expression, like I'm saying 'I understand what you mean.' I mean, I'm. With. You."
And soon, we begin to think he really means it. Time and time again, Vinnie acts beneficially toward Barney: teaching him how to dance the méringue (yes, named after the dessert), how to woo the woman he loves—even how to dress for success. And, perhaps most important, how to relax and enjoy life.
Vinnie really is with Barney. He makes himself part of Barney's life—all the parts of Barney's life—and Barney is the better for it. No, it’s not a smooth process (and where would be the fun in that?). But over the course of their time together, Vinnie becomes Barney's friend—a true friend. The very person any of us would want in our life, even if that person made us a bit uncomfortable from time to time—even if we couldn't control him or predict his behavior.
The relationship would be worth it.
The message from God in this week's selection from the Prophet Haggai: "Take courage, all you people of the land, says the LORD; work, for I am with you…My spirit abides among you; do not fear."
God is not just present, and His declaration is not just "an expression." He is saying He will be with His people through everything that is coming, the good and the bad. He plans to "abide" with them, to come and to stay. Long before Jesus came to earth, God declared "Immanuel" to His people.
God said to them and is saying to us:
"I'm. With. You."
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Join us at DaySpring’s Lectionary Breakfast on Friday morning. We meet at 8:00 on Zoom.* and in person at Our Breakfast Place. We would love for you to join us.
Sure, the food's tasty, but the real treat is getting to spend time with each other. See you there?
Blessings,
Steve
*Zoom link (Zoom allows you to mute the camera and the microphone if you don’t wish to be seen or heard.)
SCRIPTURES FOR SUNDAY AND THE COMING WEEK
Haggai 2:1-9
Psalm 145:1-5, 17-21 or Psalm 98
Job 19:23-27a
Psalm 17:1-9
2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17
Luke 20:27-38
Proper 27 (32) (November 9, 2025)
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