Man of La Mancha: Our Dreams and God’s Dream

‍ Man of La Mancha:  Our Dreams and God’s Dream

Matthew 5:1-10

August 9, 2026   God on Broadway

Rev. Cynthia Cochran-Carney, First Presbyterian Church of San Rafael, CA

 PDF OF SERMON LINK BELOW

 Trailer for 1972 movie version Man of La Mancha

 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him.  Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

"Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 Who has seen Man of La Mancha on stage?  The movie with Peter O Toole?  Jeffrey and I saw it a few years ago at Shawnee playhouse in PA.  The production that sticks with me though is the one when I was on stage.  The church I grew up in had a community theater company.  One year we performed Man of La Mancha.  Large cast.  Looking forward to being part of the production.  During the rehearsals the music, the message, the characters resonated with me.  Main character is Don Quixote.  I listened to him every night on stage.  It was easy since I was playing Don Quixote's dancing donkey.  I was playing the front in case you were wondering.  Ever since then this musical has been one of my favorites

 Man of La Mancha is a story told by a man named Cervantes—a story about a medieval knight with a glorious vision, a dream, but he is surrounded by people who criticize and mock him and his dream.  This musical has a ring of reality and authenticity about it.  It invites us to consider the hope in God's vision for each of us and for all creation.  How Jesus embodied and taught and painted images of this reign of God.   

 The musical in set in the Spanish Inquisition. The production opens in a dark dungeon where which prisoners were passing judgment on each other while waiting to be judged themselves by the authorities. There is a jolt of a loud sound. A prison guard slammed the metal door closed and shoved a new resident into this dark place of misery. Strangely a plump little man accompanied this new captive, appearing to be his servant.

 The new prisoner identified himself as Don Miguel de Cervantes, a poet of the theater, and then apologized for his sudden intrusion into the jail. Prisoners laugh.  Immediately the leader of this gang of criminals informed Cervantes that all new inmates were immediately placed on trial there in the dungeon and that he was no exception. “For what?” Cervantes asked.

 The ruffian leader of the prison crowd responded: “I charge you …..with being an idealist, a bad poet, and an honest man. How plead you?” Immediately Cervantes said, “Guilty!”

 But then, in the same breath, Cervantes explained that he pleaded guilty so that he would have an opportunity to defend himself. At that point, the poet prisoner proposes to cast his defense in the form a drama about a man.   He takes on the identity of a medieval knight, who  embarked upon a mission to right all wrongs and help all the vulnerable people.  As the play within the play got underway, the knight insisted his name would be known as Don Quixote de La Mancha.

 Video clip from movie with Peter O’Toole as Don Quixote in the dungeon

 This man looks ludicrous. He will go into the world the right the wrongs, to fight evil, to be an honorable knight.   His looks and his vision seem foolish.  A madman. 

 Matthew 5 - After teaching on the mountain, Jesus would be called the same.  The Sermon on the Mount is Jesus’ kingdom declaration.

 This scene was familiar to people living in Jesus’ day. Frustration with Roman occupation, religious persecution against the Jews, and oppressive living conditions had fueled the fires of messianic expectation. To the average observer, Jesus was another in a long string of people claiming to be the Messiah in a politically turbulent time when anti-Roman violence was deemed acceptable, necessary, and even righteous.

 However, Jesus’ audience was about to have every expectation challenged. Their ideas concerning kingdom, power, and glory were about to be turned upside-down. His kingdom manifesto, his vision, his dream, with a surprising series of blessings, commonly called “the beatitudes.”  Upside down kingdom.  Not how the world works.  But has Jesus' words and actions show us his love and power and salvation turn individual lives around and the whole world.  This is his ministry, his quest.

 1) One lesson of Man of La Mancha is that life is a quest to live with honor, with values akin to the sermon on the mount. An upside down view.  Don Q. fights the evils as a knight.  He thinks the windmills are the evil one so he goes after them with his sword. 

 Jesus reminds us that our life is one of blessing, of being open to God's blessing of love and sharing and compassion.  To see that kingdom values move away from evil and ego.  We conquer evil with good , with Divine Mystery.  We see power differently.

 2)  Another lesson is that Don Quixote sees the best in people.  He sees with God's eyes.  And he sees the world with God's eyes. 

 The Beatitudes show a way of seeing reflected in  Jesus’ life and ministry – the kingdom of God is present and available to all. The openness of the kingdom exceeded the expectations of Jesus’ listeners. In contrast to the Pharisees’ expectations, the blessed ones of the kingdom are not the most religiously devout, but rather, are the poor in spirit, the mourners, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. Jesus announced that God’s blessed ones are the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers – people who refuse to return evil with evil.

 He meets a tough woman named Aldonza.  She is a young peasant woman who serves at the inn where he and Sancho were staying. The woman’s posture, voice, and attitude reflect a hard life of being used and abused by men.

 No sooner had Don Quixote seen Aldonza than he addressed her with love and adoration. Never before had she heard such words. “My lady.” Don Quixote described vividly all that Aldonza felt she was not. But the knight continued his remarks, “I dare not gaze full upon thy countenance lest I be blinded by beauty.” Aldonza’s deep, justifiable distrust of any man exploded in bitterness as she lashed out at Don Quixote. She thought he was just another man mocking her and wanting her.   But he continues to speak to her with love, with tenderness.  He sees her with the eyes of God.  He calls her Dulcinea - sweet one. 

 At first, she is in disbelief.  No one has ever talked to her like that.  But it does start to change her.  Don Q vision changes her.  Jesus’ vision, the Beatitudes offers new life to those who thought they did not matter.   

 God's love can change us like that.  Change the way we see ourselves.  Regrets, hard to forgive ourselves and yet God offers a new life.  Forgiveness. Healing. Hope.  Hard but possible.

 Seeing the best in people.  Who has taught you to see yourself with what is possible?

 I think about the people who have taught me to have a larger, deeper vision and dream.  Congregations where I served, writers, prophets, leaders.  Who has inspired you with a greater vision? 

 Aldonza can’t believe it.  Reality comes back.  Once, in distress, not comprehending him, when they are alone, she says, "Why do you do and say these things? Why do you treat me the way you do? What do you want from me?” He says, "I just want to call you what you are .. you are My Lady, Dulcinea."

 Later there is a horrible scene backstage.  The audience knows she is in danger.    Later she cries out to Don Quixote. "Don't call me a Lady. Can't you see me for what I am? I'm only a person people use and forget. Don't call me your Lady. I'm only Aldonza. I am nothing at all." She runs away. He calls out,  "But you are my lady."

 Foolish?  Unrealistic?  Insane?  Dreamer?

What will happen to Aldonza?  What happens to us when reality sets in?  When we thought we had a new vision of ourselves but the world comes back to tell us - No, you are not a good person, parent, employee, husband or wife.  You are not valuable.  You are not important.  You don't matter.  You are not enough.

 God says – Wrong!  False!  You are precious, beloved, forgiven.  You are not Aldonza.  You are Dulcinea.

 3)  Finally, another lesson is Jesus' vision, dream reflected in Beatitudes is God's dream for the each of us and all creation.  God has and will bring it to reality.  Even when we think it is impossible. 

Don Quixote did not believe in the best without knowing the worst. Look into his heart and hear what he spoke:

  I have lived nearly fifty years, Don Quixote said. Pain, misery, hunger . . . cruelty beyond belief. I have heard the singing from taverns and the moans from bundles of filth on the streets. I have been a soldier and seen my comrades fall in battle . . . I have held them in my arms at the final moment. Now, listen carefully. When life seems lunatic , who knows where madness lies?” Perhaps to be too practical is madness. To surrender dreams-- this may be madness. To seek treasure where there is only trash. Too much sanity may be madness. And maddest of all is to see life as it is and not as it should be.

 He offered a different dream, his dream for the world, for himself, for Aldonza.  What would it mean for us to have this kind of dream and this willingness to fight for it in a world that says it is foolish?

 So who are the crazy, foolish, mad ones in the play?  In the world?  Jesus was considered a madman by many, a threat by others.  Jesus, fully God was fully human,  Cosmic Christ. Jesus who lived, and taught and died and lives in us.  And this presence, sacred vision, dream, changes us and the world. 

 Where are you on your journey and quest?  Seeing yourself as God sees you?  Seeing others as part of God's family?  May we be dreamers and fools together. 

As I mentioned I was in a production of M of L. He treats her like a lady, and calls her Dulcinea ("Sweet One"). He sings to her  

           Dulcinea, Dulcinea, I see heaven when I see thee, Dulcinea

Her reaction is, "Are you crazy? I am nothing!" Everyone laughs at foolish Don Quixote.  But by the end of play Aldonza has changed.  She begins to see herself as Don Quixote saw her.  When he saw her with the eyes of Chirst, she was changed and she changes her name from Aldonza to Dulcinea. 

 May we imagine ways we are transformed by God’s love and grace as we listen to Patrick sing Dulcinea. Amen.