You are the Light Preached at Wollaston Congregational Church On February 5th, 2017 Scripture: Matthew 5:13-20 Since before Christmas we have pondered wonderful metaphors for Jesus as light, coming into a world of darkness. We heard ancient prophetic texts about the coming of the light. We read the birth narratives of the gospels and heard echoes of the metaphor of light for the coming of Christ. The imagery captivated us. In December we lit Advent candles; on Christmas, the Christmas candle. And in this season following Christmas we light our Epiphany candle, remembering the brilliant star the wise men followed and the revelation of Jesus to the Gentiles. But, in our reading this week Jesus delivers startling news to the disciples who are sitting expectantly, perhaps, wondering when this light is going to arrive in full glory. He tells them … You are the light of the world. I have to admit, at the time of Jesus, the liturgical seasons did not exist. The disciples probably had no clue about the stories surrounding Jesus’ birth and probably didn’t care much either. After all they have Jesus in the person right there with them. They really don’t need to see the baby pictures. As Jewish men, they are do not belong to the learned classes of scribes and Pharisees. Probably they’re illiterate, and it’s doubtful that they have in mind the ancient prophetic texts. Even so, as far at the gospel of Matthew and the lectionary readings are concerned, just a couple of weeks ago, Jesus walked into the disciples’ lives and instructed them to follow him. They have left behind their boats and fishing nets, having heard Jesus say that they will now be fishing for people. They have witnessed healings and teachings all over the place. Now, with just a little time to draw breath, they have settled on the hillside to listen to the core of Jesus’ teaching. I imagine they have something to do with the crowds, who have gathered all around. They have probably been out, spreading the word about: “he’s the best preacher I’ve ever heard … you’ll laugh, you’ll cry … he gets to me right here in the heart … I’m telling you, you’ve never seen a healer like this one before” They feel so excited to be following Jesus. They never know what he’s going to teach next. This must be the one we have all been waiting for. Just wait until he gets to Jerusalem and tells those Romans where to go! Israel will have their day then, and light will break forth, or whatever is supposed to happen. That will be the day! Perhaps, listening on the hillside, they have drifted off, day dreaming of how it will all be. Perhaps they are whispering among themselves with delight: “he is surely our savior!” Then they begin to tune in to what he is teaching today. Because it is something new, it sounds a little different. Different from the “come follow me” command he gave them back beside the lake. First the teaching begins with the “blesseds” or the “beatitidues.” We heard them last week: “blessed are the poor …. blessed are those who mourn … blessed are the peacemakers …” The disciples nod in agreement. The poor, the peacemakers, those who mourn: they are indeed blessed. They will indeed be blessed when God’s kingdom arrives in the world. Preach it, Jesus! Abruptly, though, Jesus switches from third person plural address to second person plural. He goes right from blessed are the [whatever] … to “you.” You are the salt of the world … you are the light of the world. What? If I had been a disciple in that moment, I would have been floored. This bursting forth of light: this One who will save us all from poverty and oppression; this One who will give us back our place of worship and restore Jerusalem; this One who will overcome the darkness of our lives, the darkness of our time and place … just said “you are the light.” No, Jesus, you have that wrong, it is you who are the light – remember? Jesus doesn’t say to them “if you study hard, and go to college, and get a good job, one day, you could become the light of the world.” And he doesn’t say, ”when the time comes, you will be the light of the world.” Nor does he say “prepare yourselves, people, get in shape, fix up your place of worship, make sure you have a good living.” Or “God’s just waiting for you all to shape up and grow up right now, then you’ll be the light of the world.” No, Jesus just says “you are the light of the world.” So friends, I wonder do you feel ready to be the light of the world, in the face of the darkness we see in these days. Just this past Thursday evening, a member of the congregation and I attended an event organized by the Massachusetts Council of Churches in the lobby of the building that houses the Boston School District Headquarters. It’s located at Dudley Square in Roxbury. The previous day, a 15 year old boy had been arrested in that same lobby because he had attempted to shoot another child who was enrolling for classes. It feels like a striking example of the darkness of the world, when a school child brings a gun to attempt a shooting in the school headquarters. Yet, on that same evening, we learned of an after-school program that takes place in the same space. There kids are given homework help, nutritious food, and learn to communicate one on one with each other and with adults. The students are prepared for further education, they are given some hope for the future. Volunteers for the program are welcome. Earlier in the week I also learned about a possible volunteer opportunity for the clergy of the Inter Church Council here in Quincy, at the Phoenix House rehab facility. My colleague told me that when ministers and students come in to lead prayer and bible study groups at the rehab, there is standing room only. Addiction is certainly a place of darkness. But, when God is your last best hope for light, the desire to open up to prayer, and engage in Bible study overcomes any resistance. Yes, there is darkness in our world, as there was in the time of Jesus, but there are also opportunities to be light. Even so, sometimes, it can be difficult for me to imagine that I really am the light. Last week I went to my monthly meeting with my cohort from the “Soul of Leadership” program. We gather to help one another find the ways in which God is calling us to lead in our work, by means of “clearness committees.” These are gatherings in the Quaker tradition, in which one person brings a situation to the group for discernment. It can be a question or a decision, or simply a general situation. The group is asked to listen for God’s wisdom in a structured time of sharing and silence. When I met with my group last week, I had a situation to bring to them. Although I didn’t phrase it quite this way, I was grappling with the idea of being light to the world, as a quiet and reserved person. The way I phrased it was “did I need to change?” Did I need to become more of an extrovert to do my job as pastor? As I am required to reach out into the community, did I need to overcome my natural reserve in order to do this work? I know I bring the gifts for building deep, lasting relationships. But do I need to be more “out there”? Do I need to be pacing the streets and knocking on doors? Do I need to call “good morning” a little louder, when I stand at the church door on Sunday morning? Do I need to enthusiastically greet passersby in the street, without thinking about what their reaction might be? My group members listened patiently and responded thoughtfully, and what they said, in essence was” You are the light of the world… They gently reminded me that it is quite silly to say “I think that I may need to be someone different, to do what God has called me to do.” As though God somehow picked the wrong person. Did I really think that God doesn’t understand me: my struggles or my history or my personality type (which God made, by the way)? They reminded me of the gifts I bring to this ministry. They reminded me of the possibility that deep, and carefully tended relationships may be what is required at this time. They reminded me that when God uses us to bring light to the world for such a time as this. And God knows what God is doing. I wonder though … do you know that you are the light of the world. Do you think that who God made you to be, prevents you from being light? Do you think that your life is too confused right now, there is too much going on for you to be light? Do you think that you need to make changes: to get in shape, to find a job, to fix up your home, to get your kids into college before you can be light? That is not the case, you are already light, to the people you meet every day in your life: teachers, classmates, clinicians, the person working the supermarket checkout, those who are in line to get coffee with you each day. You are the light for them. And, do we think that we, Wollaston Congregational Church, need to get our house in order before we can be light? Do we need to get our permitting and restore our tower, before we can be light in this community? No, we are called to be light, right here, right now. We don’t need to wait for anything. So, let’s remember, this startling plan that God has for the world through Jesus Christ: that we fallen, broken, humanity; we flawed, clueless disciples; we struggling, messy Church; we, constitute the light of that city on a hill. We are that lighthouse for all who are lost in the darkness. This is what has been at work since the beginning of humanity’s fall from relationship with God. And so Jesus, the one who has been with God since the beginning entered the world, and still enters the world, gathers us up and set us on our feet. And then tell us … you are the light of the world . Amen
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