God's Illuminating Spirit
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series V, Cycle A
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Isaiah 58:1--9a (9b--12) (C); Isaiah 58:7--10 (RC); Isaiah 58:5--9a (L)
This passage is a dialogue between the pommeled people of Israel and God. The prophet voices the complaints of the people, as well as the Lord's response. This profound passage is from the hand of trito--Isaiah in the sixth century B.C. and the issue is fasting. The people complain that their pious acts of fasting, a sign of sorrow and supplication, are unnoticed by God. God responds that he is looking for a different kind of fasting; instead of appearing sad and lying prostrate, he wants his people to enter into the pain and sorrow of their brothers and sisters. The prophet promises that they will gain the Almighty's attention by showing compassion to the needy and freeing those fettered by the cords of injustice. ''Is not this the fast that I choose; to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke ...'' (v. 6a). Such fasting dispels the pall of gloom with the light of God's Spirit.
Lesson 1: Habakkuk 3:2--6, 17--19 (E)
This Psalm which comes much later than the time of Habakkuk portrays God as showing his wrath against evil doers but saving his chosen people.
Lesson 2: 1 Corinthians 2:1--12 (13--16) (C); 1 Corinthians 2:1--5 (RC, L); 1 Corinthians 2:1--11 (E)
Many of the members of the Corinthian community made extravagant claims of their special and secret wisdom, which Paul disdains to do. He did not come to them with lofty words of wisdom, but in fear and trembling he proclaimed the message of the crucified Christ. The appeal of the gospel was not in its plausible wisdom but in the power of the Spirit which it unleashed. Paul does not deny that the gospel contains wisdom but it is of a different order and only those who possess the Spirit of God can receive it or understand it. Those who do not have the discernment of the Spirit regard the gospel as utter foolishness. The believer can thank God that he has the mind of Christ.
Gospel: Matthew 5:13--20 (C, E, L); Matthew 5:13--16 (RC)
Our Lord teaches his disciples the true importance of their role in God's kingdom, which is far out of proportion with their numbers. As salt, we are to make life savory. As light, we are to dispel the darkness and light the way that leads to the Lord. The transforming power of God's Spirit in our lives cannot exist in a closed circuit but goes out into the world. To be a follower of Christ you cannot exist singly but live in community of witness.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 112:1--10 (C); Psalm 112:4--9 (L) - ''Light shines in the darkness for the upright'' (v. 4).
Psalm 27 (E) - ''The Lord is my light and my salvation'' (v. 1).
Prayer Of The Day
Luminous Spirit, we thank you for placing in us the glow of your glory that increases in brightness as we commune together and as we share your love. Remove from us the grimy film of sin that the gospel light might shine through. In Jesus' name. Amen.
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Isaiah 58:1--9a (9b--12)
Ritual and Righteous Relationships. This passage focuses on the relationship between ritual acts (specifically, fasting) and the relationship of God's people to himself and one another. The people complained that their ritual acts of fasting produced no demonstrable effect in securing God's aid. They mistakenly thought that their ritual acts would obligate God to grant their wishes. Their religion was centered on ritual to the exclusion of relationships. Religion means, literally, that which binds together. Thus, religion is essentially about relationships. The point that Isaiah was trying to make is that relationships are what matter to the Lord. When our actions isolate and imprison people on the borders of society, we can't expect God's favors because ritual and relationships are out of sync. Ritual symbolically portrays the relationship between God and the people and is only valid when it flows from a relationship of trust in God that, in turn, is manifested in relationships of caring for others. Ritual without loving relationships is an attempt to manipulate God.
Urban Renewal. This passage was written at the time when the city of Jerusalem, indeed the very fabric of society, lay in ruins. The prophet gives some excellent advice on how to rebuild and repair the nation in a manner that would bring lasting security. He wisely realized that cities are not composed primarily of streets and buildings but of people and relationships. Urban planners often don't understand this. On the south side of Chicago are row after row of large urban renewal housing projects that are virtual crime zones, where most of the residents live in constant fear of harm and want. You cannot renew society architecturally. Isaiah instructs us how to create a world of shalom. For starters, liberate those in bondage (v. 6). Then, share with those in need (v. 7). The old adage is true: Society is only as strong as its weakest link. Only a society that cares for all of its people (a just society) will remain strong and secure.
In ancient days, cities would attempt to secure their safety by building walls around it but the only thing that it did was to deter an external foe. Most civilizations have been undermined from within by moral corruption and unjust patterns of social relationships. The external foe only served to complete the coupe de grace. Military might alone can never make a society strong and, in fact, often provides a false sense of security. Isaiah challenged his people with the task of reconstructing society with spiritual building blocks using these words: ''Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in'' (v. 12). The breach that the prophet mentions can be taken two ways; the breach in the city walls, which would allow the enemy to enter the city; or it can be better interpreted in light of Isaiah's message, the breach in the structure of society caused by injustice. That is our challenge today: with God's help, to heal and repair the gaping holes in the house of humankind.
Lesson 2: 1 Corinthians 2:1--12 (13--16)
Unsolved mystery. Most people love to read or view a mystery story to see if they can figure out who the villain is. The television show, Unsolved Mysteries, which features real life mysteries, has been on the air for years and is extremely popular. It seems that when confronted with the ultimate mystery, the mystery of God and of being, however, we desire the curtain of
transcendence to be drawn aside. In the New Testament, the word mysterion can be interpreted to mean an open secret or a secret that will ultimately be revealed. Paul often employs it as a synonym for the gospel. The secret of God's plan in Christ is revealed to the disciples whose mission it is, not to keep the secret, but to make it known. Through Christ we have revealed the mystery of God's plan of salvation but God himself remains something of an enigma. If God were fully transparent to us, he would no longer be God; rather, we would ourselves be divine.
God wants to give you a piece of his mind. That's not a bad title for a sermon based on this text (vv. 12--14). Have you heard this one? I've got good news and bad news. The good news is that the Lord is coming tomorrow. The bad is that he's really ticked off. The implication being that God is coming in judgment to give us a piece of his mind. Who hasn't gotten angry at someone and said, ''I'm going to give that jerk a piece of my mind.'' Or, maybe someone has done something to really irk us but we've kept back from giving him a piece of our minds but we fantasize about really dressing that person down, really giving him a piece of our minds. Paul makes a fantastic statement: ''But we have the mind of Christ'' (v. 16b). In other words, God has given us a piece of his mind, not in anger but in love. The gift of the Holy Spirit transforms our minds. Only through the mind of Christ can we understand spiritual realities.
Gospel: Matthew 5:13--20
Salt rather than assault. A man gets fed--up at real or imagined discrimination and takes out a semiautomatic pistol on a New York commuter train and opens fire, killing and wounding several people. Some teenage gang members get into an argument at an Omaha shopping center. Later, one of the disputants is gunned down in the parking lot by a rival gang member. There has been a dramatic rise in youth violence in the past few years and every day we hear stories of innocent people being victims of random violence. The frustrated, the abused and the criminally insane observe much that they dislike in the world and respond with assaults. Christians too look at the world and behold a great deal that disturbs us, but if we follow the Lord's teaching, we will respond with salt. Jesus proclaimed, ''You are the salt of the earth ...'' (v. 13). We don't have salt; we are salt. When we are frustrated, we need to pour out the salt that we are - pour out the patience, the forgiveness, the helpfulness, and the love - which is able to preserve the world and make it a more savory place in which to live. But the salt can lose its savor, according to Jesus, just as Christians can lose their saltness, by getting mixed up with salt--substitutes. All that looks like salt is not necessarily the real thing.
You are the light of the world (v. 14). Salt is made to be tasted; light is that which enables us to see and to be seen. The ''you'' that Jesus refers to in these two metaphors are his disciples. The image is communal. Together we are salt and light when we are in Christ. As with the salt, the light is to benefit others; it is not to be hidden but put in the public place so that all can see. The Lord told his disciples: ''Let your light so shine before others that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven'' (v. 16). The light that we are is a gift from God and not a result of our good works. Strictly speaking, what Jesus is pointing to are good fruits rather than good works. Good fruits are products of the light while good works can sometimes be viewed as attempts to generate the kind of light which makes one noticed. We are called to let the spirit of Christ shine within us so that others can see that the good that we do is an outgrowth of the light of God.
PREACHING APPROACHES WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
Lesson 1: Isaiah 58:1--9a (9b--12)
Sermon Title: Connections
Sermon Angle: Isaiah devalues religious ritual that doesn't make loving connections with other human beings. Relationships are the main issue here. Studies have shown that most
Christians are not able to translate their relationship with God to everyday relationships. This sermon will explore how connections can be made between the sacred and the ordinary.
Outline:
Introduction - Do you ever feel that the things we do here on Sunday don't connect with what you do the rest of the week? You are not alone. In fact, Isaiah highlights that very problem. He condemns the isolation of religion from daily life. How can we change this sad state of affairs?
1. Establish a strong relationship with the Lord
2. Express that relationship formally in authentic ritual or worship (ritual that expresses your inner relationship with God and your outer relationship with others)
3. Express that relationship informally through loving human contacts
George Gallup discovered that people are less inclined to affiliate with the institutional church today than they were a decade ago, even though more of them confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. He theorizes that one important reason is that most people cannot make the connection between Christian faith and daily life and the churches are not equipped to help them. Gallup holds up the prospect of some significant membership growth in the 90s if we can help people integrate faith and life.
Lesson 2: 1 Corinthians 2:1--12 (13--16)
Sermon Title: I've Got A Secret
Sermon Angle: Paul speaks of the mystery which he proclaimed by word and deed. The word mysterion does not translate to the common conception of the word - a complicated plot, difficult to figure out. The word mystery means secret. God's plan of salvation was mainly a secret until Christ came along. Now, the secret is ours but not everybody knows it. Back in the 50s, a popular quiz show was called I've Got A Secret. The guests on the show had done something unusual, like swimming the English Channel, and the panel would ask the guest yes or no questions that would enable them to solve the mystery within the allotted time. Everyone loves secrets and we have the greatest secret of all - God loves and forgives you.
Outline:
1. We all have secrets. Such secrets are often concealments of the dark side of human nature, things that might make us or others look bad.
- for wholeness, such secrets must be exposed and faced
- some people delight in passing on bad news because of malevolent reasons
2. Good news is impossible to keep secret. (Give examples)
3. The Church has been entrusted with the mystery (the secret) of the gospel.
- how can we hold back?
- make the secret known and live in such a way that others will be itching to know our secret
Gospel: Matthew 5:13--20
Sermon Title: An Illuminating Spirit
Sermon Angle: Jesus said that his followers were light and that our function is to shine before others. However, you have to be turned on before you can emit light. Christ has given us his Spirit, an illuminating Spirit. That Spirit is our baptismal gift which we have to share in the present moral and spiritual darkness.
Outline:
1. Talk about the primacy of light, the importance of light
- no life without light
- no seeing without light
- no color without light
2. In order for us to live eternally, we must receive the light of Christ
- God is the source of light
- we merely receive and reflect the light
3. Let the light of Christ shine through you
In a program on TBS on the subject of alternative means of healing, there was a feature on a community in northern California, called Stonecroft. The tiny community is composed of several Roman Catholic priests and nuns who are providing a family for orphaned children with AIDS. To support their endeavor, they raise Christmas trees. Here is a community dedicated to the proposition that their purpose is to provide life and light in the midst of certain death. They are willing to love even though they will surely lose the objects of their affection. It's not a big program that is going to affect millions; it is a tiny lamp that barely penetrates the darkness, but it is a light. It is a witness to others that they too can light up the corners of their world and the light will spread and intensify. Maybe that's what President Bush hoped for with his thousand points of light program. Of course, we know where the light comes from: the Word that became flesh. As we receive Christ, we become torch bearers for God. If every Christian would light just one little candle, what a bright world this would be.
Viktor Frankl, the father of logo therapy, had a psychiatric practice in Vienna, Austria, when he was interned by the Nazis for being a Jew. Through his sufferings and by observing the suffering of others he came to the truth that a person can put up with anything if she has some purpose or meaning for which to live. A purpose that kept Frankl going was to write of his experience. In his book, Man's Search For Meaning, he tells how a distant light helped him through the hellish darkness of his incarceration. The camp was the picture of ugliness with its squalid dormitories, smoke spewing crematoriums, and treeless grounds bounded by barbed wire. The apparent hopelessness of the situation caused many to give up the ghost in despair. But in the distance, there was a house surrounded by trees. Early in the morning on cold winter days, the glow emitting from that farmhouse served as a beacon of hope. Frankl envisioned a normal family gathered around the hearth. The lights had not gone out in all the world and one day the present darkness would be overcome by the light.
In Florence, Italy, over five centuries ago, the architect of a great cathedral built into the edifice a most ingenious device for determining whether the edifice has shifted on its foundation. A brass plate was built into the floor so that when the sun descended through a particular portal at a specific time on June 21st of each year, it would beam for a few minutes off of the plate. Should the sun fail to strike the plate, it would be a sure sign the foundation had shifted. So far, every sunny June 21st, the sun has not failed to illuminate the brass plate. If we are in proper relationship with the Son of God, we will reflect the light of his love and grace, not only for a few minutes but every day. If we linger in the darkness, it is a sign that our spiritual foundation has shifted.
Lesson 1: Isaiah 58:1--9a (9b--12) (C); Isaiah 58:7--10 (RC); Isaiah 58:5--9a (L)
This passage is a dialogue between the pommeled people of Israel and God. The prophet voices the complaints of the people, as well as the Lord's response. This profound passage is from the hand of trito--Isaiah in the sixth century B.C. and the issue is fasting. The people complain that their pious acts of fasting, a sign of sorrow and supplication, are unnoticed by God. God responds that he is looking for a different kind of fasting; instead of appearing sad and lying prostrate, he wants his people to enter into the pain and sorrow of their brothers and sisters. The prophet promises that they will gain the Almighty's attention by showing compassion to the needy and freeing those fettered by the cords of injustice. ''Is not this the fast that I choose; to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke ...'' (v. 6a). Such fasting dispels the pall of gloom with the light of God's Spirit.
Lesson 1: Habakkuk 3:2--6, 17--19 (E)
This Psalm which comes much later than the time of Habakkuk portrays God as showing his wrath against evil doers but saving his chosen people.
Lesson 2: 1 Corinthians 2:1--12 (13--16) (C); 1 Corinthians 2:1--5 (RC, L); 1 Corinthians 2:1--11 (E)
Many of the members of the Corinthian community made extravagant claims of their special and secret wisdom, which Paul disdains to do. He did not come to them with lofty words of wisdom, but in fear and trembling he proclaimed the message of the crucified Christ. The appeal of the gospel was not in its plausible wisdom but in the power of the Spirit which it unleashed. Paul does not deny that the gospel contains wisdom but it is of a different order and only those who possess the Spirit of God can receive it or understand it. Those who do not have the discernment of the Spirit regard the gospel as utter foolishness. The believer can thank God that he has the mind of Christ.
Gospel: Matthew 5:13--20 (C, E, L); Matthew 5:13--16 (RC)
Our Lord teaches his disciples the true importance of their role in God's kingdom, which is far out of proportion with their numbers. As salt, we are to make life savory. As light, we are to dispel the darkness and light the way that leads to the Lord. The transforming power of God's Spirit in our lives cannot exist in a closed circuit but goes out into the world. To be a follower of Christ you cannot exist singly but live in community of witness.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 112:1--10 (C); Psalm 112:4--9 (L) - ''Light shines in the darkness for the upright'' (v. 4).
Psalm 27 (E) - ''The Lord is my light and my salvation'' (v. 1).
Prayer Of The Day
Luminous Spirit, we thank you for placing in us the glow of your glory that increases in brightness as we commune together and as we share your love. Remove from us the grimy film of sin that the gospel light might shine through. In Jesus' name. Amen.
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Isaiah 58:1--9a (9b--12)
Ritual and Righteous Relationships. This passage focuses on the relationship between ritual acts (specifically, fasting) and the relationship of God's people to himself and one another. The people complained that their ritual acts of fasting produced no demonstrable effect in securing God's aid. They mistakenly thought that their ritual acts would obligate God to grant their wishes. Their religion was centered on ritual to the exclusion of relationships. Religion means, literally, that which binds together. Thus, religion is essentially about relationships. The point that Isaiah was trying to make is that relationships are what matter to the Lord. When our actions isolate and imprison people on the borders of society, we can't expect God's favors because ritual and relationships are out of sync. Ritual symbolically portrays the relationship between God and the people and is only valid when it flows from a relationship of trust in God that, in turn, is manifested in relationships of caring for others. Ritual without loving relationships is an attempt to manipulate God.
Urban Renewal. This passage was written at the time when the city of Jerusalem, indeed the very fabric of society, lay in ruins. The prophet gives some excellent advice on how to rebuild and repair the nation in a manner that would bring lasting security. He wisely realized that cities are not composed primarily of streets and buildings but of people and relationships. Urban planners often don't understand this. On the south side of Chicago are row after row of large urban renewal housing projects that are virtual crime zones, where most of the residents live in constant fear of harm and want. You cannot renew society architecturally. Isaiah instructs us how to create a world of shalom. For starters, liberate those in bondage (v. 6). Then, share with those in need (v. 7). The old adage is true: Society is only as strong as its weakest link. Only a society that cares for all of its people (a just society) will remain strong and secure.
In ancient days, cities would attempt to secure their safety by building walls around it but the only thing that it did was to deter an external foe. Most civilizations have been undermined from within by moral corruption and unjust patterns of social relationships. The external foe only served to complete the coupe de grace. Military might alone can never make a society strong and, in fact, often provides a false sense of security. Isaiah challenged his people with the task of reconstructing society with spiritual building blocks using these words: ''Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in'' (v. 12). The breach that the prophet mentions can be taken two ways; the breach in the city walls, which would allow the enemy to enter the city; or it can be better interpreted in light of Isaiah's message, the breach in the structure of society caused by injustice. That is our challenge today: with God's help, to heal and repair the gaping holes in the house of humankind.
Lesson 2: 1 Corinthians 2:1--12 (13--16)
Unsolved mystery. Most people love to read or view a mystery story to see if they can figure out who the villain is. The television show, Unsolved Mysteries, which features real life mysteries, has been on the air for years and is extremely popular. It seems that when confronted with the ultimate mystery, the mystery of God and of being, however, we desire the curtain of
transcendence to be drawn aside. In the New Testament, the word mysterion can be interpreted to mean an open secret or a secret that will ultimately be revealed. Paul often employs it as a synonym for the gospel. The secret of God's plan in Christ is revealed to the disciples whose mission it is, not to keep the secret, but to make it known. Through Christ we have revealed the mystery of God's plan of salvation but God himself remains something of an enigma. If God were fully transparent to us, he would no longer be God; rather, we would ourselves be divine.
God wants to give you a piece of his mind. That's not a bad title for a sermon based on this text (vv. 12--14). Have you heard this one? I've got good news and bad news. The good news is that the Lord is coming tomorrow. The bad is that he's really ticked off. The implication being that God is coming in judgment to give us a piece of his mind. Who hasn't gotten angry at someone and said, ''I'm going to give that jerk a piece of my mind.'' Or, maybe someone has done something to really irk us but we've kept back from giving him a piece of our minds but we fantasize about really dressing that person down, really giving him a piece of our minds. Paul makes a fantastic statement: ''But we have the mind of Christ'' (v. 16b). In other words, God has given us a piece of his mind, not in anger but in love. The gift of the Holy Spirit transforms our minds. Only through the mind of Christ can we understand spiritual realities.
Gospel: Matthew 5:13--20
Salt rather than assault. A man gets fed--up at real or imagined discrimination and takes out a semiautomatic pistol on a New York commuter train and opens fire, killing and wounding several people. Some teenage gang members get into an argument at an Omaha shopping center. Later, one of the disputants is gunned down in the parking lot by a rival gang member. There has been a dramatic rise in youth violence in the past few years and every day we hear stories of innocent people being victims of random violence. The frustrated, the abused and the criminally insane observe much that they dislike in the world and respond with assaults. Christians too look at the world and behold a great deal that disturbs us, but if we follow the Lord's teaching, we will respond with salt. Jesus proclaimed, ''You are the salt of the earth ...'' (v. 13). We don't have salt; we are salt. When we are frustrated, we need to pour out the salt that we are - pour out the patience, the forgiveness, the helpfulness, and the love - which is able to preserve the world and make it a more savory place in which to live. But the salt can lose its savor, according to Jesus, just as Christians can lose their saltness, by getting mixed up with salt--substitutes. All that looks like salt is not necessarily the real thing.
You are the light of the world (v. 14). Salt is made to be tasted; light is that which enables us to see and to be seen. The ''you'' that Jesus refers to in these two metaphors are his disciples. The image is communal. Together we are salt and light when we are in Christ. As with the salt, the light is to benefit others; it is not to be hidden but put in the public place so that all can see. The Lord told his disciples: ''Let your light so shine before others that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven'' (v. 16). The light that we are is a gift from God and not a result of our good works. Strictly speaking, what Jesus is pointing to are good fruits rather than good works. Good fruits are products of the light while good works can sometimes be viewed as attempts to generate the kind of light which makes one noticed. We are called to let the spirit of Christ shine within us so that others can see that the good that we do is an outgrowth of the light of God.
PREACHING APPROACHES WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
Lesson 1: Isaiah 58:1--9a (9b--12)
Sermon Title: Connections
Sermon Angle: Isaiah devalues religious ritual that doesn't make loving connections with other human beings. Relationships are the main issue here. Studies have shown that most
Christians are not able to translate their relationship with God to everyday relationships. This sermon will explore how connections can be made between the sacred and the ordinary.
Outline:
Introduction - Do you ever feel that the things we do here on Sunday don't connect with what you do the rest of the week? You are not alone. In fact, Isaiah highlights that very problem. He condemns the isolation of religion from daily life. How can we change this sad state of affairs?
1. Establish a strong relationship with the Lord
2. Express that relationship formally in authentic ritual or worship (ritual that expresses your inner relationship with God and your outer relationship with others)
3. Express that relationship informally through loving human contacts
George Gallup discovered that people are less inclined to affiliate with the institutional church today than they were a decade ago, even though more of them confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. He theorizes that one important reason is that most people cannot make the connection between Christian faith and daily life and the churches are not equipped to help them. Gallup holds up the prospect of some significant membership growth in the 90s if we can help people integrate faith and life.
Lesson 2: 1 Corinthians 2:1--12 (13--16)
Sermon Title: I've Got A Secret
Sermon Angle: Paul speaks of the mystery which he proclaimed by word and deed. The word mysterion does not translate to the common conception of the word - a complicated plot, difficult to figure out. The word mystery means secret. God's plan of salvation was mainly a secret until Christ came along. Now, the secret is ours but not everybody knows it. Back in the 50s, a popular quiz show was called I've Got A Secret. The guests on the show had done something unusual, like swimming the English Channel, and the panel would ask the guest yes or no questions that would enable them to solve the mystery within the allotted time. Everyone loves secrets and we have the greatest secret of all - God loves and forgives you.
Outline:
1. We all have secrets. Such secrets are often concealments of the dark side of human nature, things that might make us or others look bad.
- for wholeness, such secrets must be exposed and faced
- some people delight in passing on bad news because of malevolent reasons
2. Good news is impossible to keep secret. (Give examples)
3. The Church has been entrusted with the mystery (the secret) of the gospel.
- how can we hold back?
- make the secret known and live in such a way that others will be itching to know our secret
Gospel: Matthew 5:13--20
Sermon Title: An Illuminating Spirit
Sermon Angle: Jesus said that his followers were light and that our function is to shine before others. However, you have to be turned on before you can emit light. Christ has given us his Spirit, an illuminating Spirit. That Spirit is our baptismal gift which we have to share in the present moral and spiritual darkness.
Outline:
1. Talk about the primacy of light, the importance of light
- no life without light
- no seeing without light
- no color without light
2. In order for us to live eternally, we must receive the light of Christ
- God is the source of light
- we merely receive and reflect the light
3. Let the light of Christ shine through you
In a program on TBS on the subject of alternative means of healing, there was a feature on a community in northern California, called Stonecroft. The tiny community is composed of several Roman Catholic priests and nuns who are providing a family for orphaned children with AIDS. To support their endeavor, they raise Christmas trees. Here is a community dedicated to the proposition that their purpose is to provide life and light in the midst of certain death. They are willing to love even though they will surely lose the objects of their affection. It's not a big program that is going to affect millions; it is a tiny lamp that barely penetrates the darkness, but it is a light. It is a witness to others that they too can light up the corners of their world and the light will spread and intensify. Maybe that's what President Bush hoped for with his thousand points of light program. Of course, we know where the light comes from: the Word that became flesh. As we receive Christ, we become torch bearers for God. If every Christian would light just one little candle, what a bright world this would be.
Viktor Frankl, the father of logo therapy, had a psychiatric practice in Vienna, Austria, when he was interned by the Nazis for being a Jew. Through his sufferings and by observing the suffering of others he came to the truth that a person can put up with anything if she has some purpose or meaning for which to live. A purpose that kept Frankl going was to write of his experience. In his book, Man's Search For Meaning, he tells how a distant light helped him through the hellish darkness of his incarceration. The camp was the picture of ugliness with its squalid dormitories, smoke spewing crematoriums, and treeless grounds bounded by barbed wire. The apparent hopelessness of the situation caused many to give up the ghost in despair. But in the distance, there was a house surrounded by trees. Early in the morning on cold winter days, the glow emitting from that farmhouse served as a beacon of hope. Frankl envisioned a normal family gathered around the hearth. The lights had not gone out in all the world and one day the present darkness would be overcome by the light.
In Florence, Italy, over five centuries ago, the architect of a great cathedral built into the edifice a most ingenious device for determining whether the edifice has shifted on its foundation. A brass plate was built into the floor so that when the sun descended through a particular portal at a specific time on June 21st of each year, it would beam for a few minutes off of the plate. Should the sun fail to strike the plate, it would be a sure sign the foundation had shifted. So far, every sunny June 21st, the sun has not failed to illuminate the brass plate. If we are in proper relationship with the Son of God, we will reflect the light of his love and grace, not only for a few minutes but every day. If we linger in the darkness, it is a sign that our spiritual foundation has shifted.
