Walking In The Light
Sermon
Sermons on the First Readings
Series II, Cycle C
Walking in the dark is difficult, even in the familiarity of your own home. Furniture has a way of rearranging itself in the dark so that you can whack your shins a little easier. Small, sharp toys crawl out from their hiding places to park themselves in your path. Your dog or cat is stretched out on the carpet, sleeping blissfully until your foot makes contact with a tail or a paw.
At one time or another, most of us have been plunged into darkness involuntarily because of a power outage. Suddenly, we are unable to locate what we need or to accomplish any task or activity, other than catching up on our sleep. All our movements seem painstakingly slow as we grapple with the impediment of unwanted darkness. We can't remember where the flashlight is, and have to feel our way through drawer after drawer, searching for candles and matches.
Darkness robs us of our sight and leaves us vulnerable to attack. Our imaginations can run wild amid frightening thoughts of what lurks in the darkness of our surroundings. Then, relief and thankfulness flood over us when power is finally restored.
Children are sometimes afraid of the dark and lose their sense of security when it's time for lights out. Nightlights prove to be a tremendous blessing for our young ones at bedtime. Many of these nightlight bulbs resemble Christmas tree lights. There is something about seeing the glow of Christmas tree lights in a dark room that lifts our hearts and gives us hope. In the same way, there is something about one small nightlight in a dark room that gives a child peaceful rest.
As comforting as they may be, nightlights are not a satisfactory substitute for a 100-watt light bulb on the ceiling. But, night-lights do serve to remind us that there is a brighter light in existence. As Christians, we are called to glow like nightlights in the midst of a dark world, witnessing to the fact that there is a much greater light. Jesus is indeed the light of the world, healing our spiritual blindness, so that others might see the light through us.
The Israelites, as descendants of Abraham, were chosen by God to be a light to the nations. Christ has come into the world as the light no darkness can overcome (John 1:5). The early church intended for all the world to know that Christ was its light, as God's message proclaimed salvation to all people and nations. Christ, the light of the world, is represented by the star which led the Magi to Bethlehem.
Light is an attention-grabber. Just as many flying insects are attracted to light, bright or unusual lights also attract people. Neon lights with their peculiar shapes and colors, strobe lights, and even candlelight, all have a distinct fascination, especially when seen against a backdrop of darkness. And, who hasn't been wowed by a spectacular laser light show? "Lasertainment" is here to stay.
On a clear night in Chile, the stars of the southern hemisphere glisten brightly. The wonder of God's creative power is fully displayed in the innumerable luminaries flung across the limitless reaches of space. On a starry night one January, Chilean missionaries had gathered near the ocean for a retreat. During a break, they all watched as two luminaries moving in opposite directions crossed in the velvet black sky overhead and then disappeared.
Were they a sign from heaven? Were they two comets speeding through the cosmos? No, they were two space satellites, one American and the other Russian, racing around the earth in their orbits. Eerie, beautiful, mysterious, and silent in their journey, they captivated the missionaries who were watching.1
The Magi must have experienced that same awe and excitement 2,000 years ago as they observed a most unusual star moving in the western sky. This "star of wonder, star of light, star of wondrous beauty bright" led them westward toward Bethlehem in search of a new king. By contrast, that same star greatly troubled and unnerved King Herod.
In Mark Twain's story of The Prince and the Pauper, the crown prince and a peasant trade places. The exchange of roles between the future king and another young man who looks like him is easily accomplished because of our preconceived expectations surrounding royalty. Princes live in palaces, and paupers live in poverty. Princes wear regal attire, while paupers wear peasant apparel. Princes act with assertiveness in the limelight, and paupers move largely unnoticed in the shadows of their everyday tasks. If we fail to look beyond what seems obvious, we may miss out on what is actually taking place.
To find a child who will become king, of course, we look toward a palace. When the Magi arrive in the city of Jerusalem, it is only natural they would go to King Herod. They expect to find this new infant king in the palace, but King Herod knows nothing of the birth. Herod learns from those in the know that God's prophet, Micah, had said the king would come from Bethlehem, so he sends the Magi there.
The star they had seen earlier leads the Magi from the palace in Jerusalem, to the place where the young child is. Without God's leading through scripture and star, they could not have found the king whom they sought. If they had not trusted the revelation given to them, they would have continued to inquire in the wrong place.
The prophet Isaiah offers encouragement to us today with his prophecy of the coming light. Jesus, the light of the world, appears in the black night of our sin and despair, showing us the way out. Indeed, he was, and is the only way out. This light continues to attract all nations, because forgiveness and hope are found in Christ. When we follow this light, we don't move toward our destruction, but instead toward salvation.
Amid the darkness that threatens to engulf the world, among the lost that we encounter every day, God has set perfect light. In the confusion of a million clamoring claims on our hearts, God has set perfect light. In places where people live distressed or desperate lives, God has set perfect light.
Jesus reminds us again, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life" (John 8:12). The light breaks into darkness as God's grace comes into the world to offer hope and joy to those trapped in the darkness of sin. The saints of God are assured that "... there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light" (Revelation 22:5).
Many churches have placed a vigil candle in their chancels. This light burns 24 hours a day, seven days a week, all year long. In other words, it is an eternal flame. Christ lights our paths to one another, even when our dreams and our very lives seem to plunge into darkness. Broken relationships, illness, and grief from losses are as disorienting to our everyday lives as trying to walk through unfamiliar darkness.
On a quiet, somber night, Sam walked into the darkened church. He found his way down the center aisle easily. Over the years, he had come to know this building well. In countless times and ways, he had heard and shared the Word of God there.
Tonight, Sam came alone. He had lost his job and was devastated. Let go after almost twenty years with the company, he had grown increasingly discouraged in the months that followed. His prospects were few, and he felt he was letting his family down. Angry about his circumstances, he was losing self-confidence.
Sam entered the sanctuary, welcoming its silence and darkness. As much as he enjoyed and appreciated his friends at the church, he had hoped not to meet any of them tonight.
In the darkness, only one small point of light gleamed, the glow of the vigil candle, the eternal light. This light, which hung above the chancel, gave him focus. As he walked forward, comforted by the familiar smell and feel of the room, he lowered the weight of his body and life into a pew near the front. There, he sat and wept. In the comfort of God's house and in the anonymity of darkness, he let himself be honest and hurting before God.
In the darkness, he remembered the Word of God, "I will not leave you comfortless."The candle in the front of the church, with its steady glow, reminded him of the constant light of God's presence that had shone in the lives of faithful believers throughout the centuries. The light shone in the darkness to remind him that God would always be with him. He would be able to go on.2
"Arise, shine, for your light has come." Follow God's light to the manger, to the cross, and the empty tomb, to find the one who alone qualifies to be the king of our lives. May your life be a light, a flame that burns so brightly that it also kindles others.
The world is a dark place for so many of God's children. Put your time and talent to work for the good of the community. In doing so, you are helping the world by letting your light shine. There is a great deal of injustice and violence in the world, as well as darkness. Make it your personal mission to light a candle. Any positive action you take adds more light and dispels some of the darkness. The world needs all the illumination it can get, and you, my friends, are the sparks that will light our way to a brighter future.
The Epiphany season is upon us. God's signs and God's Word still beckon us to come to Jesus and to worship him as our king. Walk in the light. Come, you starry-eyed stargazers. Come to the inextinguishable blaze. Once you have seen this star, the memory will not fade. Our surprising God still remakes our impossible into new possibilities, enabling us to "shine like stars in the world"(Philippians 2:15).
__________
1. Woodrow Phillips, "The Wise Men Worship Jesus," in Standard Lesson Commentary (Cincinnati: The Standard Publishing Company, 1994), p. 148.
2. Augsburg Fortress Weekly Church Bulletin, Second Sunday after Christmas (Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 1991), 9211-C.
At one time or another, most of us have been plunged into darkness involuntarily because of a power outage. Suddenly, we are unable to locate what we need or to accomplish any task or activity, other than catching up on our sleep. All our movements seem painstakingly slow as we grapple with the impediment of unwanted darkness. We can't remember where the flashlight is, and have to feel our way through drawer after drawer, searching for candles and matches.
Darkness robs us of our sight and leaves us vulnerable to attack. Our imaginations can run wild amid frightening thoughts of what lurks in the darkness of our surroundings. Then, relief and thankfulness flood over us when power is finally restored.
Children are sometimes afraid of the dark and lose their sense of security when it's time for lights out. Nightlights prove to be a tremendous blessing for our young ones at bedtime. Many of these nightlight bulbs resemble Christmas tree lights. There is something about seeing the glow of Christmas tree lights in a dark room that lifts our hearts and gives us hope. In the same way, there is something about one small nightlight in a dark room that gives a child peaceful rest.
As comforting as they may be, nightlights are not a satisfactory substitute for a 100-watt light bulb on the ceiling. But, night-lights do serve to remind us that there is a brighter light in existence. As Christians, we are called to glow like nightlights in the midst of a dark world, witnessing to the fact that there is a much greater light. Jesus is indeed the light of the world, healing our spiritual blindness, so that others might see the light through us.
The Israelites, as descendants of Abraham, were chosen by God to be a light to the nations. Christ has come into the world as the light no darkness can overcome (John 1:5). The early church intended for all the world to know that Christ was its light, as God's message proclaimed salvation to all people and nations. Christ, the light of the world, is represented by the star which led the Magi to Bethlehem.
Light is an attention-grabber. Just as many flying insects are attracted to light, bright or unusual lights also attract people. Neon lights with their peculiar shapes and colors, strobe lights, and even candlelight, all have a distinct fascination, especially when seen against a backdrop of darkness. And, who hasn't been wowed by a spectacular laser light show? "Lasertainment" is here to stay.
On a clear night in Chile, the stars of the southern hemisphere glisten brightly. The wonder of God's creative power is fully displayed in the innumerable luminaries flung across the limitless reaches of space. On a starry night one January, Chilean missionaries had gathered near the ocean for a retreat. During a break, they all watched as two luminaries moving in opposite directions crossed in the velvet black sky overhead and then disappeared.
Were they a sign from heaven? Were they two comets speeding through the cosmos? No, they were two space satellites, one American and the other Russian, racing around the earth in their orbits. Eerie, beautiful, mysterious, and silent in their journey, they captivated the missionaries who were watching.1
The Magi must have experienced that same awe and excitement 2,000 years ago as they observed a most unusual star moving in the western sky. This "star of wonder, star of light, star of wondrous beauty bright" led them westward toward Bethlehem in search of a new king. By contrast, that same star greatly troubled and unnerved King Herod.
In Mark Twain's story of The Prince and the Pauper, the crown prince and a peasant trade places. The exchange of roles between the future king and another young man who looks like him is easily accomplished because of our preconceived expectations surrounding royalty. Princes live in palaces, and paupers live in poverty. Princes wear regal attire, while paupers wear peasant apparel. Princes act with assertiveness in the limelight, and paupers move largely unnoticed in the shadows of their everyday tasks. If we fail to look beyond what seems obvious, we may miss out on what is actually taking place.
To find a child who will become king, of course, we look toward a palace. When the Magi arrive in the city of Jerusalem, it is only natural they would go to King Herod. They expect to find this new infant king in the palace, but King Herod knows nothing of the birth. Herod learns from those in the know that God's prophet, Micah, had said the king would come from Bethlehem, so he sends the Magi there.
The star they had seen earlier leads the Magi from the palace in Jerusalem, to the place where the young child is. Without God's leading through scripture and star, they could not have found the king whom they sought. If they had not trusted the revelation given to them, they would have continued to inquire in the wrong place.
The prophet Isaiah offers encouragement to us today with his prophecy of the coming light. Jesus, the light of the world, appears in the black night of our sin and despair, showing us the way out. Indeed, he was, and is the only way out. This light continues to attract all nations, because forgiveness and hope are found in Christ. When we follow this light, we don't move toward our destruction, but instead toward salvation.
Amid the darkness that threatens to engulf the world, among the lost that we encounter every day, God has set perfect light. In the confusion of a million clamoring claims on our hearts, God has set perfect light. In places where people live distressed or desperate lives, God has set perfect light.
Jesus reminds us again, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life" (John 8:12). The light breaks into darkness as God's grace comes into the world to offer hope and joy to those trapped in the darkness of sin. The saints of God are assured that "... there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light" (Revelation 22:5).
Many churches have placed a vigil candle in their chancels. This light burns 24 hours a day, seven days a week, all year long. In other words, it is an eternal flame. Christ lights our paths to one another, even when our dreams and our very lives seem to plunge into darkness. Broken relationships, illness, and grief from losses are as disorienting to our everyday lives as trying to walk through unfamiliar darkness.
On a quiet, somber night, Sam walked into the darkened church. He found his way down the center aisle easily. Over the years, he had come to know this building well. In countless times and ways, he had heard and shared the Word of God there.
Tonight, Sam came alone. He had lost his job and was devastated. Let go after almost twenty years with the company, he had grown increasingly discouraged in the months that followed. His prospects were few, and he felt he was letting his family down. Angry about his circumstances, he was losing self-confidence.
Sam entered the sanctuary, welcoming its silence and darkness. As much as he enjoyed and appreciated his friends at the church, he had hoped not to meet any of them tonight.
In the darkness, only one small point of light gleamed, the glow of the vigil candle, the eternal light. This light, which hung above the chancel, gave him focus. As he walked forward, comforted by the familiar smell and feel of the room, he lowered the weight of his body and life into a pew near the front. There, he sat and wept. In the comfort of God's house and in the anonymity of darkness, he let himself be honest and hurting before God.
In the darkness, he remembered the Word of God, "I will not leave you comfortless."The candle in the front of the church, with its steady glow, reminded him of the constant light of God's presence that had shone in the lives of faithful believers throughout the centuries. The light shone in the darkness to remind him that God would always be with him. He would be able to go on.2
"Arise, shine, for your light has come." Follow God's light to the manger, to the cross, and the empty tomb, to find the one who alone qualifies to be the king of our lives. May your life be a light, a flame that burns so brightly that it also kindles others.
The world is a dark place for so many of God's children. Put your time and talent to work for the good of the community. In doing so, you are helping the world by letting your light shine. There is a great deal of injustice and violence in the world, as well as darkness. Make it your personal mission to light a candle. Any positive action you take adds more light and dispels some of the darkness. The world needs all the illumination it can get, and you, my friends, are the sparks that will light our way to a brighter future.
The Epiphany season is upon us. God's signs and God's Word still beckon us to come to Jesus and to worship him as our king. Walk in the light. Come, you starry-eyed stargazers. Come to the inextinguishable blaze. Once you have seen this star, the memory will not fade. Our surprising God still remakes our impossible into new possibilities, enabling us to "shine like stars in the world"(Philippians 2:15).
__________
1. Woodrow Phillips, "The Wise Men Worship Jesus," in Standard Lesson Commentary (Cincinnati: The Standard Publishing Company, 1994), p. 148.
2. Augsburg Fortress Weekly Church Bulletin, Second Sunday after Christmas (Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 1991), 9211-C.
