Shining Light

Isaiah 49: 1-7; John 1: 29-42

 

          During worship two Sundays ago, you considered that familiar story of the Magi who followed the light of a bright shining star to that place where Jesus, the Light of the world, had been born.  Paired with that story was the text from Isaiah “Arise, shine, your light has come”.  In today’s Old Testament lectionary text the prominent Epiphany image of light reappears in that second servant song where Isaiah is summarizing his call from God.  God said to Isaiah:

          “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the survivors of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” 

          When I first read that text in preparation for this sermon, I immediately recalled that song I learned in Sunday school: “This Little Light of Mine”.  Like Isaiah we all are called to be lights, not hidden under a bushel; but brightly shining God’s love and mercy into those places of the world dominated by the darkness of hatred and revenge.

          This morning, I will raise three examples of how we can respond to the call to be “a light to the nations,”

          Earlier this month, my mother and I went to Scottdale, Georgia which is where my mother was born, raised and nurtured into the Christian faith and where my brothers, sisters and I enjoyed annual, weeklong visits during the summer. Located eight to ten miles from Atlanta, Scottdale is an old textile mill village which, even in the midst of difficult economic times, projects a certain Norman Rockwell feeling of innocence and happiness.  A wave of pleasant memories floods my mind as we arrive at the small white frame home of my mother’s oldest sister, Toods. My mind’s eye sees the tire swing hanging from the muscular branch of an old oak tree that still stands in Aunt Toods’ side yard.   My brothers, sisters and I are taking turns sitting in the swing, being pushed through the air, refreshed by the breeze.   Inside, as I see and feel the sturdy oak dining room table, I picture aunts, uncles and cousins seated around it and hear echoes of the countless conversations enjoyed there.  I remember the sounds of meal time laughter and, of course, the taste of Aunt Toods’ signature banana pudding that concluded many a meal and the homemade biscuits that greeted us each morning.  As I feel the warmth of the gas powered space heaters, I think how symbolic they are.  They point to the warmth of Aunt Toods’ hospitality and love that still shape and influence my ideas of how life ought to be lived.  Now seeing the lighthouses that she has begun to collect in recent years, I think about Aunt Toods’ life as a beacon, a light drawing me and, only God knows how many others, into a closer relationship with the Lord, into the harbor of God’s grace. In her humility, Aunt Toods deflects any attempts to tell her that her life has been the embodiment of Christ’s love and mercy; but I’m telling you that it has.  I’m telling you about her so that you might consider her humility, hospitality, simple values and virtues as traits we might consider acquiring so that the light of God’s love and mercy might shine a little more brightly from us, that we might count ourselves among the Isaiahs of the world and become a light to the nations.    

          Tomorrow, communities throughout the world will remember Martin Luther King, Jr. as one who championed equality, dignity, justice and peace for people of all races, creeds and colors.  His life gives us reason to pause and celebrate the importance of all of those virtues in this world where wars rage and people live under the weight of oppression, poverty and injustice.    

          On December 10 of 1964, in Oslo, Norway for acceptance of the Nobel Prize for Peace, Dr. King said:

          “I have the audacity to believe that peoples everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture for their minds, and dignity, equality and freedom for their spirits. I believe that what self-centered men have torn down, men other-centered can build up. I still believe that one day mankind will bow before the altars of God and be crowned triumphant over war and bloodshed, and nonviolent redemptive goodwill will proclaim the rule of the land. "And the lion and the lamb shall lie down together and every man shall sit under his own vine and fig tree and none shall be afraid."”[1]

          We may not be inclined or willing to march for civil rights as Dr. King did or to risk our life for such great causes as he did, but we can, like him, work for justice and peace….

          By not laughing when someone tells an inappropriate, off colored joke…by casting a disapproving glare at the person who uses the “N” word… by teaching our children, as my parents taught me during the turbulent sixties, that wonderful song:

 

“Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world, red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in his sight.  Jesus loves the children of the world.”

 

As we promote and protect justice and peace, we become beacons reflecting God’s immanent presence, lights that shine the light of God’s salvation into the world.

Let me raise one more example of how we might respond to God’s call to be a light to the nations.  It arises from the second half of today’s gospel reading. 

Two of John’s disciples, Andrew and Simon, have heard him say “Behold the Lamb of God” and have been so influenced by his testimony about Jesus that they have now begun to follow him. 

After becoming aware that the two are following, Jesus turns and asks them: “What are you seeking?”   In response to Jesus’ question, the two men respond with a question.  “Where are you staying?”  

          They have no desire to know Jesus’ address-the name of his hometown or of the street where his house is located.  Interesting that, in other parts of John’s gospel, the word for ‘staying’ is translated ‘abiding’.  Abide is a prominent word in John’s gospel.  Later Jesus will say, “Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me”.  “Abide in me, as I abide in you,” Jesus will soon exhort his disciples.  The word abide suggests an intimate togetherness in the presence of each other’s company. 

          “Where are you staying?”  In their asking of the question, Andrew and Simon want to know where Jesus’ intimate presence can be seen.  I imagine they are curious about whether or not Jesus will abide with them, will maintain an intimate presence in their lives.

          Jesus responds to their question with a statement: “Come and see”.  Those three words form an invitation to a venture of faith.  Jesus does not say “see, and then come, if you like what you see.”  He says, “Come, even though you cannot envision what I have planned for you.” 

          “Come and see”. It is God’s invitation to us. 

          To any and all who are seeking an intimate relationship with Christ, the invitation is delivered: “Come and see”. Not only is it God’s invitation to us, it is to be our invitation to the world: “Come and see” the ways God’s love is being shared and embodied at First Presbyterian Church; “Come and see” so you might experience the intimate presence of Christ here in our outreach and mission work and in the opportunities we offer for worship, education and fellowship.  “Come and see”.  It is God’s invitation to us and it is to be our invitation to the world. 

          In our delivering of that invitation we, like Isaiah, Aunt Toods and Martin Luther King, Jr, become a light to the nations that God’s salvation may reach the ends of the earth.

          Glory be to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Amen. 

 

Let us pray: Almighty God, by the hand of Moses your servant you led your people out of slavery and made them free at last: Grant that your church may follow in the footsteps of all those in ages past who have worked for justice, peace and reconciliation. Grant that your church might shine the light of your love into the world and thereby draw people to the Christ who bids us to come and see and experience his presence and his love.  Amen.   

 

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