The Light of Christ

The overwhelming theme of our Scripture readings this morning is about light.  The prophet Isaiah said, “Let your light break forth like the dawn.”  The Psalmist proclaimed “Light shines in the darkness for the upright.”  Jesus said, “You are the light of the world.” 

Christians throughout the world proclaim light in the midst of the darkness of the world, especially the darkness for those who are suffering and oppressed.  The darkness is real; it is the violence that people use against others; it is the discrimination against people of other faith traditions; it is the fear that builds walls to keep immigrants out, and it is the selfish greed that results in social and economic divisions between the richest and poorest people of our communities and nation.

Isaiah said, “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin? Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am.”

Isaiah spoke to the injustices of his day and offered a practical remedy to correct the conditions that perpetuated it.  Jesus also spoke to the problems of his day in proclaiming that his followers were the light of the world. The light of Christ is the way to loosen the bonds of injustice and to let the oppressed go free.  Today, we celebrate the light at the birth of Jesus during the Christmas season, and again during this season of Epiphany as we proclaim that Christ has caused a new light to shine in our hearts, and finally at Easter with the light of Christ’s resurrection from death.

During the great Vigil of Easter we pray to God who has bestowed on us through his Son the “brightness of his light.”  We light a fire in the darkness of night and proclaim the Light of Christ rejoicing in radiant light and resounding with praise.  It is a night of remembering the liberation of Israel from bondage in Egypt; a night when all who believe in Christ are restored to grace and holiness of life; a night when Christ broke the bonds of death and rose victorious from the grave. It is a night when we light candles in God’s honor driving away all darkness as light is bestowed on all creation.

Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lamp-stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”

Brian Maas, a bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, writes, “We too often hide our light—or at least contain its glow—under a bushel basket, fearful that letting it shine farther might make it less bright in our immediate vicinity. It is as though there are corners of God’s world unworthy of the illumination they would know if we let our light be placed on a lamp stand rather than under the security of a basket. We should not be surprised that many would rather stand with others in the darkness than be cursed by light that shines only on some.”

Jesus told his disciples, and he tells us, to be examples to others, examples of God’s ability to change lives. By letting the light to shine for those in need Jesus’ followers will make known and spread God’s power to transform lives. The life of disciples must be visible and it must exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees.

While the scribes and Pharisees were religious and observed the Jewish law, Jesus said their conduct was inadequate for entering the Kingdom of God.  The religion that Jesus preached went beyond the Law; it was the command to love God with heart, soul, mind and strength, and to love the neighbor as one’s self.  His law was love and compassion; and the good news of the gospel goes beyond the law by adding the grace of God.  The point Jesus stressed was that his disciples should respect God’s law of love as he does in order to gain entry into the Kingdom.

There is a lot of darkness and uncertainty around us.  We are living in the midst of people who are anxious and afraid.  They want to build walls of separation and keep people away who are not like themselves.  We should remember that last October, prior to our election Pope Francis said, “The contradiction of those who want to defend Christianity in the West, and, on the other hand, are against refugees and other religions. is something I see in the newspapers and on television every day. The sickness or, you can say the sin, that Jesus condemns most is hypocrisy, which is precisely what is happening when someone claims to be a Christian but does not live according to the teaching of Christ. You cannot be a Christian without living like a Christian.  You cannot be a Christian without practicing the Beatitudes. It’s hypocrisy to call yourself a Christian and chase away a refugee or someone seeking help, someone who is hungry or thirsty, toss out someone who is in need of help.”

What is needed is for people to show how the light of love and compassion, of acceptance and respect, of understanding and reconciliation can transform lives and the larger society.  If we are truly followers of Christ then we can support our culture of pluralism and inclusion.  We must let our light shine before others so that they may see our good works and glorify our God in heaven.  Amen.