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You Are, What You Are!

Last week we talked about being that lighthouse that shines our light on Christ in this darkened world. The season of Epiphany is truly a season that focuses on mission and that mission is one of sharing with the world who Jesus is and how Jesus is in each of our lives. The missional emphasis of this season is intended to shine like a beacon of light and hope in the dead of winter. We are constantly being called to bring good news in the middle of this world's not-so-good news.

In our text from Isaiah this week, God is pretty clear what our mission should be, isn’t he? Oh, as Isaiah points out, we, that is the church, most often think it’s our mission to seek justification of our own actions and our own lives. We seek to be righteous in God’s eye, but God says, that is not what he seeks from us. No, according to Isaiah, our focus should not be on ourselves, it should be “to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke” (Isaiah 58:6). He then goes on to say more about what it we are called to do, “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” (58:7). And to top all this off, Isaiah says when we make God’s mission our mission “Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; … Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am” (58:8-9). If we really want to be part of God’s mission, God says, be my beacon of light in this darkened world.

In our adult Sunday school class last Sunday, we were taking about how hard it can be to be a beacon of light that shines on Jesus in this world, because so often we just fail to see Jesus ourselves. And, I get that, it is hard sometimes to see Jesus in this messed up world, but that does not mean Jesus is not there. The problem is not that Jesus is not there, the real issue is we have failed to look for him. We have failed to turn our lights on and shine them on Jesus for the world to see. The issue is with us, not with Jesus. We so often want to say, I cannot be a beacon for Jesus.

For far too long, we have been told that we are not qualified to talk about, preach about, or share Jesus with the world. For too long, the church told us that we did not know enough and that to really know Jesus we had to memorize bible verses and worship in a certain way, but for too long, we never learned to have a real relationship with Jesus in our everyday life. For far too long, we have been told, if you want to find God, go to church. In other words, go to worship on Sunday morning. Now I am not opposed to memorizing bible verses, as long as, as I memorize them, I am doing so because they bring meaning into my life and through them I come to know Christ even more. I am not opposed to coming to worship on Sunday morning, but if I only come because someone told me to and I fail to leave here energized to share my experience with Christ in the world, then I believe, as Amos once said, that God hates and despises my worship (Amos 5:21).

But, in our Gospel story today, Jesus did not say, when you learn more about me you will be a light to the world. He did not say, when you memorize more bible verses, or go to worship more often, you’ll be salt to the world. No, Jesus said, "You are the light of the world. . . . Let your light shine before others" (Matt. 5:14, 16). “You are the salt of the earth…” (5:13). Brothers and sisters we are the light. We are the salt that gives the world its flavor and preserves the church for all the ages. Regardless of what you have heard, Jesus says, you are my light; you are my salt. Through you the world will come to know me and come to taste the joy of being in relationship with me.

I was recently reading an article about how people view themselves and in this article it noted that many psychologists argue that for every negative message elementary-aged children hear about themselves, they need to hear ten positive ones to restore their sense of self-esteem to where it had been previously. Personally, I wonder if the same is true for adults. I know when I hear something negative about myself, it is hard for me to overcome those feelings and concerns. I know when I was young how hard it was when kids called me fat, or called me other names. We so often do become what we are named.

As I mentioned last week, for centuries, the world, including the church told people of color that they were sub-human, not equal to the white race. For centuries women were told they were not equal to men and society treated them as property to be owned. Today, such harsh words continue toward our brothers and sisters in the gay and lesbian community when so many faith communities tell them that are siners and not welcome here as they are. We continue to place labels on people that lead to judgment instead of calling each other brother and sister, light of the world.

Why do we find it necessary to put labels on each other? Why is it so important for us to put others down? Is it so we can build ourselves up? But we do not need to do such things, for we already are, what we are! We are the light of the world. We are the salt of the earth and thorough us, just as we are, we can help others see and taste the LORD in this darkened and tasteless world.

For many in this world, it is very hard to believe that they are welcome anywhere, because for far too long they have been told they are not welcome… Our mission, is God’s mission and during this Season of Epiphany, I pray that each of us may come to see that we are the light that God has placed in the world. We are the salt that preserves God’s goodness and offers flavor to a darkened and tasteless world.

Bothers and sisters, don’t listen to what the world tells you, hear this day the words of your LORD and Savior, Jesus Christ, “Your are the salt of the earth…” and “You are the light of the world…” You are, what you are! Go bring light and flavor into this world. Amen

Tags: Sermons