Let the Lower Lights be Burning

MATTHEW 5:14-16 

You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. 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.  

HOMILY

“Christ the Upper Light, We His Lower Lights” 

Dear fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, tonight is special. The Sanctuary is nearly full  and our faces are aglow with the joy of Christmas. 

As we gather together to sing, read Scripture and light candles, the voice of the prophet  Isaiah still rings out his clarion call which Sharon read just moments ago: “Arise, shine,  for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.” 

And Jesus adds His own unforgettable words which Susan read from our Gospel lesson: “You are the light of the world… Let your light so shine before others so that they may  see your good works and glorify the Father in heaven.” 

A message from the Old Testament and a message from the New Testament stand side by  side. 

Christ is the LIGHT—and yet you and I, together, make up the light of the world. 

But the relationship between the two lights is clear: Christ is the Upper Light—the source  of all light….the sun, the blazing glory of God.

And we? Well we are the lower lights—lamps, candles, small but shining reflections of  His glory.

1. Christ the Upper Light

Isaiah describes the world as covered in darkness— deep, thick soul-abscuring darkness.  Yet into that darkness, God sends His own Light. Not a flicker. Not a spark. But the full  glorious brilliance of heaven. 

Christ IS that Light. 

He reveals God. 

He exposes falsehood and declares truth. 

He guides us into the way of peace. 

And because He is the Upper Light, every lower light we hold tonight is borrowed light —gifted light—reflected light. Just as the moon reflects the sun, we reflect Christ. 

As the beloved hymn which we will soon sing declares:  

“Silent night, holy night, Son of God, love’s PURE light.” 

2. We Are the Lower Lights 

Jesus says, “You are the light of the world.” Not light in ourselves, but we are light because HIS light shines through us. 

We might think our candles are too small. We might see our influence as too weak. We might perceive our witness to be too modest. But even the smallest flame changes a dark room. Even one candle drives back the night. So WE should NOT underestimate OUR lights. 

In Matthew 5, Jesus warns not to hide the light. He tells us not to place our light under a  bushel basket. In other words, we are not to bury our light under fear, or shame, or  weariness. Instead we are encouraged to lift up our light so it can be seen by all those  around us. 

And yet, the places where we struggle most to shine are often the places closest to us…in  our homes, in our marriages, with our children, and in the circles where people KNOW us  best. 

It is easy to shine in public where expectations are clear and where distance hides our  flaws. 

It is much, more difficult to shine at home—to shine where impatience slips out, to shine 

where fatigue weakens our resolve, to shine where old wounds cast long shadows. 

But light must begin at home. The love of Christ must show first in our closest  relationships, with those we see every day. The gentleness of Christ must show in how  we speak to one another when things are going well and when thing are not going well at all.

The forgiveness of Christ must show in how we reconcile with one another whether the  devision is short term or long term. The joy of Christ must be visible in our laughter, in  our prayers, and in everyone of our shared times together. And if our light flickers or  almost goes out, we must ask God to rekindle it immediately. Ask and you we receive  His help. 

A house lit by the glow of Christ’s love becomes a lighthouse for others.

3. Light Dispels the Darkness 

Every candle we hold testifies that darkness is real—but the same candle also declares  that darkness is NOT victorious. For sure their are dark days; very dark days. Sometimes  they last into the night.  

But the great poet, David the Giant slayer, tells us in one of his best psalms. “Weeping  may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning”.  

Sometimes our night will only last 8 hours. Sometime it may last 6 months. But whether  the night be short or long, God’s promise is that LIGHT COMES IN THE MORNING.  

Light is the great incentive. Light reveals dishonesty, and so we are motivated to tell the  truth. 

Light shines on our sin, and so we are motivated to confess our sins.  Light uncovers old bitterness, so we are motivated to let the bitterness go.  Light reveals an unforgiving heart, so we are motivated to offer forgiveness.  

That same light also reveals beauty:  

It reveals the beauty of love that heals our broken hearts. It reveals the beauty of joy that 

carries us above our disappointments.  

It fosters the beauty of peace that calms the storms of our life. And it gives us the beauty  of hope that spins us on our way forward even when we are halted for a spell.  

4. A Child’s Light in a Dark Season 

I am reminded of a moment during seminary—a season when finances were low, the days  were long, and the weight of responsibility felt heavy upon my family. In that difficult  time, our young daughter decided to give her daddy a Christmas gift. 

She took pieces of paper and wrote on them the four great themes of Advent: Hope.  Peace. Joy and Love. Then she wrapped each one in paper; and on Christmas Day she  placed them in my hands. 

No money. No store-bought item. No elaborate wrapping. Just four words representing  four great lights. Her handwriting may have been a bit irregular and not in perfect  alignment; but it was a perfect gift for me, her daddy.  

Her simple gift illuminated a season overshadowed by stress and strain. It brightened me.  It brightened our home. It reminded us that one small light can transform the atmosphere  of an entire family. 

And that is what we are all called to do. Even the smallest act of love shines with the  glory of Christ. 

As the old Gospel hymn puts it: 

“Brightly beams our Father’s mercy, from His lighthouse evermore; But to us He gives  the keeping of the lights along the shore. Let the lower lights be burning. Send a gleam  across the wave. Some poor fainting, struggling seaman, you may rescue, you may save.  

Christ is the lighthouse—the Upper Light. We are the lights along the shore—lower,  smaller, but essential lights. 

Without the lower lights, sailors lose their way. Without your light, someone close to you  may lose their way. 

5. Conclusion: Let Your Light Shine 

In a moment we will pass the flame from candle to candle. And as that warm light  spreads, remember: We are not the source. Christ is the source. 

But we are the bearer of His light. Let us shine first in our homes. Let us shine in our  marriages. Let us shine in our parenting. Let us shine in forgiveness. And let us shine in  truth, in kindness a in compassion. 

Let us NOT hide our light. Let us NOT minimize our light. Let us NOT underestimate  our light. 

The world is dark place. We can dispel the darkness; beginning in our home. Christ, the Upper Light, is shining on us—now let us, the lower lights, shine on others. And to God  be the glory forever and forever. Amen.