February 5, 2023, Congratulations! You Are the Light of the World, Matthew 5:14-16 – Mtr. Kathryn Boswell

♦ February 5, 2023 ♦ Leave a comment

To listen to this sermon, click the link above. Here is the outline for the sermon.

AP News: Pope Francis, Archbishop Justin Welby, head of Presbyterian Church of Scotland together in South Sudan to draw global attention to the plight of the people –

Francis was highlighting in particular the plight of South Sudanese women, half of whom are married before age 18, are subject to rampant sexual violence and then face the world’s highest maternal mortality rate. “Let us ask ourselves what it means for us to be ministers of God in a land scarred by war, hatred, violence, and poverty,” Francis said.

1. Begin here: Gary Brockman – “Congrats, you are now responsible for all her future neuroses.”

Jesus – “Congrats, you ARE the light”

2. visit of pope et al to S Sudan reported by AP – the world is watching the church – unlike God, the world is quick to accuse and condemn, but they are watching. They know what Jesus is supposed to look like, and they want to see love, compassion, mercy, grace. e.g. Jim Stone

3. We do not possess light or create light – he is the light that came into the world – Isaiah 9; John 1

If we try to BE the light by ourselves, generate the light of God by our personal holiness or by possessing absolute truth, or by charisma, we will surely misrepresent God;

instead, we reflect the true light, as the moon reflects the light of the sun

Have you ever been out on a full moon night? it is almost as bright as daytime. The moon has no light of its own. A full moon means that the face of the moon (the side we see) is turned full towards the sun.

Bp. Fanuel Magangani of N. Malawi – “If our faith is to be strong, if our vision is to be clear, if we are to work only for what is good and just and true then we must stay very close to the Good Shepherd himself. We must stay close to Jesus.” If we are going to shine brightly with the love of Christ, we must keep our faces and our hearts turned to him

4.But how? If God has no “where,” if he is everywhere, what does it mean to turn towards him? Obv – church, sacraments (where), read Bible. But also in silence, listening. And also, turning to God often means turning away from lesser lights

5. Maybe you have a cranky neighbor – hasn’t gone to church since his wife died – maybe he will never walk through those doors

Maybe you have a granddaughter, who is angry at God and the world – and with good reason – but she is not going to pick up the Bible and start reading all the uplifting parts – not just yet

– But these people will see you, and they will hear you, and they know your heart – and you may be all they know about God right now

6. Congratulations! YOU are the light of God to the world. He has set you exactly where you need to be – up on a hill, visible to all – so that you can reflect his light and his love to your part of the world, if only you keep on turning your face and your heart towards him.

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