TURN ON YOUR LIGHT

(This is an abridged version of the sermon preached at Epworth Chapel, Baltimore on 6/24/12)

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)


These are days in which we are challenged to experience light and joy and hope in our lives. The days in which we live - in many ways - are filled with darkness.

We experience the darkness of political unrest, social disintegration, and economic uncertainty - not to mention spiritual demise. Crime and violence pervades many of our communities and streets – and terror and war have permeated our global conscience.

If you know like I know – the darkness of the world has a way of dimming our view of reality, and making it difficult to see the possibility of light.

I have the occasion of traveling through the tunnels of Baltimore several times a week. On entering the tunnels, most of what is experienced is darkness – the end of the tunnel cannot be seen at the beginning, and thus there is not much light. It is at the point when approaching the end of the tunnel, when there is a glimpse of light, that I always experience a sense of hope – a sense that the darkness is about to be over.

On a personal and existential level, all of us have experienced such darkness. Personal encounters with darkness can lead many people into depression and despair. This is what John of the Cross was alluding to when he talked about the “dark night of the soul.” David talked about the “valley of the shadow of death.”

Life’s circumstances – what philosopher Howard Thurman often called the vicissitudes of life – the various ups and downs that confront us – have a way of sapping our joy – and depleting our hope.

One of the most important things that we need to realize about darkness is that darkness exists for a season – it does not last forever. And in that season – in that night – regardless how long it might last – there are degrees of darkness. As darkness continues – it prepares itself for the coming of light.

In other words, it is always darkest just before daybreak. So this should help those of us who may find ourselves in the midst of our darkest, dimmest, most desperate predicament. It is always darkest just before the dawn. This is why the psalmist could declare as an affirmation of his faith that “weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”

In our scripture lesson we find Jesus offering a message of hope and encouragement to those who had gathered around him at the Sermon on the Mount. The Lord offers some words of enlightenment to those who needed a reminder of who he was, and thus who they were.

Jesus says, “You are the light of the world…” You are a city sitting high on a hill. Let your light so shine so that others may see Christ in you.”

In other words turn on your light.

To understand the Lord’s message here, we need to understand the condition of the world at the time of the coming of Christ.

Christ was born into a world filled with darkness and despair. The world that the Lord was born into was a world of political unrest, social decay, and religious turmoil – not too much unlike the conditions of our world today.

Amidst Roman occupation, Israel awaited a Savior to rescue them from their predicament. They were looking for a Savior to speak hope and promise into their dismal reality. They needed a Savior to offer light amidst their darkness and despair.

And in the midst of all this, Jesus says to them, and says to us, turn on your light.

Why do we need to turn on our lights? We need to turn on our lights because it is only light that is able to overcome darkness. And if light is placed in the proximity of darkness – light will always shine through.

When referring to the darkness of racial oppression and economic despair of his day, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness. Only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that.”

This should encourage us - whatever may be our lot in life. That if we dare to turn on our light – our light will overcome some darkness in our surroundings. If we dare to turn on our lights – the Lord will use us to make a difference in the world.

The good news is that each and every one of us has been given a light by God. And God did not pick and choose who would be given light. Notice that Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount was speaking to the crowd – he was speaking to everybody. And it’s good to know that in God’s kingdom, everybody has a light.

And Jesus said, “Turn on your light.” What’s your light? What light as God given you? Your God-given light is like nobody else’s. Somebody’s light might be singing in the choir… somebody’s might be preaching God’s word… and someday else’s might be teaching our children… while somebody else’s might be serving the needy.

Whatever it is – Jesus says turn it on…

If I can help somebody – as I pass along
If I can cheer somebody - with a word or a song
If I can show somebody – how they’re traveling wrong
Then my living will not be in vain…