Sermon
on the Mount – Radiance
February 9/2014 Matthew
5:13-20
The Olympics have begun – how many of you watched the opening
ceremonies on Friday afternoon or evening?
What a spectacle – the mascots were something didn’t you think their
facial animation was eerie - and the Russian display of - its history – a great big exhibition show –
you were able to forget about all the difficulties and problems and issues that
lead up to the games – amidst all the glitters and glitz – the light show and the
music – it was hard to remember that woman were strapping bombs to themselves and
setting them off in public places killing themselves and others in protest, and
that for some of the route the Olympic flame was so heavily guarded the people
had to buy tickets and watch the torch from stadium stands as it was run around
the track – and then what about the people were displaced in order to build the
venues and not to mention the furor that Russia’s anti -gay laws have caused – there
was a while before the games actually
began when I began to wonder whether they would actually happen – there seemed
so much standing in the way – but they did it – everything was ready and last
night all the athletes came together and celebrated the opening of the 2014
Winter Olympic Games - I am glad that
last night all the other incidents and challenges seemed to dissipate and instead the focus
became on the athletes and the nations and hopefully – ultimately what the Olympic
games are really about – sport and excellence.
The piece that I thought was particularly moving was in
the parade of nations – What I appreciate are the teams that are so small one
or two athletes representing a whole nation –for instance there was one person from Tibet – a cross country skier.,
and one from the British Virgin Islands, a snowboarder – and I still get excited when I see the Jamaican
bobsled team – what a great spirit – these five men training in a country that
has not snow, no ice and no toboggans – and what is wonderful about their story
is that there are very limited funds for this team so they crowd sourced their
money for their travel and expenses during the games – crowd sourcing is
putting it out on the internet and inviting the world to contribute – in less
than 48 hours they had raised over $100,000.
I love what the flag bearer from Iceland said: “Many
think that because our country’s name is Iceland, it is a country of snow and
ice, but it isn’t. Iceland has never won a medal in the Winter Olympics and we
will not win in Sochi, either. My goal is to be in the top 50 in the cross
country sprint.” Stories such as these remind us
that these games are not about our medal count, or even owning the podium –
they are about the human spirit – about what it is to be committed to
something, and train hard and be
dedicated and try your best and participate fully and to be a part of something
bigger than yourself. Which is exactly
what Jesus is talking about up on the hillside this morning – being committed
and dedicated, trying your best , participating fully and being a part of
something bigger that we can ever be on
our own. Salt and light.
You are the light of the world
You are the light of the world
But the tallest candlestick
Ain't much good without a wick
You got to stay bright to be the light of the world
You are the light of the world
But the tallest candlestick
Ain't much good without a wick
You got to stay bright to be the light of the world
We rejoin Jesus on the hill this morning – remember he
has just begun his ministry where he was baptized by John in the Jordan, spent
some time in the dessert, called his first disciples, and has been healing the
sick and curing the diseased and sharing the Word of God in various synagogues
around the area. He has become a popular
speaker and many seek him out to hear what he has to say – today a large crowd has followed him and so he goes
up a mountain – sits down, the crowd follows and finds themselves a place to
sit and listen to what he has to say – we join the crowds today in the midst of
a conversation – about God and the kingdom – and Jesus is explaining just how
different God wishes the world was – and how the values that seem to be the
most prevalent among people are not what God values.
After lifting up the
mostly unlikely people – the poor in spirit, the meek and the merciful, those
who mourn and those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the pure in heart,
the peacemakers, and the persecuted – and calling them "blessed,"
Jesus then addresses the crowd as "you," and offers them words of
both reassurance and challenge.
You are the light of the
world, let your light shine before others, so that they may
see your good works and give glory to God.
You are the salt of the earth, but if salt
has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored?
And yet he also commissions them -- not commands, I
think, but commissions them -- actually to be salt and light, to be the persons
they’ve been called to be. To season and preserve the world, to let their light
shine so that others will see their good works -- yes, good works! -- and
glorify God. Jesus isn’t asking them to earn their salvation, of course, but to
live out the salvation and discipleship that has been given them as a gift..”[1]
You are the salt of the earth
You are the salt of the earth
But if that salt has lost its flavor
It ain't got much in its favor
You can't have that fault and be the salt of the earth!
You are the salt of the earth
But if that salt has lost its flavor
It ain't got much in its favor
You can't have that fault and be the salt of the earth!
Sometimes it is hard for us to imagine that Jesus is
really talking to us – how on earth can I be light and salt to this world – I am
barely holding it together in my own little corner of the world – you may be
suffering with health issues that have taken all your energy, maybe you are
struggling with financial concerns that tend to occupy your mind – some of us are
sad and lonely and have a hard time seeing the light in the world let alone
claim the light as our own. But it is
really clear that Jesus is naming who he is talking to – and by virtue of
Matthew’s recording of this – we as well as the disciples, we as well as the
other listeners on the hillside – we are the ones who are salt and who are
light. I think this is good time to
re-hear the words of Marianne Williamson – whose words were made famous by
Nelson Mandela at his 1994 inaugural speech as the newly elected president of South
Africa.
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our
deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our
darkness, that frightens us most. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant,
gorgeous, talented, and famous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a
child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing
enlightened about shrinking so that people won't feel insecure around you. We
were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in
some of us; it's in all of us. And when we let our own light shine, we
unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated
from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
So as we witness the remarkable
athletes preforming excellence in their sporting events – as they shine for all
the world to see – we may think that our light is not as bright – or important –
or relevant or even worthy of sharing - it is not for us to compare ourselves to them –
it is not for us to compare ourselves to anyone – God sees us for the unique
individual that we all are – and it is to us that Jesus is speaking this morning. We are being called by Jesus to be the light
of the world. We are being called in our
own way – to use our own gifts – in our own corner of the world to be the light
of God to others, to share the flavour of salt to the people that we meet in
our day to day lives.
You are the light of the world – you!
You are the salt of the earth – you!
So let your light shine- your salt be flavourful – and your
life be blessed. Thanks be to God. Amen
[1] David
Lose: Called and Commissioned to be Salt
and Light, https://www.workingpreacher.org/craft.aspx?m=4377&post=3062,
2014
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