Beacons of Light

If we are indeed to become salt of the earth and a light on a hill we need to locate ourselves in the tradition of justice and mercy, right action and compassion, that the prophets spoke so challengingly about. (Fifth Sunday after Epiphany. Matthew 5:13-20; Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12); Psalm 112:1-10; and 1 Corinthians 2:1-12.)

Sentence: “Is this not the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?” Isaiah 58:6

Collect:

Gracious God of justice and mercy,

We pray you open our hearts and minds that we may see clearly the true fast you call us to.

Help us to clearly see the intentions and actions of those in authority.

And help us to see clearly the intentions of our own hearts;

that we may come to desire justice and mercy for all.

This we pray in the name of your son, healer and proclaimer of the kingdom. Amen.

Reflection:

We are called to be salt and light which is a call to be personally enlivened and to be enliveners of our world – to add to what is good, to reveal what is broken and in need of healing, to shine with the compassion and wisdom, the tastiness, of God.

You may wish to read what I wrote a few years ago on these texts.

Salt of the Earth

At this moment in world history, both natural and human, many of us are being challenged beyond our comfort zone to see clearly what those in leadership are doing in our name and all the necessary good that is not being done! I think this clarity is part of what we are being alerted to and encouraged to see so that we can respond and be salt and light where it is most desperately need. This is of course as individuals and as communities.

Such reflecting can lead us to see alarmingly clearly the gifts and failures of others. What is also important is that we honestly and courageously look inward to our own shadow or mixed motives for what we do. This I think is for at least three reasons. Firstly, as spiritual beings some of us can easily identify the light within but sometimes we tend to project all that is dark or inconvenient onto others. And others only know their own darkness and are unaware of their light. To grow and be of value to our world we need to see both our own (and others near to us) light and shadow. We need to be self aware so that we can act with true good intent and self control.

Secondly, we need to see what and who we are responding to clearly so that we are wise, compassionate and strategic. Jesus said in Matthew 10:16 to be “as wise as serpents, and as gentle as doves”. That is, we are to see clearly the true nature of those around us and to respond with compassion. This requires us to wise and strategic.

And thirdly, we need to take care of ourselves and allow ourselves to be taken care of sometimes in order that we can enjoy our precious life and work and so that we do not wear out too soon! In the call to be salt and light we are called to our fullness, our flavoursomeness, and the light that is uniquely from and through us!

So, we are not called to be forever contemplating our own navels or inner workings to the point of self abasement or removal from the real world but so that we can be honest and available for continued growth and service. We do not need to wait, thank God, until we are “perfect” in a behavioural or moral sense in order to respond to the call to be salt and light because the perfection we are called to is that of love.

And before we can act or serve well - before we can give good gifts, we need to be nourished and centred ourselves. For it is out of the abundance of God that we can share. So, we must regularly and deeply replenish and realign and be restored. We must take Sabbath. Even God, having created all that is and found it good – decreed that rest was the appropriate way to celebrate and experience holiness!

Barbara Brown Taylor says that “The first holy thing in all creation, according to Abraham Heschel, was not a people or a place but a day. God made everything in creation and called it good, but when God rested on the seventh day, God called it holy. That makes the seventh day a "palace in time," Heschel says, into which human beings are invited every single week of our lives.”

This seems particularly important to remember during those times we are most pressed upon by the demand for good works. To remember to be transparently true and honest about our motives and abilities so that what we offer is most lovingly whole and holy. And to know that we are called to Sabbath, into rest and recovery, refreshment and restoration until work and rest, serving and growing, being and doing, are the one thing – being who we are called to with and among all those others called to be salt and light!

Even so, come Lord Jesus the Christ, come reveal your saltiness and light that we may know ourselves and that we may share with all that which enlivens! Amen.

Intercessions:

Gracious God, Source of all goodness and life,

we give thanks and praise for the beauty and plenty of your creation.

We pray that we, and our leaders, would be faithful custodians and share the abundance inherit in your world.

We particularly pray for those parts of your creation suffering at this time and hold them in your holy presence … for oceans and all that moves within them … for country buried in snow or burning … for peoples and creatures hungry …

Gracious God, Source of creation and the new creation,

Hear our prayer.

Christ, our Redeemer who reconciled all within your heart,

we pray for all your peoples of faith, other faiths and no faith.

We pray that the desire for mercy and justice grow in our hearts until the needs of others are as dear to us as our own.

We pray for protection of prophetic voices and actions,

and we pray for creativity and courage in your church.

We particularly pray for all who are afraid, forgotten, broken or wearied …

Christ our Redeemer,

Hear our prayer.

Holy Spirit that animates us all,

remind us of our saltiness and light that our lives may be a celebration of your spirit.

And let us bring hope, and tastiness, and justice, and joy to our communities and all who we meet and seek to serve.

We remember those in need of your light and wisdom at this time.

We particularly pray for those know to us and those who needs are known only to you …

We also pray for all who now reside in your light, let them be healed and transformed ….

Holy Spirit,

Hear our prayer.

Living God,

Creator, Redeemer of all, Spirit that Sustains,

We pray in the name of your Beloved Son, the Christ, who came among us and called us to follow. Amen. 

This is my work which is informed by everything I have read, heard and experienced. I am indebted to the wisdom of others. This week I am particularly grateful to:

Robert A Johnson, “Owning your own Shadow: Understanding the Dark Side of the Psyche”, Harper San Francisco, 1991.

Barbara Brown Taylor https://www.beleifnet.com/faiths/christianity/2010/05/why-god-wants-you-to-rest.aspx