"You Are the Light of the World"

If you read carefully on the corner of Hymnal pages you can find lots of significant information about many of the hymns. The hymn This Little Light of Mine (#585) was first an African-American spiritual song. It is based on Matthew 5:14-16. It was sung as a choral response when congregations were preparing to leave the church and go back out into the world. “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine….”

"The light" intensifies when you discover all the light associated with the titles for Jesus -- the light of the world. Jesus says, “You are the light of the world,” which means that if you call yourself a follower, then your calling is no different than mine. I was the light of the world. Now you are the light of the world. Through my life, my good deeds, my love, I brought people back to God in reconciliation. So let your light shine that you might do the same thing.

When it comes to this text, lighthouses and harbors have provided preachers sermon illustrations for decades. The evan-gelist Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899), often told a story about a ship that was trying to find the harbor in the darkness of night. The ship’s Captain could see the lighthouse. As the ship drew close the Captain shouted to the lighthouse keeper, “Is this Cleveland?” The lighthouse keeper shouted back, “Yes sir.” The Captain asked “Where are the lower lights?” The lighthouse keeper said, “They have gone out. Can you make the harbor?” The Captain replied, “We must or we will perish.” The ship made it just through the harbor before it was smashed against the rocks, a terrible tragedy with many killed. Moody would bring the story home with these words. “Brothers and sisters, the Master will take care of the lighthouse. But we must keep the lower lights burning.”

You see, the “lower lights”, distant from the lighthouse, at the ones that illumine the waterline. They are the ones that enable ships to enter a harbor at night, through the narrow channel of the harbor’s mouth. This reveals what Jesus means when he says, “Let your light so shine.” This is about the redemptive power of human deeds of love and compassion, and kindness and concern for other people. You may think you don’t have much to offer or that your light doesn’t shine very brightly compared to the luminaries of our time. But in the darkness of somebody’s life, the smallest light can save.

Those of you who have been in darkness know this. You know the redemptive power of small deeds. Mired in depress-sion or sorrow, nobody seems to care. Sitting in darkness you begin to think nobody remembers you, nobody cares, no-body has any sense of your isolation, your loneliness.

But then the phone rings. Or the mail comes. Or someone calls at the door. It is a simple thing to the person who gives it. But not to you. You will never forget it. It’s light coming into your darkness. If you’ve ever found yourself sitting in darkness wondering how much longer you could go on -- you know what I’m talking about. The little things bring light. They may not for us be the brightness of the lighthouse, but they bear witness to the light! With the “lower lights” we find our way. “This little light of mine…I’m gonna let it shine!” Bring all the lower lights together and they can push back the darkness of even the darkest of nights.

See you Sunday.

E. Taveirne