38Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. (Luke 1:38)
Because we’re so familiar with the biblical story of the birth of Jesus, it can be hard for us to enter into the experience of the main characters. Yet, if we do this, not only will we understand these people more deeply, but we also will be ready for a deeper encounter with God. Consider Mary in Luke 1. The angel Gabriel had already appeared to her, telling her that she would soon become pregnant with the Son of God who would reign over God’s kingdom forever (1:31-33). Mary’s responded by wondering how this could be so since she was a virgin (1:34). Gabriel answered by explaining that Mary would become pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit (1:35). Now, at this point, we might not show much empathy for Mary. We’re so familiar with this narrative, not only from many Christmas celebrations, but also from the Apostles’ Creed. We affirm that Jesus was “conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary.” So, for us there’s no surprise in Gabriel’s announcement to Mary. But if we put ourselves in her sandals for a moment, we can begin to imagine what might have been going on in her head and heart. Jewish women who had sexual relations outside of marriage were, according to the law, worthy of death. (for example, see John 8:1-11.) But even if it was unlikely that Mary would be executed, she would be seen by all as a sinful woman. After all, who would believe her story about a virginal conception? She would surely live in shame the rest of her life. Perhaps even more painfully, her fiancé, Joseph, being a righteous man, would most probably end their relationship. Would he believe Mary’s “impossible” story about the angel and her pregnancy? Mary had every right to be deeply concerned. It wouldn’t have been surprising if she had responded to Gabriel much like Moses responded to God at the burning bush. And I certainly wouldn’t criticize her for doing so. But that’s not what she did. Rather, she said to the angel, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” I’m blown away by Mary’s response of ultimate availability. She exemplifies utter trust, utter willingness, and utter submission to God’s will. She’s willing to accept whatever may come. I can be so afraid and hesitant when God “messes” with my life. I want to understand everything in advance. I like feeling as if I’m in control. Offering myself freely and fully to God doesn’t not come naturally or easily to me. I want to share with you a prayer by St. Ignatius of Loyola written in the 15th century. Here’s the prayer I am inviting you and I to say, not only during this season, but through the year: “Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, all I have and call my own. You have given all to me. To You, Lord, I return it. Everything is Yours; do with it what You will. Give me only Your love and Your grace, that is enough for me.” I confess that it is not easy for me to say this prayer without certain reservations. Am I really willing to give everything to the Lord, acknowledging that it’s all His anyway? My honest answer is: Yes and no. But I trust that the Spirit of God will continue to grow both my trust in God and my willingness to be like Mary, offering all that I am to God. Advent is a season for waiting upon God. But, like for Mary, it’s also a time to offer ourselves to God more fully. Though we won’t be called to give birth to the Son of God, the Lord has things for each of us to do. He calls us to devote our lives to His purposes and practices. May God give us the grace to respond to this call in the way of Mary: “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Lord Jesus, You have given all to me. To You, Lord, I return it. 14You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither 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. 16In 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)
The prophet Isaiah wrote, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness, a light has dawned” (Isa. 9:2). Jesus clearly sees Himself as the fulfillment of that prophecy: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). That is not surprising, since we know Him to be God incarnate. What is surprising (and breathtaking) is that Jesus applies Isaiah’s oracle to us. “You are the light of the world.” Really? He doesn’t qualify His statement to just a few worthy individuals. In fact, the “you” Jesus uses is inclusive and plural. He means each of us, and perhaps more significantly, all of us together. Jesus seems not so much interested in finding a few model individuals as in creating an entire exemplary community. That suggests our relationships as a community is how we become “the light of the world.” Light’s purpose is to illume its subject, and, as Jesus suggests, to point to its subject. As with Jesus’ other metaphor of salt, light only fulfills its purpose in relationship to others. Jesus points out, with no small irony and humor, that no one lights a light to cover it up. What’s the point of that? No, light is there to illuminate its subject matter. In Jesus’ teaching, light provides people the ability to see the world as it is intended to be. To begin with, Jesus’ focus on our “good deeds” suggests that we ourselves are to model what being human is meant to look like, rather than focus on other people’s deficiencies or faults. Being light as Jesus’ disciples means owning our responsibility as ideal models, not becoming critics of other individuals or of our organizational and societal culture. Further, our light must be sufficiently bright to enable people to see their world in full color rather than just in black and white. In low light conditions, the human visual system reverts to seeing shades of grey. Without enough light, we cannot see the different colors in the world around us. In the same way, when everything seems black, white, or at best shades of grey; something has gone wrong. Of course, some things are intended to be black and white. But if most everything looks black and white, we should suspect that we are suffering from a lack of adequate light. And if we see only in black and white, we shouldn’t be surprised if the people we influence do as well. Finally, as Jesus reminds us, the light of our “good deeds” should point back to an external source, not to ourselves. In the same way that we know that the sun is source for all daylight, so our good deeds are traceable back to the source of all our goodness, to God. Our light and our goodness are always derivative, even though we are active participants in them. As Steve Bell, a Canadian musician, wisely noted, “We become by grace what God is by nature.” Being light is not something we do alone. As Jesus intimated, light is best seen in the work of a community of people. So, at its best, it is about bringing out the combined light that a community has to offer to the world. We are to be “a town built on a hill.” As a church, we are to be the “town” Jesus envisioned: a beacon of light to the world, demonstrating radical generosity, hospitality and self-sacrifice for those around us. Then, in our generation, Isaiah’s oracle will be fulfilled: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” Lord Jesus, help us become by grace what You by nature: light to the world! You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. (Matthew 5:13)
“You are the salt of the earth” is a profoundly simple statement. But what does “being salt” mean and what might that look like for our lives and actions as followers of Jesus? First, salt is about the other. No one confuses salt with food. Salt is seasoning. Its purpose is to help us enjoy the food, not itself. That’s a helpful metaphor for life, service and leadership. Serving is not intended to be about us; it is about those we serve. Salt, like good service, doesn’t bring attention to itself. In fact, when you notice that food is salty, that’s not a good thing. The same is true for truly human, Jesus-like service. It doesn’t call attention to itself. If it does, something has gone wrong. Instead, good leaders draw attention to those they lead. Second, salt is about the goodness of the other. Salt brings out the flavor in food. Salt’s magic brings out the innate goodness in what otherwise might remain tasteless. Salt allows the full potential of food to be savored and enjoyed. In the same way, human beings are meant to bring out the best in others. Our Christian lives are meant to enable people to be the best version of themselves. Influence that only brings out mediocrity in others is sub-par influence. As Jesus demonstrates, when we serve Him and others, we can bring out the full humanity in others. Third, salt is about the uniqueness of the goodness of the other. Salt makes different kinds of food taste different, not the same. Salt doesn’t make steak taste like chicken. It helps great steak to taste like great steak. Salt has the remarkable capacity to bring out the unique created goodness of each food it seasons. So, it is with us. Good leaders bring out the best in others in ways that are unique to who they are. God actually isn’t interested in cookie-cutter people. God has created each person to be unique. And as Christ’s disciples, we need to bring out, to the best of our abilities, the unique goodness of those we serve. One more observation. It’s interesting that Jesus said we are to be “the salt of the earth” and not “the salt of our communities.” While there is little question that Jesus’ words apply to the people we serve, they suggest that being “salt” also applies to our relationship with the physical world. In the same way we are to bring out the best in other people, we are also called as Jesus’ followers to bring out the best in the planet we inhabit, to cultivate the creation we have inherited as stewards. It is no accident that the first call to the first humans is tending a physical garden, allowing its innate goodness to flourish to full fruit. More than ever before, our planet and our people need us to be “worth our salt.” Jesus also issues a warning here; notice how Jesus uses the definite article. There is no other alternative, no other salt. God has no “Plan B.” That suggests there is a distinct and unique role that His followers must play to ensure the flourishing of God’s created world. If we do not fulfill our call, we are useless and the world will remain “tasteless.” That is why Jesus came. Jesus Himself (being God in human form) is “the salt of the earth.” Jesus will yet restore all that is good in God’s creation. And He will do that in fulfillment of God’s intention for Him as a human being. Our calling as His followers in the present is to share in that work with Him, despite the ruin and devastation we may encounter along the way. As Isaiah wrote, we are to be “oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of His splendor. They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations” (Isaiah 61:3b-4, NIV). This too is what it means to be the salt of the earth. Lord Jesus, make us the salt of the earth again! For Your glory!
As we enter the month of December, we are made aware of the coming of Christmas, the birth of Christ, our Lord and Savior. Jesus came with the key in His hand. “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (Mt. 28:18) He has opened the gate of heaven to all who believes in Him. The door was opened for all of us long, long time ago, and it still remains open today. How is that so? It is because at the threshold of the narrow door there stands a cross. It was on that cross that Jesus died for us. He had no sins of his own; He bored our sins and iniquities in His own body. He accepted the judgment which our sins justly deserved on his own innocent person. That is why the door is open. Consequently, any sinner may now enter the inner sanctuary of God's presence, and do so with confidence, “by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body,” therefore, “let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith”. (Heb. 10: 19-22) Many of you may have wandered for many years in the byways of aimlessness. But now you may set your feet on the freeway which leads to glory. Christ is the holy living one, who died and rose again. He has the keys of death. For He alone has the power and authority to open and shut the door. “What He opens no one can shut, and what He shuts no one can open.” (Rev. 3:7) Won't you give your life to Christ today while the door is still open? Second, Christ also provides us the opportunity of service. After we have gone through the door of salvation, we must go out through the door of service to look for others and even in the words of Jesus, "compel them to come in." Openings for the spread of the gospel were many and great in our times. Macedonian calls are being heard from all over the world. "Come over... and help us." What then should be our response? We should be committed to world evangelization. Of course, not all of us are called to be cross-cultural messengers of the gospel, but we must have a part in this endeavor, especially by our prayers, gifts and encouragement, to ensure that the open doors are entered. In addition, we must always be concern for the community in which our church is situated. In this mission, all of us must participate. Evangelism is not the prerogative of the pastors or staff. It is not the hobby of a few followers. It is a duty resting upon the whole congregation and upon every member of the church. Jesus has opened many doors, and we must make sure we go through them. The key belongs to Christ; the choice is ours to make. Won't you commit yourself to bringing someone to Christ during this Christmas season? That's one of the best gifts you can offer to Christ |
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