Shed Some Light Would You?!

 I love it; I just love it when the New Testament gospel reading for a given Sunday morning reflects the Good News OF Jesus - not just the news ABOUT Jesus.  The good news OF and the gospel ABOUT Jesus; both are found in

the Bible you know.

 The gospel readings ABOUT Jesus usually describe where Jesus went on a given day, what the local haughty religious establishment was thinking or plotting concerning Him - or how the people involved responded to Him. That's the gospel ABOUT Jesus.  Important YES, but essential?? Well if so, only on a level second to Jesus' own teaching, his own witness, his show of faith and compassion in His own right.

  I always listen and look for the gospel OF Jesus when I hear or read Holy Scripture. I can trust His words. His wisdom is authentic. Lots of people have power (parents, bosses, ministers etc) but few have power with life affirming authority. For me the gospel OF Jesus is the only source of power with life affirming authority.

 And today, this Sunday in the season of Epiphany - This season of God's light breaking through the cold, dark winter - the season to illuminate and warm the dark inner corners of the soul and the stark realities of life we occasionally encounter... IN THIS SPIRITUAL SEASON TO LOOK FOR GOD'S NEW LIGHT IN CHRIST, we just heard a terrific example of the gospel OF Jesus.

Something He said - and Something HE meant.

You know, over the years a lot of people have come to me with a similar spiritual problem (here in NH, and in NY, and in California, and in Chicago, and in Jerusalem and Jordan and elsewhere).  People have come to me to talk about what they felt was something like a dark void inside, a numbness, a scared skittish spot deep inside their core. (A deep uncertainty - They want to hope but they are afraid. Do you know about that place?  It feels kind of like my hands and shoulders did this week after shoveling my driveway and roof twice in one day - again - this week with frigid, damp gloves on.  You know- the hands still function kind of, but not great after a while because, like us some times ,they were beaten down, tired, numb - NO POP OR ENERGY INSIDE ANYMORE just cold and numb and not great.    *** Yes, a lot of people have come to me over time feeling that way about themselves.

 And as I would seek to offer a little pastoral support and spiritual guidance to them I'd discover that their darkness and numbness and fearfulness and fatigue weren't really always about conditions outside.

   It really wasn't about their money troubles or their spouse, or 'ex' or their kids, or their boss, or physical health, or world affairs, though oft times they came in thinking so.  NO THE ISSUE WAS REALLY ABOUT CONDITIONS INSIDE.  They saw little value - little worth in themselves. They saw everything wrong with the world and themselves - viewed themselves as damaged goods. (Not smart enough, inadequate, too old or too young, too fat or too skinny, "not enough faith Father", too guilty, too sad, or too far gone.)  THE PROBLEM SO OFTEN - THE BOTTOM LINE WAS AND IS THAT WE THINK WAY TOO LITTLE OF OURSELVES - SOMETIMES WE EVEN LOATHE OURSELVES; and it weighs on us like the ice dams and snow on our New Hampshire roof tops this morning.

   And you know what? If you think you are fundamentally flawed you will live into that scenario and yes, when life puts before you a challenge, you will feel ill equipped to endure -  too weighed down and, like our houses this morning after the ice storm and blizzard, we wonder if we can hold up under the load.

  Now, I'm sure that no one wants to feel that way, and no wants to see themselves in that dim light.  And I'm sure that so many do experience this rough feeling because somewhere along the way in your life somebody you thought you could or should trust told you that you weren't smart enough, or pretty enough, or tall enough, or creative or strong enough OR GOOD ENOUGH, and you took it to heart - you internalized their criticism and accepted their oppressive world view, through no real fault of your own.

  Heck most churches still tell their people that they are miserable sinners and unworthy of God's love.  Many employers, drill sergeants, politicians, mean school girls, bullies and black hearted bloggers and abusive relatives take low shots at the dignity and integrity of others - they betray REAL TRUST AND GIVE UP ANY CLAIM ON LIFE AFFIRMING AUTHORITY, usually at THE EXPENSE OF vulnerable, impressionable people - often the young- as a matter of routine practice. (Note this week's 175 million dollar settlement for sexual abuse by clergy in another denomination in Delaware- another one!)  AND WE BELIEVED THESE AUTHORITY FIGURES - AND WHY???  Because our hearts yearn to know where we stand and who we can trust to tell us the truth and guide us. As St. Augustine said, "Our hearts are restless..."  We seek affirmation and naturally seek to know what we are worth.

   And that is precisely why I say THANK GOD FOR THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST!!!  For what He said and for what He meant when it comes to you and us and our yearning hearts. For Augustine finished his thought with,"Our heart is restless until it rests in thee" until we rest in God's trustworthy and warm embrace.

   For today you heard it from the Source - you heard God's honest truth about yourself - the truth that if you will just give Jesus more credence than you gave your older sibling, or your crabby coach, or the hit and run face book "Friend" who torpedoed you on line, - please give Jesus more credence than perhaps you even gave your relatives and old time religion - your life and outlook will improve dramatically for the good and for joy.

 For Jesus Christ came into the world and declared, You, YOU are the salt of the earth. God put us here to offer a little wonderful flavor and spice to life! AND you oh child of God, YOU are the light of the world!  The light of the world!   For God's sake and for your sake believe it and live it. Don't dim it or hide your light under a bushel basket, said Jesus, rather honor life itself and honor God the Giver of life and believe Christ over all critics and negative internal tapes.  Transcend the negative baggage of the bullies and blowhards. Believe the good news OF Jesus. Be God's light - let it shine in and through you. It's there. It's you.

 But you need to embrace this truth, not just hear the words. You need to embrace the gospel OF Jesus. And so I conclude this meditation with a spiritual direction for you to try every day in the week ahead even though you feel strange doing so, especially as New Englanders.   Hey try this anyway - It'll help you internalize the good news instead of the bad news for a change. How about that?

This week whenever you pass by a mirror or catch a glimpse of your reflection in a window, stop for a second - look at your face,(not for what's wrong with it!!!), turn the corners of your mouth up ever so slightly and repeat Jesus' assertion. Say it. (Even if you have a toothbrush sticking out of your mouth at the time - say it- God's words- "You are the light of the world." Then say it again. "You are the light of the world."  That's all and that's enough to start to turn a life and a world around. I'd love to hear how you experienced this exercise after the week is finished. Feel free to let me know.

 May the gospel OF Jesus and the way God in Christ views you carry you far and lead you to goodness and grace. May Christ's high opinion of you warm you like standing by the woodstove when the storm has passed. And may you know fulfillment and your infinite worth through the gospel OF Christ. Yes, "Let your light so shine before others that they may see your good works and give glory to your God in heaven.  Amen.