Epiphany 5 6 February 2011

'Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven' (Matthew 5:16)

I could sit down now really couldn't I?

There's the message to take home this morning - Matthew 5 verse 16!

The historian and satirist Thomas Carlyle used to complain at long sermons. Over Sunday lunch he suggested to his mother that the preacher that morning would have done better to say: 'Good people you know what to do just go and do it'.

But Thomas, his mother replied, gently. 'Wouldn't you tell them how!'

I won't sit down yet.

How do we let our light shine to God's glory?

We have to get lit up and we have to shine in the right place.

First then: How do we get lit up as Christians?

Jesus kindles his light in our hearts by scripture, eucharist and prayer.

'Your word is a lantern to my feet and a light to my path' writes the Psalmist (Psalm 119.105). Tell me - can you get close to Jesus, can his light be lit in your heart, without ever opening a Bible? Oh yes, you need a guide, you need to select, but may it be for us, day by day, what those first disciples said after meeting Jesus on the Emmaus Road: 'Did not our hearts burn as he opened the Scriptures to us?' (Luke 24.32). This will also be the best fruit if this year's 400th anniversary celebration of the first authorised English Bible. If you want to act on this morning's sermon pick up and take away for £5 a modern language bible from the back of church and/or sign up for the Lent Course next month which is on the Bible.

Jesus kindles his light in our hearts by scripture -and the eucharist. Show me a better way of getting more of Jesus into your life than the regular receiving of his body and blood? With scripture comes the eucharist because words are not enough for Jesus. His love is shown sacramentally because his love, like ours, needs practical expression. 'This is my body which is given for you...my blood which is shed for you’.

How do we get lit up as Christians?

The bible, the eucharist - and prayer. Day by day we seek irradiation as we come before the Lord. It’s a discipline that some, like the preacher, neglect at times. You sense when your prayer discipline fails that you're not glowing and warm – and you remember you've not been in front of the fire!

Some of us heard Leslie Whiting speak two weeks ago about her spiritual healing. Her story is a story that moves us from the first to the second half of the question.

How do we let our light shine to God's glory?

A year ago during the - or should I say during a freeze up Leslie was recipient of the helpfulness of John and Caroline Rich who took her for vitally needed chemotherapy. This village scheme is in itself a 'good work that gives glory to God'. In the case of the lift given to Leslie it served a process in which she invited first these helpers, and then Jesus himself to come alongside her.
As she put it the other week, though the cancer was now in her skull she didn’t presume to ask for healing but rather for the Lord to be with her on her forward journey. Leslie received the sacrament of anointing. Afterwards she was led by God to identify a surgeon who was making trials with a cyber knife that could destroy the tumours in her skull without damaging her brain. She had successful treatment and has gone on to bring light to others in need through the campaign she’s spearheading for the cyber knife facility to be made more available. Do sign her petition detailed in this week's news sheet.

'Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.'

To welcome this light we seek Jesus through scripture, eucharist and prayer.

To let our light shine we need discernment as to the dark places Jesus has for us, where he wants us to be placed.

Someone said to me recently, when I tried to console them after an accident, that they were confident that the circumstances they had been placed in would be a receipe for their spiritual benefit. What faith, I thought! Just as I thought when I heard Lesley's testimony, which seemed so unselfish. Not all cancer sufferers are so - there but for the grace of God go I...

How do we best shine? With an openness to Jesus and a readiness to be used by him wherever he wants us day by day. May this Eucharist be our pledge to offer our souls and bodies to be where he wants us this week and nowhere else.

‘Jesus bids us shine with a pure, clear light, like a little candle buring in the night. In this world of darkness: so we must shine, you in your small corner and I in mine!’

'Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven'

You are invited to sign Leslie's petition at
http://www.gopetition.com/petition/42313.html