Jesus not only said, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12), Jesus said, “You are the light of the world!” (Matthew 5:14). What does it mean to be an extension of the persona of Jesus, the Christ? The following piece provides an answer, sent to me from a colleague and member of HPC two days after Putin invaded the Ukraine.
“I can’t make the world peaceful, I can’t stall tanks from roaring down roads, I can’t prevent children from having to hide in bunkers.
I can’t convince the news to stop turning war into a video game, I can’t silence the sound of bombs tearing neighborhoods apart.
I can’t turn a guided missile into a bouquet of flowers, I can’t make a warmonger have an ounce of empathy, I can’t convince ambassadors to quit playing truth or dare.
I can’t deflect a sniper’s bullet from turning a wife into a widow, I can’t stave off a country being reduced to ash and rubble; I can’t do any of that.
The only thing I can do is love the next person I encounter without any conditions or strings. To love my neighbor so fearlessly that it starts a ripple that stretches from one horizon to the next.
I can’t force peace on the world, but I can become a force of peace in the world because sometimes all it takes is a single lit candle in the darkness to start a movement.
“Lord, make me a candle of comfort in this world let me burn with peace” ( John Roedel)
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world” . . .“You are the light of the world!” . . . We are the Body of Christ! As the children’s song proclaims: This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine! I look forward to seeing you in Church.
Through Christ,
Pastor Doug