Community, Candle, and Connection
January 19, 2025
“In your light we see light” (9). The Psalmist reminds us of God’s light and love. “The imagery describing God here is imaginative and stunning: God’s steadfast love is “precious” …God is like a bird providing shelter for its young; God is a fountain that provides life, and God is the light in a world of darkness” (Working Preacher, James Limburg). As we move through Epiphany, the season of light, we turn out attention to the light of Christ in the world. This year we are doing that very intentionally with the Presbytery Unity Candle. Our new Executive Presbyter, Neal Presa is moving this glorious candle to every congregation within San Jose Presbytery. It represents Christ’s light within our community, our presbytery, the larger church and the world. A few weeks ago, it was at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Santa Cruz for the Installation of their new pastor Diane Ford. Then it moved to Boonie Doon, a small rural congregation seeking to rebound after the CZU fires. This week it is here on the Sunday we ordain and install our officers. That was God’s timing, not mine. The Presbytery is also asked to pray for our congregation this week as we host this representation of God’s light and love in our midst. We can also pray for the congregations hosting the candle as it makes its rounds. To be honest, when I first heard of this worship activity, I was not so sure. The candle looked “Catholic” and we haven’t done these symbolic things presbytery wide. Yet now I see it in a very different light. Pun intended. The light of Christ as represented by this candle has witnessed the beginning of a new pastoral relationship, the rebirth of a community after devastation, and now the hope of installing and ordaining new leaders. And it is only week three. It illumines our belief in unity through Christ and the strength of Christians within our church.
Our second lesson we have already heard this morning in our ordination and installation service. But when God coordinates these passages to coincide, who am I to challenge? It also gives us a chance to dive deep into what this passage means. Paul is addressing the common needs of the Christian community. The church in Corinth had abused the Lord Supper and Paul seeks to bring unity back to the church. READ 1 Corinthians 12:1-11.
We could focus on all the many gifts, services and activities, like wisdom, faith, discernment. But the overriding message is that all of these come from the one and the same Spirit. The Spirit of God. In these eleven verses, the singularity of Spirit is stated ten times. The Spirit of the Lord is a manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. So whatever gift you have, whatever ability you share with this congregation and the world, it was given for the common good. When you share your singing abilities with the congregation, you share it for the common good. When you take on a leadership role it is for the common good. When you pray for a fellow believer, it is for the common good. The Spirit binds us together in these practices and helps us to become a stronger body of Christ.
“The Christian community is one body with many members that finds its unity in baptism and its diversity in the incredible variety that is the manifestation of the Spirit” (Working Preacher, Karoline Lewis). Christ’s body, the church, calls women and men to leadership. People of faith, each with unique gifts for their elected calling. The elders share spiritual discernment, guiding the congregation in its decision making. Also providing leadership for the many activities and ministry. The deacons offer care and compassion for our members and offer support to those in need. Both ministries are vital, and they use different gifts, different acts of grace. One commentator asks, “Therefore, since you have received many gifts, what will you do with them?” In this post gift-giving season, we are asked to recognize that the gifts we receive are the very grace-acts of God. The term that Paul uses for “gift” has the same root as the word for “grace” (Working Preacher, Karoline Lewis). Your gifts are your grace-acts empowered by God.
As we assume new roles within the church, we might have some trepidation. I don’t speak in tongues or prophesy. Who am I to be an elder? How will I be as a deacon? But rest in the knowledge that God is with you in this service, have faith in the ministry. “Paul Tillich, the great theologian, defined faith as courage. He said that is what faith will look like when you see it. It will look like courage. What faith is, is acting on your trust that God is faithful. Most of the time, if you are doing anything worthwhile, it is done on faith, and it takes courage. Writer Madeleine L’Engel put it perfectly. “I don’t have to have some special qualification to do what I have to do. All I have to do is have the courage to go on and do it. (Sermons.com, Mark Trotter). God has called and God will equip!
This service is not up to you. Yes, as elders you will make decisions and as deacons you will listen and care for people. But what you are really doing in these roles is to reflect the light of Christ. You are serving the Lord for the common good. It is not about you; you are reflecting the light of Christ. Richard Foster in Celebration of Discipline outlines the difference between self-righteous service and selfless service.
- Self-righteous service comes through human effort. True service comes from a relationship with the divine Other deep inside.
- Self-righteous service requires external rewards. True service rests contented in hiddenness.
- Self-righteous service fractures community. True service builds community.
Let us all seek to offer true service to our St. Andrew community. Each time we do we show forth the light of Christ. Offering the light of Christ is more than simply words, it is felt and seen.
“When Benjamin Franklin wished to interest the people of Philadelphia in street lighting, he didn’t try to persuade them by just talking about it. He hung a beautiful lantern on a long bracket in front of his home. He kept the glass highly polished. Every evening at the approach of dusk, he carefully lit the wick. People saw the light from a distance and when they walked in its light, found that it helped them to avoid sharp stones on the pavement. Others began placing lights at their homes, and soon Philadelphia recognized the need for street lighting.
As others learn of the peace and joy you have in your life in Christ, they will recognize their need for Him” (Sermons.com). They will see Christ’s light in you.
The moon offers a great example. The moon shines in the night sky because of the reflected light from the sun. Without that reflected light, the moon would become lost in the darkness of space. Unfortunately, “much of the pain and suffering around us comes from us imagining that we ourselves are the light. We are not the light. Christ is the light. As St. Francis put it so well, ‘We are the moon reflecting the rays of the sun from our surface.’ Our job is to share the light we have received from Christ with those who still sit in darkness” (Sermons.com, King Duncan). The believer in Christ shines only because of the reflection of Christ’s light. Without that reflected light, the believer becomes lost in the darkness of the world. In your light we see light. By your Spirit we share our gifts, services and activities for the common good.
Elders, deacons and newly ordained deacons, let Christ’s light be reflected in your life! Amen.
