Carrying the light of Christ
Dear friends in Christ, grace and peace to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus, the Christ. Amen.
There’s something special about an Olympic year, especially when our country is hosting the Olympic Games. There seems to be a special excitement in the air, as the eyes of the world focus upon us, sending their best athletes to compete against the best from the rest of the world. Salt Lake City, Utah, has rolled out the red carpet to host athletes and spectators from around the globe for 17 days of pageantry, competition, and excellence.
Let’s see a show of hands… How many of you stayed up Friday night to watch the opening ceremonies? Weren’t they fabulous? I think my favorite part was all those skaters in their elaborate costumes, telling the story of North America, and the music, lights, and drama that went into the telling of the story.
The theme of this Winter Olympics, “Light the Fire Within,” was picked well before September of last year, yet it is a fitting theme, especially given the terrorist activities and events of these past months. The darkness and challenges that we face can be overcome if each one of us can “Light the Fire Within.” This theme calls us to greatness on all levels: individual, communal, national, and global.
The drama of the torch entering the arena is intense. The crowd lets out a sigh of excitement just before the cheering begins. The lighting of the Olympic Cauldron signals that the games have begun. The excitement builds as the flame is handed off to each new runner, making its way through the arena, closer and closer to its destination. As the runners climb the stairs, they pass cheering athletes and spectators, who are all caught up in the excitement of the moment, becoming a part of an experience that is greater than their own individual experience.
As the flame climbed the metal structure to light the Olympic Cauldron, the cheers grew, and, finally, the awaiting Cauldron burst into the glory of the Olympic flame. Success!
The journey of the Olympic flame is complete again. Our nation’s pride and excitement has been building to this for several weeks. Traveling over 13,000 miles, the flame was kept alive, leaving in its path a wake of appreciation, pride and Olympic spirit.
Our worship life has also been on a journey of light these past few weeks. We have been traveling through the Epiphany season, hearing about the light of the world, Jesus of Nazareth. As we experience our journey of faith we have been experiencing Jesus’ own journey since his birth and baptism. We have been called to let the light of Christ shine in and through each one of us, so that those around us might see that Christ is Lord of all.
In our Gospel reading today, we climb the mountain with Jesus and his disciples, to experience the glory of God shining through Jesus. He is transfigured, his face shining like the sun, and his clothes turning a dazzling white.
Suddenly there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. What an amazing experience that must have been for Peter, James, and John! First, their leader and teacher is transformed into an image of radiance and shining light, and then he is in the midst of the great heroes of the Jewish faith, Moses and Elijah. These two were the very embodiment of the Scriptures of Jesus’ day: the Law and the Prophets. One could call Moses and Elijah two of “God’s Olympic Lights.”
First, there was Moses. Moses was credited with writing the first five books of our Bible, and leading the people of Israel out of slavery and to the Promised Land. Moses first experienced God’s Olympic Flame in the burning bush at Mount Horeb, the bush that was burning, but was not consumed. From this flaming bush, God called Moses to lead God’s people out of their slavery in Egypt, to the freedom of the Promised Land.
Moses indeed led the people out of slavery and to the Promised Land, but after 40 years of wandering in the desert. God was with the children of Israel, even during their 40 years of wandering. God’s light shone for the Israelites, leading them by pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. And Moses led the people, serving as judge and arbitrator over disputes and disagreements among the people. Moses received the Law on Mount Sinai, and led the people with God’s own words.
We know quite a bit about Moses. Even those not a part of the church know a little about him. But the second man seen with Jesus is not so well known.
Elijah was the second of “God’s Olympic Lights” standing with Jesus. Elijah was a prophet during the rule of kings Ahab and Ahaziah, during the first half of the ninth century BCE. Elijah served the Lord during a time when many of the people of Israel had turned to serving the false gods of Ba’al and Asherah. In one attempt to prove that the Lord alone was God, Elijah challenged the priests of the false gods to a contest. The odds were stacked against Elijah, 450 prophets of Ba’al to only one Elijah.
Elijah…came near to all the people, and said, “How long will you go limping with two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” The people did not answer him a word. Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left a prophet of the LORD; but Baal’s prophets number four hundred fifty. Let two bulls be given to us; let them choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it; I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. Then you call on the name of your god and I will call on the name of the LORD; the god who answers by fire is indeed God. (1 Kings 18:21-24a)
The prophets of Ba’al took a bull, prepared it, and called on the name of Ba’al from morning until noon, crying, “O Ba’al, answer us!” But there was no voice, and no answer. Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud! Surely he is a god; either he is meditating, or he has wandered away, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.” (v. 27) The prophets cried aloud and, as was their custom, they cut themselves with swords and lances until the blood gushed out over them. They cried out throughout the day, but there was no voice, no answer, and no response.
Then it was Elijah’s turn. Confident in God’s power, he prepaired the altar of the LORD and he made a trench around the altar. Then he said, “Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.” Then he said, “Do it a second time”; and they did it a second time. Again he said, “Do it a third time”; and they did it a third time, so that the water ran all around the altar, and filled the trench also with water.” (vs. 33-35)
At the time of the offering, the prophet Elijah came near and said, “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your bidding. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.” (vs. 36-37)
Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and even licked up the water that was in the trench. When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The LORD indeed is God; the LORD indeed is God.” (v. 39) God used Elijah to show the people that the gods of Ba’al and Asherah were false gods, and that the Lord alone was worthy of their trust.
As Peter, James, and John look upon Jesus, standing in the presence of Moses and Elijah, they are faced with the culmination of God’s revelation to the world. The author of Hebrews tells us, “Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days God has spoken to us by a Son…” (Hebrews 1:1-2a) This one, Jesus of Nazareth, shows us God’s light. The Magi followed the light of the star to find the Christ child. Later, Jesus spoke to his disciples and said, “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) This one, the brightest and best of God’s Olympic Lights, has come to bring us light and life.
Through Jesus, we receive life and salvation. And as followers of Jesus, we are called to be the light of Christ in this world today. A light to the nations, scripture says. Our mission as believers is to carry the light of Christ so all the world may see it. We are not called to be something that we are not, or to share in a way that isn’t true to who we are. We are simply called to share our experience, to share how God has impacted us in this place. We are called to shine God’s light into the world, so that all the world can know God’s love.
As our world comes together to compete in the Olympic Games, we are each invited to “Light the Fire Within.” While watching the Olympic Opening Ceremonies Friday night, I noticed something odd. While certainly beautiful and expensive, the torch carried into the stadium didn’t put out much light. If the torch alone was used for light, it would only be enough light to walk one step at a time. The same is true with the light of Christ in our lives. We are called to carry God’s torch into the darkness of this world. As we live by faith, we often are not able to see the end of the journey, nor the results of our living in Christ. We rely on God’s light each and every step along the way. The Psalmist reminds us, “Your word, O Lord, is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:105) And as we rely on Christ to shine the light on our way, we are at the same time carrying that light into the world, so that all may know the saving love of God as revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7, NRSV)
