“Share the Light, or Lose It”—An Advent Sermon
Luke 3:1-6
Preacher: The Rev. Canon John Donnelly
St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, Wayne, NJ
Once upon a time there was a man who lived in a deep dark cave---which had no exit. All his life, he was cold, damp, and miserable. The cave was so dark that he couldn’t see; and he was consumed with sorrow. The man had a candle---but he had no fire, so the candle was totally useless.
One day, in his desperation, the man cried out to the Lord, asking for help. Much to his surprise, an angel appeared and lit his candle with a flame of fire. Well, he was overjoyed. His candle gave him warmth. His candle gave him light. His candle gave him companionship. And his candle made him happy.
However, the following day another cave dweller appeared in the man’s life. The cave dweller was a woman, and she was cold, damp, and frightened. She, too, had a candle---but she had no fire. Now the woman became attracted to the man’s candle, and crept closely to him. She loved the warmth ---the light---the security. However, as she approached-- the man saw her and turned his back upon her---blocking her from the light.
Summoning up her courage, the woman dared to speak to him. “Kind sir,” she said, “Would you please light my candle, for I have no light?”
At the sound of her voice, the man walked away, leaving her in the darkness. He didn’t know this woman---but more than that, you see, he was afraid. He was afraid that if he lit the stranger’s candle—that his might accidentally blow out---and that once again, he’d be left in the darkness. So, the man took his candle and walked in the opposite direction---hurrying to safety.
Meanwhile, the angel of the Lord had not yet left the cave, and had seen all that had transpired. The angel was filled with a rage towards the man’s selfishness. So, he flew over to the man, blowing out his candle; and then the angel gave the light to the woman. Once again, the man was left in the darkness. Oh, the woman tried to light his candle for him---but each time she tried, his candle went out.
John the Baptist rose from the desert as a mighty prophet----condemning the religious establishment, and encouraging the non-religious. You see, the religious people had kept the light of God’s word all to themselves. They knew the comfort of God. They basked in the God’s love, God’s mercy, God’s forgiveness, and God’s joy. And that was good.
But they kept it all to themselves---while regular people wandered in the darkness of ignorance. They didn’t know that God loved them. They didn’t know they could pray to him. They didn’t know his compassion and mercy.
So John, the Baptist, filled with the Holy Spirit---preached to the religious establishment, saying, “Share it, or God will take it away from you.”
My friends, we are the religious establishment to whom this message is directed. We are here today because we know that Jesus is Alive---that Jesus rose from the dead---and that Jesus will come again. Many of us remember how we once wandered in the darkness, when we did not know His love and forgiveness.
· Some of us were notorious sinners, who hurt others and hurt ourselves.
· Others of us were apathetic about God, because we really didn’t think he could add anything to our lives.
· And still others of us were battered, beaten, and broken; and we were at the end of our ropes.
Then----one day-----when you were minding your own business, or when you were doing something bad---or one day when you were languishing in pain----someone brought light into your darkness. Someone had mercy on you, whether you knew you needed it or not. Someone reached out to you in a dramatic way, or in a quiet way, in the Name of Jesus.
· Maybe the person invited you to come to church.
· Maybe the person prayed with you, or listened to your problems.
· Maybe touched you with tough love.
· Maybe someone befriended you.
· Maybe an invisible angel guided you to this parish family.
· Maybe someone forgave you for the wrong you had done to him or her.
· Maybe someone told you about Jesus’ love.
· Maybe someone helped you when you needed a friend---and then, another candle was lit—and that candle was yours.
Now when that happened, the light of Christ’s love may have shined upon you---- in a sudden flash, as was the case of St. Paul on the Road to Damascus; or maybe the light started shining very dimly----and softly, until it grew bright.
Oh, how can we describe the light of Christ coming into our lives?
· It’s a sense of security and peace that we know will sustain us, even during the hardest of times.
· Its like a joy that we may have had at an earlier time in our lives, which we had lost, and now have found.
· Its like a heavy backpack has been removed from your back, so that you can stand tall and straight.
· Its like you’ve been tied up with rope, and now are free.
· It’s like wandering around in an unknown forest, or being lost as you drive in an unfamiliar area---and then suddenly, you see the way to go---and you proceed with confidence.
· The light of Christ coming into our lives is like coming into the warmth when you’ve been out in the cold;
· It’s like being fed when you are hungry.
· ISN’T THE LIGHT OF CHRIST WONDERFUL? AMEN?
******If you do not know of what I speak, if you do not know the light of Christ---then you need to learn how to receive it. Christ wants to shine His spiritual light into the dark and broken parts of your heart. If you want to learn want to learn how to receive the light of Christ, then I want to encourage to come up to the altar rail, after our service today, and speak to a member of our Prayer Team. These trained people know how to share the light of Christ with you so that you can receive it.
*****If you have previously received the light of Christ; and then later, wandered back into the darkness and subsequently gotten lost along the way---do not despair. Jesus is waiting for you to come back to Him. Likewise, I encourage you to come up and pray with one of our prayer teams following the service.
*****Finally, for all of us who have received the light of Christ ----WE need to be merciful to those people, in your world, who have not. We need to find ways to share the light of Christ, because most people are wandering in the darkness----and like in our parable, if we don’t share the light we have received, then it will be taken away from us. This is a question of mercy. We cannot just sit smugly, basking in the light of Christ, while the people wandering in darkness go about their business, either suffering or not even giving a thought to God.
They don’t know what they are missing---but you do. And if you don’t share it, you will lose it-----and you will miss it. But if you do share it, His light will become brighter in your life.
Someone was merciful to you and me. Some God was merciful to you and me .
Look and pray over the meditation form below. God is calling you to show mercy to someone. Bring His light in this time before Christmas. Jesus is the reason for the season.
