27 So [Simeon] came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, 28 he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:
29 “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace,
According to Your word;
30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation
31 Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,
32 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel.”
~ Luke 2:27-32 [NKJV]
When we were children, we learned the song “This little light of mine”. With a little prompting, I’m sure you’ll start humming it or singing … “I’m gonna let it shine. Let it shine. Let is shine. Let it shi-ine.”
Light, by its very nature, is intended to expand. And it will do so unless some obstacle is put in its way. Even a small candle in a dark room will throw off quite a bit of light. If we light another candle off of the original candle, the original light is not diminished at all. The light simply multiplies and spreads and extends its influence.
Light is the theme of the season of Epiphany. The day we celebrate Epiphany is January 6 – twelve days after Christmas. This is when many Spanish-speaking countries celebrate with gifts as they commemorate the arrival of the wise men (or magi) from the East who have come to honor Jesus. You and I, as children of God, are called to be like candles that spread the light of Christ throughout the world. We look to the Bible for our mandate in Isaiah 42:6, 49:6; Luke 2:32; and Matthew 28:19-20 (the Great Commandment) among others. The light and love of God are not meant to be kept to ourselves – it is for all people regardless of the color of their skin, the language they speak at home, or their nation of origin – it is for all people whether rich or poor, simple or wise.
Some Christians suppose that the job of a Christian is to be a gatekeeper rather than a candle. To be a gatekeeper is to become an obstacle – something that stands in the way or restricts access – it prevents the light from doing what it is intended to do: in this case, to enlighten the people and glorify God. Some of us have grown up feeling as though we must preserve the true teachings of the faith – we must be guardians. It might feel awkward and strangely freeing to alter our perspective to be more candle-like than gatekeeper-like. This is also Scriptural: consider the parable of the sower (Mark 4:1-20; Matthew 13:1-23; and Luke 8:1-15) in which the sower seems almost reckless as he sows the seed not caring whether the seed falls on good soil or a path. Consider also that Jesus spoke out most often against the religious elite … the rule keepers.
As we begin a new year, I invite you to join with me in being candles – candles that share the light of Christ, candles that continue throughout our lives to become better and better followers.
I close this article with one of my favorite quotes from Albert Schweitzer, who closes his book The Quest of the Historical Jesus with this paragraph:
He comes to us as One unknown, without a name, as of old, by the lakeside, He came to those men who knew him not. He speaks to us the same word: ‘Follow thou me!’ and sets us to the tasks, which He has to fulfill for our time. He commands. And to those who obey Him, whether they be wise or simple, He will reveal Himself in the toils, the conflicts, the sufferings which they shall pass through in His fellowship, and, as an ineffable mystery, they shall learn in their own experience Who He is.
In Christ,
Pastor Jeff
Epicurious Lutheran 