Let your light shine!

Let Your Light Shine!

Arise, shine, for your light has come! These words of the prophet Isaiah are the first words we hear for the Feast of the Epiphany and they set the tone for the whole of this season. The light which each one of us received at Christmas is not meant to be kept to ourselves, but to shine for the whole world to see. And not just as individuals, but each of our communities has a light that we share with the world. And Isaiah promises us that when we are doing the work of God, the work of love and justice, our light shines so brightly that the whole world will see it and join in the work of God. This is our mission for Epiphany to let our light shine.
 
I turned our porch light on for Halloween, but I started to get worried that the kids wouldn't go up the driveway to trick or treat. So John and I dragged our porch chairs down to the end of the driveway and sat with a big bowl of candy and our blankets.  I think the neighbors thought we were a little strange and it turns out Rochester children are quite hardy and did make their way up all the driveways. But it was a great way to meet our neighbors and to get to know them.
 
During Epiphany, we hear the story of the three kings and how they followed a great light, to find truth, to find God. We have used this for over 200 years in our church as a model for how to let our light shine. Have beautiful churches, make our lights bright, and turn on the porch light for the world! But this Epiphany, I want us to turn that around. Instead of waiting for people to come to us, to see our light, I want us to go out, into the streets, into the marketplaces, into the dark places in our world, to worship and serve, and let our light shine.
 
This Epiphany, remember, the light you have been given at Christmas is the light for the world. And together, we will make it shine!