Is Your Light Blinding or Guiding
Year A, 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time • Sermon • Submitted
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A Light in the Forest
A Light in the Forest
Before we left WA to come to MI Carol and I wanted to hike the hike to Aasgard Pass and into the Enchantments. It is a very popular area. The forest service limits the number of day hikers during the summer but that was not one of our concerns. We were going to hike in October. Up and back is about 24 miles.
We started our adventure at 5:30am by picking up another couple who also loved hiking. We drove up Iscile Creek Canyon to the trail head parking lot. We were the only car in the parking lot. It was a cloudy, cool autumn day but that did not dampen our spirits.
Most of the day was spent climbing to Aasguard Pass. It was a brutal climb over an avalanche area. We had to climb over or around boulders larger than us. We kept one eye and one ear open to the sight or sound of an rock slide that could have crushed us.
When we arrived at the top of the pass we had a breath taking view of snow whipping in our faces. We sought shelter by a rock and made boiled water for tea and hot chocolate. We then headed for home.
Climbing down the boulder field took short legs longer than climbing up. The daylight began to fade and it was obvious that we would not arrive at the cars until the darkness of the evening had overcome the day.
The final stretch of the trail was wide from overuse and ran along a creek. Just before we start that final stretch we all got out our flashlights. Without those lights hiking would be quite dangerous. The trail had enough rocks and stumps to trip us into a nasty fall. Those lights served to guide us to safety. We arrived at our car tried and beleaguered.
On that trip light was our friend. It kept us safe and guided us along the trail. Light is not always a friend. If you have ever been stop by the police at night you know that light can be almost blinding. Even if the officer is helping you they insist on using a flashlight that is nearly as long as their forearm and shines with blinding intensity. The light serves to protect the officer. He will see every move you make. You will not be able to flinch without his detection.
These are two ways that light is used. It can either guide us along dark paths or blind us. Jesus calls us to be the light of the world. My question to you: Is your light guiding or blinding people who do not believe?
However, before we explore that question there are a few things for us to consider.
Jesus was a master at using simile and metaphor to describe spiritual truth. He carefully selected imagery
how we are to guide people in truth rather than blind them by the truth, we must consider that the light of the Christian witness to the world has become quite dim.
Many believers today have forgotten the important responsibility we have in guiding the world in ethical behavior and morals. This responsibility applies both in our personal lives and in our public lives. However, the believers are less effective today than we have been since 1000 AD when priests and monk kept concubines and the church leadership required hefty donations before they would offer their blessings upon political appointments. Scandal after scandal has shown that today’s church leaders are just as prone to corruption and greed as a secular leader.
We have failed to grasp the significance of Jesus imagery.
The Christian faith is by its very nature evangelistic. God does not reveal himself to us solely for our personal pleasure. He sends the Spirit to break the power of sin so that we might once again enjoy our relationship with him. We
14 Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him,
1cor 11:14.