YOU Are the Light of the World
As a citizen of God's Kingdom, you reflect the Light of Christ to a world gripped by darkness.
I love what I read recently about being famous: "Being famous on Instagram or Facebook is like being rich in the game Monopoly." That is so true.
But we have a shallow culture today that seems addicted to being famous or "great" in the eyes of the people we want to think well of us. Our young people go through that period of maturity where being popular and belonging to the "cool kids." Of course, part of being mature is growing out of this insecurity and becoming a person free from the fear of not being popular.
And yet, even as we know we need to mature beyond this desire to be great, we still have this fear inside that we are unknown or unappreciated. But the Faith gives us a way to grow up and be sober about our fears.
Look at our lesson today in Matthew 5:14-19:
The Lord said to his disciples, "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."
This is a familiar passage, and I'm sure you've heard countless talks about what Jesus means here. But I want to focus your attention on the last line of the passage: "...he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."
Jesus is spending His ministry time forming His disciples and equipping them to form others as "great" in this new society He is creating called "The Kingdom of God." He does this by pointing out Three Characteristics of this new Kingdom.
First, This Kingdom will be a Kingdom of Light. Our Faith, our Church wasn't designed to be hidden or ashamed or reserved only for the "right" people. This Kingdom of God is to be Light in the world. And what does Light do? It illuminates. You don't stumble when you can see all around you. You are Light, and that means those close to you can see clearly, too. You Share the Light. You Show the Light. You ARE the Light of the world. And this illumination makes an open spectacle of your good works SO THAT others can find their way to the Light!
Second, This Kingdom Is a Kingdom of Continuity. The Lord Jesus didn't come to throw away all that came before. He came to fulfill all that came before and to connect us to this continual revelation of the New Society Jesus consecrates in His Church. We don't ignore the Old Testament or the Torah. We become inheritors of this great Tutor gifted to the whole world to bring us to Jesus Christ. The wisdom in The Law is meant to teach us to mature and point us to Christ. To be ignorant of the Old Testament is to be impoverished in our inheritance in Jesus Christ!
Finally, This Kingdom is a Kingdom of Eternity! This Kingdom of God will have no end BECAUSE it is the Kingdom of our God and His Christ! This Kingdom has citizens who are forever connected to Him Who IS LIFE. And He shares His life with all who enter communion with Him in His Kingdom. This very connection sets me free to be "great in the Kingdom" because His life is transforming me, not just to say I'm a Christian but to behave like Christ in my choices, priorities, and daily life.
Sts. Athanasios and Cyril, Patriarchs of Alexandria, embody this Kingdom of Light that enabled these heroes of the Faith to correct the false teachings of Arius who said Jesus was not equal to the Father. By the way, this is always the evil one’s intent, to get you to get Jesus wrong. If Jesus is the Light of the world and He is now living in you to make you the Light of your world, then getting the identity of Jesu wrong hinders the Light and hurts everyone. Sts Athanasios and Cyril were leaders of the Church in Antioch and stood as pillars of the Light at a time when wrong teachings were threatening to derail the Faith. St. Athanasios opposed Arius and his heresy and suffered because of the political maneuverings of those who wanted Arius to win the day. But Athanasios stood in the way of this false teaching, and we remember him for the hero he is. St. Cyril, also from Alexandria withstood the heresies taught by Nestorius, then the patriarch of Constantinople, in the 5th century. Both heresies threatened the Orthodox understanding of Who Jesus really is, and we have the fullness of the Faith today because these heroes refused to compromise the Light for the darkness of error!
Today, do you desire to be "great?" Good! But desire greatness based on eternal wisdom, not the fleeting popularity of ephemeral fame. To be great eternally means to be an active, practicing citizen of the eternal Kingdom of Jesus Christ, and that means learning how to live a Normal Orthodox Life!
P.S. Shining forth with works of Orthodoxy, you quenched every false belief and teaching and became trophy-bearers and conquerors. And since you made all things rich and with true piety, greatly adorning the Church with magnificence, Athanasios and wise Cyril, you both have worthily found Christ God, Who does grant great mercy unto all.
