Sliced from Jesus’ Ordination Sermon, two words are blinking attention: “your” and “so”.
“You are the light of the world. A city set upon a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and be led to glorify your Father who is in heaven.
From the Midwayer authors: While light dispels darkness, it can also be so “blinding” as to confuse and frustrate. We are admonished to let our light so shine that our fellows will be guided into new and godly paths of enhanced living. Our light should so shine as not to attract attention to self. Even one’s vocation can be utilized as an effective “reflector” for the dissemination of this light of life.
In a funeral sermon today the pastor spoke of a person who wanted him to read The Urantia Book and the pastor today said he couldn’t agree with some of what he read. His statement today caused me to realize people sometimes go too fast for persons, taking a shortcut using the book instead of, perhaps, years-long friendly effort to introduce UB teachings.
Note the words: “let your light so shine” The word “your” is specific. It could mean a group or a person. IMHO its possessive in that we cannot shove the responsibility of light shining off to others. We could take an honest look inside of self and determine if style could be adjusted. The light we attempt by short cutting the sharing too fast (here, read this book) is unacceptable to a person not prepared for belief adjustments. Seeing our good works may include attempts to introduce the book to others. While doing so we may not desire to attract personal attention, but we error when we are a bit impatient introducing the book or its contents. Sound familiar?
It is our responsibility to adjust the “so”, our style to be beneficial for the individual. Jesus told us to use parables for groups.
In the lesson I learned today the pastor was clearly not ready for anything other than his seminary “indoctrination”.
I appreciate the lesson. What say, all?
