Sermon: "Lights to the World"
The Right Reverend Charles G. vonRosenberg
Third Bishop of East Tennessee

[This sermon by Bishop vonRosenberg was delivered using the following notes.]

From my days in parish ministry, I have fond memories of a particular service that took place at this time of year. Sometimes called the "Feast of Lights" or the "Festival of Lessons and Carols," this service could have a variety of actual liturgies. However, always included were these elements: an evening time following sunset, candles, and some way to dim the electric lights in the church.

A dramatic moment occurred near the conclusion of the service. An acolyte lighted the taper; the lights dimmed; and the fire was passed from candle to candle, pew to pew, until the darkened space was brightened with candlelight.

In my experience, though, another moment of drama invariably took place at the door following the service. As I spoke with parishioners, a child would approach, covering the candle flame, and walking - with great concentration and commitment - out into the darkness. Thus, that child symbolically became the means for spreading the light into the dark world.

Of course, this action presents a familiar theme for Epiphany. The Collect today expresses the theme quite vividly: "Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ's glory, that he may be known, worshiped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth." Like the child at the church door, therefore, we ourselves are to receive the light of Jesus Christ. Then, we are to carry that light out into the world of darkness.

Notice, too, the same theme occurs in the reading from Isaiah. There the prophet speaks to God's people of God's great expectations for them. That is, God's people will not only be agents for returning the nations of Jacob and Israel back to God. Also, the prophet goes on to affirm, "I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth" (49:6). Therefore, the familiar thematic movement is repeated. The people themselves are enlightened first, and then, they take that light beyond themselves - into a dark world, "to the ends of the earth."

In the Gospel reading, St. John changes the image, but the movement is similar. In that passage, we do not find reference to light - but, rather, to the water of baptism. Baptism - first mentioned here in association with John the Baptist - involves Jesus next and, then through Jesus, all the world. Indeed, at the conclusion of St. Matthew's Gospel, we find Jesus' familiar exhortation to his followers: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age" (28:19-20). "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them …"

We ourselves become parts of this story, this dramatic movement, by virtue of our own baptism. The children to be baptized today join that story. People to be confirmed today accept the promises of their baptisms as adult Christians, and thereby, they indicate their continuing parts in the story of faith. In addition, all the rest of us have the opportunity to indicate our place in the same story, for we will renew our Baptismal Covenant with Almighty God today.

This morning, therefore, all of us accept our parts in an ancient, holy drama. The faith of our ancestors has been passed to us. It now becomes our responsibility - and our joy - to share that faith, to pass it on.

In conclusion, then, we are like children in a darkened church during the season of Epiphany. We clutch our candle in expectation and excitement. The flame comes to us, and then we pass it along the pew, lighting the candle next to our own. Following the service, we cover our flame, protecting it carefully from the movements of air around us. And then we walk - with great concentration and commitment - out into the world of darkness.

"Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ's glory, that he may be known, worshiped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth." Amen.

Copyright © 2005 The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee