Ss Peter & Paul, Kettering

Christ the Light of the World

Seen on a teenager’s t-shirt recently: “Galileo was wrong! I am the centre of the universe”. To me this is a defining mantra for our generation – whilst in the age of enlightenment we were seeking to find hope and knowledge by expanding our horizons. Today its about the here and now that everything we need is within us. We are called to be “centred” and that salvation lies within. Don’t look beyond this – our own personal cares and our own personal wellbeing and needs. Sort this out and there will be harmony in the world.

The feast of Candlemas – the presentation of Jesus in the Temple was the total opposite. Imagine for a moment if Simeon had worn a t-shirt which said “I am not interested in the big promise I have been given! I am right, I am the centre of the universe”. He would never have even looked beyond himself to something bigger. His expectations would have been defined not even by the walls of the temple but by his own experience.

How dull a world would be if we were defined by that? How dreary life would be if we said, for example on a visit to the lakes – Well you have been to Windermere, how about Grasmere and the response was – nope seen one lake, you have seen them all. Sir Edmund Hillary practices on Snowdon and then is offered Everest and says – well if you have seen one mountain you have seen them all.

Not so with Simeon. Here was someone whose world view had the promise of complete expansion – blown away from the confining walls of his own experience. He had been looking forward to this!

What did he receive – a light! Light comes in human form. And it comes from an external source. Forget these homespun, knit your own yoghurt, basket weaving courses “Come and discover the light within” – but adopt Simeon, which was allowing the light to explode into his life.

Simeon had spent most of his time dwelling in the temple. But now, he realised that he was holding the temple. Since, if the temple is the place where God is revealed and adored.. here was very temple, the presence of God in human form. Since the place and the person are one and the same. Simeon’s horizons had been expanded into something way beyond his expectations. But at least he had some.

I am often saddened in the church by our lack of expectation and our lack of looking out for the bigger picture. That so often we become like that teenager, that somehow – our own experience is the limit of our own experience. In Yorks “I like what I know and I know what I like”. Or in the church what I call the 7 last words of the church “ We have never done that before” or “ We don’t do that thing here” – Its as if we don’t want our horizons expanded. That We are the centre of the universe, and the experiences that we have had are enough.

The Presentation of Christ reminds us that Christ as the light of the world has not come as a night light – on at night to keep us safe within, but out there. This is not a light for us – but for the world. In a sense this procession is in the wrong place, or its only in the right place if we are going to take this light out with us into the world.

Which begs the question – yes, but how! Well I want to suggest that we go against everything that we were taught as children. Never play with fire! We are going to process with fire, dance with fire, and be igniters of the world. So its nonsense – play with fire. Simeon in his way was saying that he was holding hot stuff – this astonishing light, which was now burning within him (compare the revelation of Jesus to the disciples on the Emmaus road ) were our hearts not burning within us. An external light – as yet unrecognised, was boring identity and acceptance into their hearts.

In that story, Jesus resurrected – and incarnated still! – shows up alongside and shares the risen light. George Guiver writes powerfully about ministry and what being a minster - not just ordained – is all about. And he talks about being a pilot light.

Now, have you ever done this? Most boilers have a little port hole. And that pilot light - small frail and with a massive capacity and potential. This is what being a light to the world is. How can Christ be a light of the world unless we have been lights to the world, And who can we be lights too the world unless we are as desperate as Simoen was to wait for the revelation? As God bearers – we take on the role of Simeon – to paraphrase the hymn: lights to the lightless in order that they might illumined be.

So go and play with fire! Take this out – do something tomorrow – understand that the temple has changed location and how has a forwarding address which is beyond this place. Our whole lives should be a presentation of God to the world. So when we look at these candles we remember not just the light of God they represent, but our own lives in which that light is seen by others.

I wanted to end this sermon, as we think about our roles in the story of God’s light in our world with a poem by Thomas Merton.

The Candlemas Procession - 1943
Lumen Ad revelationem gentium.

Look kindly, Jesus, where we come,
New Simeons, to kindle,
Each at Your infant sacrifice his own life’s candle.

And when Your flame turns into many tongues,
See how the One is multiplied, among us, hundreds!
And goes among the humble, and consoles our sinful
kindred.

It is for this we come,
And, kneeling, each receive one flame:
Ad revelationem gentium.

Our lives, like candles, spell this simple symbol:
Weep like our bodily life, sweet work of bees,
Sweeten the world, with your slow sacrifice.
And this shall be our praise:
That by our glad expense, our Father’s will
Burned and consumed us for a parable.

Nor burn we now with brown and smoky flames, but
bright
Until our sacrifice is done,
(By which not we, but You are known)
And then, returning to our Father, one by one,
Give back our lives like wise and waxen lights.

The teenager is wrong - from today – seen – dare I say emblazoned - on the t shirts of the people of God in Kettering – “I was wrong, I am not the centre of the universe, but I am carrying him - the light of the universe.” And he so shapes my life, that I bought into the life and I bought the t shirt – a light.. to lighten the gentiles – the Kettering branch!

Tim Sledge, February 2nd, 2008

Office Address:

The Rectory

Church Walk

Kettering

NN16 0DJ