What if shining your light before others is more of a sacrificial healing exercise than standing up for your beliefs?

The passages for today’s lectionary readings are:

Isaiah 58:1-12 / Psalm 112:1-10 / 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 / Matthew 5:13-20

“…Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” – Matthew 5:16

If you’ve ever been around church, you’ve probably heard the call of Jesus to let your light shine.

As a child, I sang, “This Little Light of Mine” while holding my index finger high enough in the air so Satan couldn’t blow out the flame. 

As a student, I remember being challenged to be so “on fire for Jesus” that my light would shine as a witness for God.

There is a simplicity to this command; a freedom as well. While there are times that Jesus seems to suggest we keep our religion out of the spotlight, this command goes a different direction. Shine your light so everyone can see. Be on display for God’s glory. Stand up for Jesus!

I asked my eleven year old, Milla, what she thought Jesus meant by the word “light.” She answered, “Maybe personality, and what we believe?”

Obviously, I put her on the spot. I wanted to hear her initial reaction. That being the case, I don’t think she’s far off from what most of us instinctively think of when we read that verse.

For many of us, it comes down to who we are and what we believe. Our light will shine if we get those things right.

The problem is, I don’t think that’s what Jesus is talking about. 

The psalmist describes those who walk in the light. They are the kind of people who are fearlessly compassionate. They are full of mercy and righteousness. The word righteousness (or justice) is a way of saying that they live to make wrongs right.

This generous way of living is their delight and their riches. It is a pattern of selflessness and sacrifice that leads the Psalmist to conclude that “they rise in the darkness as a light for the upright.” (Psalm 112:4)

The Isaiah text goes even further by contrasting those in the light with those who delight in themselves. 

Given the charge to call out the hypocrisy of Israel, Isaiah describes the way God’s people practice their religion. This is a convicting read because, unfortunately, it appears they’re doing quite well! After all, they seek the Lord and delight to know his ways. They ask for God’s help and draw near in worship. What’s not to like?

As we read further the reality of their religion is revealed. Their worship is self serving. Even though they fast and humble themselves, they continue to oppress their workers and fight with one another. Isaiah says that their acts of worship are intertwined with serving their own interests.

After calling them out, Isaiah helps them see that the Lord desires a different way. One that loosens the bonds of injustice, lightens the burdens of their workers, frees the oppressed, releases prisoners, feeds the hungry, houses the homeless, clothes the naked and generously offers help to those who ask. 

And when they do that, Isaiah says, their light will shine.

But, it’s not just that. When they practice making wrongs right, they themselves will experience healing. 

“Then your light will shine forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear. Your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.”  – Isaiah 58:8 (NIV)

The light does not break forth unless the people respond to the prophets correction by making the wrong things right. And while that is happening, their own wrongs are being made right. Do you see the connection? God’s people find healing when they are the healers. 

When they release the prisoner, they themselves are becoming free. 

When they give bread to the hungry, they themselves are fed. 

When they house the homeless, they themselves find a home.

When they lighten others burdens, they themselves can walk with heads held high. 

This is how their light shines. 

To let our light shine for the world to see means that we are actively choosing to live in the shadows; fearlessly stepping in the darkness and bending below the broken. It is more about holding the spotlight for others than stepping into it ourselves. 

And this, I believe, is the mystery that Paul speaks of in the Corinthians passage.

The rulers of this age do not understand this light bringing way of living. To the powerful, it makes no sense to give up what got you the power in the first place. It serves no purpose to serve those who don’t help themselves. It’s counterintuitive to give away wealth to those who didn’t earn it, don’t deserve it and who are incapable of bringing back a better return. 

But Jesus understands. There is no limit to his understanding. Especially in how he dies.

As the rulers of this world strive to become something, Jesus becomes nothing. As they ask “What’s in it for me?” Jesus dies at their hands, not realizing he wants to give them so much more. 

“…’No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him’… And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.” – 2 Corinthians 2:9, 12 (NLT)

How might our religious patterns and ruling practices resist the light that’s ready to break forth? Are we confident enough in the good things God has prepared for us that we can release to others what we think we’ve prepared for ourselves? Do we trust that the Lord is good enough for us to be fearlessly good to those in the shadows? Are we willing to believe that it is in the shadows where we find his light and our healing? Is this the mystery of God that Paul speaks of?

We will need fearless imagination and the power of God to believe that what he has prepared for us is better than anything we’ve ever fantasized for ourselves. We must trust that he is actually good. That when we step into the shadows, his light will shine and we will be healed.

It might be true that no eye has seen what God has prepared, but not forever. Eventually, God’s Spirit will open up the eyes of the world so they might see the good works of Jesus and glorify the Father in heaven. It might be that he’s opening up your eyes right now. Maybe mine as well. 

Like a city on a hill, his light will not stay hidden.