DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS
Saint Matthew 5:14-19 (10/16-10/29) Sunday of the Holy Fathers
of the Seventh Council
Our Light: Saint Matthew 5:14-19, especially vs. 16: “Let your light so shine before men, that they
may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” This order from the Lord Jesus demands
answers to three questions: First: What light is it that we may call
‘our’ light? Second:
How is it possible for our light to illumine what we do and say so that
‘our works’ will rightly be called ‘good’? Third: How will we know whether our
works are ‘good’ in the sense that Christ means?
The Dismissal Hymn, or Troparion,
of this Feast extols both Christ and the Church’s leaders: “Most
glorified art Thou, O Christ our God, Who has established our Fathers as
luminous stars upon the earth....”
The Lord gave this order to His first, chosen Disciples and to us. The Apostles whom He sent to us, being
‘luminous’ in Him certify that Christ is Light; but remember: among them was Judas
Iscariot, “...who also betrayed Him” (Mt. 10:4). Pray we never forget the Lord’s
point: though the potential for ‘light’ was given to us, it can be
lost by us, just as it was for Judas who left the Last Supper and went
“...out into the night” (Jn. 13:30). Christ is our Light, and leaving Him and
His Body, the Church, is to go out into the darkness all around us. The light we have is a gift from our
Savior, Who illumines us and gives us true light. Of ourselves, even as disciples, we are
wholly dependent on The Light of Light for light.
Should any light we have be the true Light of
Christ, then ‘our’ light will shine on others. Then, some will see Christ the Source of
our illumination, and they will “...glorify [our] Father in heaven (Mt.
5:16). Christ-in-us creates our
illumination which is both natural and supernatural, a result of allowing the
Light Himself to shine into us, through us, and out from us upon others. Although in us He is a subdued
light, a shaded light, and an inner glow, yet the light of Christ is powerful
to move men’s hearts to glorify the God and Father of us all. He is the light of any worship,
adoration, love, joy, and peace others find in us. His radiant essence awakens glory in
hearts as we receive it. Thus, we
understand that to be illumined is to know the light in our very bones, noetically, in an inexpressible manner, beyond the power of
our best words to define, describe, or control. Indeed, He moves us, but He is not a
light we may switch on or off at will.
Any light we have is His gift, and when we are illumined by Him we
hardly know we have light, though, by His grace and light, our lips may offer
thanksgiving.
The light of Christ coming into us creates
‘good works’ despite ourselves, giving “...light to all who
are in the house” with us (vs. 15).
If we take credit to ourselves for the light we are given, the Lord
departs and we go dark; if we rejoice when others are giving glory to God, the
Light Who is Light strengthens, brightens, and illumines many, yes, even
without our knowing it!
“Glory to Jesus Christ: Glory forever!” We know that our good works, our best
efforts, our garbled speech are ‘good’ when we see that what we do
and say is dust and ashes, paltry gifts to present to our radiant Lord. Indeed, whatever we do that is
‘good’ is of Christ, from Christ, and by Christ. “Thine
own of Thine own we offer Thee....”
Finally, consider these answers to the three
questions. First, what is the light
that we may call ‘our’ light? - Christ Who graciously illumines us
with Himself. Second, how is it
possible for our light to illumine what we do and say so that ‘our
works’ will rightly be called ‘good’? - with Christ
all things are possible. Third, how
will we know whether our works are ‘good’ in the sense that Christ
means? - when we come to His dread Judgment Seat and
He compassionately forgives us our debts, trespasses, and sins, for we know not
what we do (see Lk. 23:34).
Bless the light which Thou dost give unto
me, Thine unworthy servant. By the power of Thy blessing enable me
at all times to speak and act to Thy glory with an illumined spirit.
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