Is your light on?
“And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.” – John 1:34
The sermon from Pastor Lusungu Msigwa this past Sunday truly touched my heart. If you didn’t get a chance to see it in person, please remember that you can always watch a previous worship service online through YouTube or Facebook. I absolutely commend Pastor Msigwa’s sermon to you.
He spoke of baptism as welcome to a family, one far larger and more loving than we could ever envision. When we receive the cross of Christ on our foreheads at baptism, he spoke of it as a light that shines from us for the rest of our lives. He invited us to consider: is that light still on? And if it isn’t, or has gotten dim, you can invite the same Spirit that washed over you at your baptism to wash over you again.
It’s something I hear from so many people right now: that light feels very, very dim. So many people are tired, worn out, spent. So many feel confused, lost, defeated. So many wonder: where is God in all this? Why do I feel so disconnected from God’s action in my life. Or in some cases, people have simply been so worn down that they’ve stopped wondering.
When Pastor Msigwa talked about the baptismal light in our lives, and how it could grow dim, it gave me a whole new way to think about this exhaustion and despair that so many of us feel. It reminded me that no matter how I feel, I have been marked and claimed by God. That promise remains true even if I sometimes don’t feel like it. Better yet, restoring its light isn’t something I work harder to achieve. It’s simply work I ask God to do. I let the Spirit do the ongoing work of faith in my life. I just pay attention so I can see it when it happens.
I hope your baptismal light shines brightly in you today. I hope it not only points others to Jesus, but it guides you as well. I hope it points you to where God has always been active and shows you how to keep moving forward even when things are difficult. And as always, I hope you remember that you’re surrounded by a community of faith that cares for you, prays for you, and celebrates the light that shines in us all.
Let us pray:
God, let my baptismal light shine brightly. May it send others into your gift of life. May it point me in the way you would have me go. May it grant me hope and comfort on difficult days. May it truly reflect your love. Amen.