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…let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. – Matthew 5:16 (NRSV)
Angel Chimes were part of my family’s dining table during Advent. When the candles were lit, their heat powered the flight of brass angels, and the strikers attached to the angels created a cheerful ting, ting, ting, ting as they passed over the chimes. The light of the candles sparkled the eyes of everyone around the table. Jesus had come to bring joy.
I was unaware of it at the time, but Jesus was incarnate in the people gathered around that table...
- My grandfather was a man of prayer (prayers that were too long, in the opinion of my 8 year old self). He worked at seeing the good in everyone and avoiding being judgmental. He visited others “in Jesus’ name,” to bring them encouragement.
- My father, though busy with work, family, and community, still made time to be the church youth group leader. When he realized how kids in the group were modeling his behavior, he made the difficult decision to quit smoking and, even harder, to “stay quit” for their sake.
- My mother was always very conscious of the needs of others, but she preferred to help quietly as a “background” person. When the community needed a Girl Scout leader and our congregation needed a Vacation Bible School chair, she volunteered, despite her fears and discomfort.
Jesus also appeared in other people who gathered around that table long, sometimes long after the Angel chimes had been packed away. Some guests were as one might expect saintly types. A few were more likely to be labeled as sinners. More often, guests were people in need of a loving place to be for a shared meal or a place to stay a few nights while ironing out problems with family members. In all those people – saints, sinners, and combinations of the two – Jesus was there.
Giver of light and love, help us see the joy that sharing your light provides to others, and to ourselves, even when that sharing makes us a little uncomfortable. Amen.
Carol Bloomquist
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