August 20, 2023 Sermon - Refract

August 20, 2023 Sermon Manuscript

Sermon: Refract

Series: Refresh

Scripture: Psalm 112

Christ has no body but yours…

           There’s a church in San Diego – Christ The King Catholic Church – with a statue of Jesus displayed, with missing hands. In 1980, Jesus’ hands were knocked off by vandals. There was, initially, some effort to find a way to repair the statue by somehow replacing the hands. But, ultimately, a decision was made to leave the statue in its broken state - hand-less - and signs were attached at the base, saying “I have no hands but yours,” in English and Spanish.

           The phrase, “I have no hands but yours” comes from a longer saying from a 16^th century Spanish Catholic saint, named Teresa of Avila: “Christ has no body but yours, No hands, no feet on earth but yours, Yours are the eyes with which He looks Compassion on this world, Yours are the feet with which He walks to do good, Yours are the hands, with which He blesses all the world. Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, Yours are the eyes, you are His body.”

           Which reminds me of another quote: “Be careful how you live. You may be the only Bible someone ever reads.”

           The point is, we are Christ’s representatives in the world. But, to say we are Christ’s “representatives” barely scratches the surface.

Just as God was incarnate in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, now Jesus is incarnate in people like you and me, and in all of us – collectively - as the Body of Christ in the world. Where are the hands of Christ, serving the needs of the broken and needy? Look at your own. Look at your neighbor’s. Where are the arms of Christ, open and extended, offering welcome to those in need of a spiritual home? Look at your own. Where is the heart of Christ, beating with compassion for the lost and the hurting? It’s beating in your own chest. Where is the prophetic voice of Christ, speaking words of challenge and hope to a hurting word? Listen to your own. Where is the generosity of Christ, sacrificing his own life for the sake of the whole world? Consider your own generosity.

They shine in the dark…

           Psalm 112 describes such a person: “Praise the Lord! Those who honor the Lord, who adore God’s commandments, are truly happy!” (Psalm 112:1) According to Psalm 112, such a person…

·     Has blessed offspring.

·     Has a reputation for mercy, compassion and righteousness.

·     Is generous and just.

·     Isn’t shaken by difficulties, or frightened by bad news.

·     Is steady, firm and unafraid.

·     Will triumph over their enemies.

Sounds a lot like Jesus, doesn’t it?

But, the line I like most is verse 4, “They shine in the dark for others.” (Psalm 112:4 CEB) The NRSV says, “They rise in the darkness as a light for the upright.”

That reminds me of Jesus saying (from The Voice translation), “You, beloved, are the light of the world. A city built on a hilltop cannot be hidden. Similarly it would be silly to light a lamp and then hide it under a bowl. When someone lights a lamp, she puts it on a table or a desk or a chair, and the light illumines the entire house. You are like that illuminating light. Let your light shine everywhere you go, that you may illumine creation, so men and women everywhere may see your good actions, may see creation at its fullest, may see your devotion to Me, and may turn and praise your Father in heaven because of it.” (Matthew 5:14-16)

           Which brings us to today’s theme, “Refract,” as in the way light refracts when it passes through a prism or a cut jewel, dispersing the light into an array of brilliant colors. Our theme for August and September, as we begin a new school and church year, is “Refresh,” as in the icon we use on our computer browsers to update our screens with the latest, most recent data. From time to time, especially as we enter new seasons, many of us need to intentionally “refresh” areas of our lives we may have been ignoring, including our discipleship or spirituality. 

           As we “refresh” spiritually, have we considered how well we are representing Christ in the world? Are our habits, our values, our choices, our lifestyles more a reflection of Christ in us, or the world’s influence on us? Have we considered the brightness of our spiritual lights, or if we’re keeping our lights hidden under a proverbial basket or bowl? Are we allowing the light of Christ to shine through our words, deeds, actions, values, interactions, priorities, etc? When others think about us, talk about us, observe us, do they see Christ?

Henri Nouwen writes, “You and I are called to become other Christ’s, to be living manifestations of God in this world. God dwells in us in such an intimate way that we indeed are becoming manifestations of God’s glory in this world.”

Years ago, when I was the Youth Director here, I received note from one of our youth, named Kimberly Clark, saying, “When I look at you, I see Jesus.” I’ve never forgotten that – both for the kind affirmation, and the responsibility to live up to it. Though I’ve regrettably lost the note, I still think about it, hoping/wondering if it was true then, or now. Do people see Christ in me? Do they hear Christ in my words?

As I’ve said many times before, one of my core theological/biblical convictions is that we are made in the image and likeness of God. Everyone – no exceptions. Saints and sinners, young and old, transgender and cisgender, rich and poor, married and single, male and female, every skin tone, heterosexual and homosexual, Republican and Democrat, left handed and right handed, citizen and immigrant, weak and powerful. No exceptions! That, of course, includes every person in this room, or watching online. No exceptions!

Cole Arthur Riley writes, “I don’t know if God meant to confer value on us by creating us in their own image, but they had to have known it would at least be an outcome. How can anyone who is made to bear likeness to the maker of the cosmos be anything less than glory?”

Reflect…

           Originally, the title for this sermon was “Reflect” – you may have noticed, each of the sermons in this series begin with the prefix, “re.” Obviously, our words, actions and character are meant to reflect Christ. Jesus, in the flesh, was a reflection of God – “The visible image of the invisible God.” (Colossians 1:15) Likewise, as Jesus’s life reflected God, we’re called to reflect Christ working in and through us.

Sometimes, when a child resembles their parent, we may say, “They’re a chip off of the old block” or “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” Can the same be said of us, in our relationship with Christ?

Likewise, the Apostle Paul used a variety of metaphors to remind us that we are called to reflect Christ, saying we are…
·     God’s dwelling place. (Romans 8:9)

·     God’s handiwork. (Ephesians 2:10)

·     Clothed in Christ. (Galatians 3:27)

·     The aroma of Christ. (2 Corinthians 2:14)

·     Members of the Body of Christ. (1 Corinthians 12)

·     A letter from Christ. (2 Corinthians 3:3)

·     Temples of the Spirit. (1 Corinthians 3:16)

·     Christ’s ambassadors of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:20)

·     Raised with Christ. (Colossians 3:1)

·     Good servants of Christ. (1 Timothy 4:6)

·     Citizens of heaven. (Philippians 3:20)

·     Saints of Christ. (Philippians 4:21)

·     New creations, in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Are we getting the picture? Just as a mirror reflects the person standing in front of it, our lives are like mirrors reflecting Jesus. When was the last time you consider what you are reflecting to the world? 

I once heard a great sermon comparing the way we reflect Christ to the moon reflecting the sun’s light. We are moved by moonlight. Just think of how many love songs and poems talk about moonlight. But, the moon doesn’t generate light. The moon is just a hunk of dust and rock. But, when that hunk of dust is in the right position, on a dark night, the moon beautifully reflects the light of the sun. Some even believe a full moon makes us do crazy things!

BTW – just as the moon is merely a hunk dust, doesn’t the Bible say we’re also made of dust… yet loving formed and shaped by God, like clay jars, and filled with God’s own Spirit?

And, by the way, that’s a great metaphor for humility. Humility is knowing who I am – just dust and dirt - but lovingly formed into the image and likeness of God. I’m not the source of the light. I have no ability to generate the light. Another source is required. But, when the light is shined on me, in me, through me, I can reflect that light for others.

As we heard earlier in today’s anthem, “He has told you, human one, what is good and what the Lord requires from you: to do justice, embrace faithful love, and walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8) It’s really as simple, and as challenging, as that! As I work for justice, as I love others through words and deeds, as I walk humble with God day by day, the light shines.

Refract…

           But, let’s go further. Reflecting Christ, to the best of our ability, is a good thing. But, the title of today’s message is NOT “Reflect.” The title of today’s message IS “Refract.” When light is reflected off of a mirror, it is merely shining back the same light – no more, no less. But, when light is shined through a prism, refraction happens. When light passes through the different facets of a prism, the light is divided and dispersed, creating something quite different than a mere reflection. Sometimes white light splits into the colors of the rainbow. Sometimes the light is dispersed, creating the sparkle we attribute to a diamond ring.

           Yes, we’re called to reflect Christ. But, what if we go further, allowing the light of Christ to sparkle, as it passes through the unique, one-of-a-kind facets of our lives. 

           To extend the metaphor even further, you probably know there are different cuts of diamonds: princess, or square, or round, or teardrop, or emerald, etc. Some are cut with more facets than others. Diamonds also varying in size, clarity and color. Each one sparkles. But, each one sparkles uniquely. What if, as you and I refract the light of Christ, we sparkle?

           Reza Aslan writes, “Think of God as a light that passes through a prism, refracting into countless colors.” 

And, let me be clear. I’m NOT talking about some kind of fake piety, as Christians are sometimes accused. I’m NOT talking about hiding behind some kind of artificial spiritual façade. I’m NOT talking about imitating some fake-image of a saintly person. I’m NOT talking about what some call our “false-selves.” I’m certainly NOT talking about living a double-life, pretending to be one thing around one group and a different person when their gone.

I AM talking about honestly, authentically, intentionally seeking and allowing Christ to dwell in you, to guide you, to work in you and through you, to gradually consume you. In AM talking about sincerely desiring Christ, and doing so as authentically as you can – with utmost humility and without pretense.

           Cynthia Bourgeault reminds us, “So much of what passes for ‘originality’… is simply trying to be different… However, being original doesn’t mean trying to be different. It means being connected to the origin. You can’t be original by trying to be original. You become original by staying true to what your heart sees.”

           You are not the light. That’s a relief, if you think about it. But, we can reflect the light, and even refract the light, by connecting our truest, deepest selves to the origin. 

Are you connected? Are you refracting? Or, are you unintentionally reflecting something else?