Shine for all to see

“Blest are you who suffer hate, / All because of Me. / Rejoice and be glad, yours is the kingdom; / Shine for all to see.”- Blest are They, verse 5

“You are the light of the world.  A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”- Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)

Hyacinth macaws are unmistakably huge birds, measuring about one meter (39.37 inches) from top of the head to tip of the tail.  Most significantly, their cobalt blue plumage contrasts with the yellow eye ring and bill base.  Native to South America, hyacinth macaws usually nest in Mandavi trees.  One mostly sees them in pairs, although they also group in small flocks.  About 5000 remain in the wild.  So, Brazil and Bolivia protect them by law.

In addition, hyacinth macaws’ strong beaks crack coconuts, large Brazilian nut pods, and macadamia nuts.  Classified as Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List, these gentle giants display an even-tempered demeanor.  Hence, they’re calmer than other macaws.  As a result, hyacinth macaws appear to enjoy playful interaction with humans.  Highly intelligent and social, they can learn to mimic human speech and form strong bonds with their owners.

Writing in his most recent book, The Narrow Path (2024), Rich Villodas underscores that we possess a collective identity in our life together as a church.  Certainly, God loves to rescue individuals.  Yet, the gospel delivers more than good news for our personal lives.  In addition, the gospel is the power of God to establish a new way of belonging together.

Yet, shortly after the disciples arrived, Jesus didn’t inform them that they will be salt and light when Jesus was finished with them.  Instead, Jesus declared that His disciples are salt and light.  Therefore, Rich observes, in essence Jesus tells the disciples, and us, this truth.  That you have much more to offer than you think.  Because you are so much more than you can possibly imagine!

Above all, as the Light, Jesus invites His followers to reflect His brilliance in a dark world.  What a sacred calling to shine for all to see!  To help people find their way to God.   Yet, as Christ followers, we must maintain our distinctiveness.  Thus, our values need to confound, rather than mirror, the conventional wisdom of society.  As a result, in Matthew 5:14-16 Jesus highlights the daily temptation to withhold and conceal the light.

During Jesus’ earthly ministry, He constantly moved closer to the people the religious leaders stood apart from.  Because the very nature of the Incarnation consists of Christ moving toward us, in love.  Consequently, God moves into our neighborhood to dwell among us.  To dispel the darkness that overshadows us so that we shine for all to see.

In conclusion, Pastor Villodas counsels and encourages:

“Denouncing what we believe God is against is easy and spiritually lazy. . . .  It’s a poor witness for Jesus.  We are called to bring God’s shalom into this world — to join our lives to him in service of others, offering them something of his life. . . .

Jesus’ narrow way doesn’t have space for a life oriented around what it’s against.  There’s nothing life-giving about that state of being.  He calls us to presence and distinctiveness.  To be in the world but not it requires a faith that is deeply present in the world but radically different from it.”

In our overall lives as Christians, we project shadow or light.  Shine for all to see!