Please join us in the virtual world of Second Life each Sunday at 2pm Pacific/ 5pm Eastern time. Download the interface at Secondlife.com, create your avatar, and join us at Sunshine Cathedral.
Call to Worship
Today we stand in the light, our faces turned toward the warmth of the summer sun. We live in the light of God and embody the light of Christ. Together we reflect God’s goodness to the world.
Holy One you spoke light into being at the beginning of creation. Your word continues to light our way. We thank you that you implanted within us the spark of divinity. Remind us each moment of everyday that we are made in your image and that our lives have the potential to reflect your goodness. Amen
The Lessons
From the wisdom of Maya Angelou
“Nothing can dim the light which shines from within.”
From the wisdom of Edith Wharton
“There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or be the mirror that reflects it.”
A Reading from the Fourth Gospel (John 8.12-15, 17-19)
Jesus said:
“I am the light of the world.
The one who follows me
will never walk in darkness.
Rather, they will have the light of life.”
On hearing this, the Pharisees said to him, “You are testifying on your own behalf. Your testimony is not true.”
Jesus replied,
“Even though I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is true, because I know where I have come from and where I am going,
whereas you do not know where I have come from or where I am going.
You judge by the flesh, whereas I do not judge anyone.
In your Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true.
I testify on my own behalf, and the One who sent me also testifies on my behalf.”
They continued to question him, saying, “Where is the One that sent you?”
Jesus answered,
“You know neither me nor the One that sent me.
If you knew me, you would know the One that sent me, also.”
Reflection by Rev. Dr. BK Hipsher
Oh I DO love a Sunday when physics and faith collide and both are necessary to understanding the lesson! So first let’s talk about what light is in a physical sense. What we call light from a physics perspective is the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that is visible to the human eye. From radio waves to gamma rays the electromagnetic spectrum is a vast range of wave frequencies. And right in the middle is a very small slice of electromagnetic waves that the human eye can discern and that we perceive as light.
Now this brings us to an interesting question... if I close my eyes and someone turns on a light, is the light present? Most of you would say that’s a silly question. But I intend it to be a serious one. If I am a visually impaired person and I walk out into sunlight is the light there? Again most of you would say, “Yes, of course!”
So let’s let that sink in while we consider how Jesus is using the word light in our gospel reading today.
It is related to us in the gospel according to John, the fourth gospel, that Jesus says, “I am the light of the world. The one who follows me will never walk in darkness. Rather, they will have the light of life.” Many Christians interpret this saying as Jesus’ affirmation of his divinity, his being a supernatural being, commonly referred to in such circles as “THE son of God.” But I believe Jesus was speaking on behalf of himself as a human being, just like us, when he says, “I am the light of the world.” I believe that Jesus was referring to the divine spark that we call the human soul, the part of us that is eternal, the part of us that is forever united to every other human soul in the entity we call God.
Now the Pharisees hear what Jesus is saying as him claiming to be the source of light. They challenge him and allege that someone else must “vouch” for him. The Pharisees are bound up in legalism, convinced that the way to God is to follow rules... rules THEY have set up. So when Jesus speaks in terms of compassion or spiritual experience the Pharisees interpret what he is saying as literal and they challenge him, essentially misunderstanding what he was saying.
Our reading from the wisdom of Edith Wharton illustrates more aptly what I believe Jesus was saying versus what the Pharisees thought Jesus meant. Edith Wharton says, “There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or be the mirror that reflects it.” Jesus continually pointed not to himself, but to God. I believe Jesus could just as accurately have said, “I reflect the light of the world. Anyone who follows how I try to reflect the light of God will never walk in darkness.”
If we return to looking at light in physics, God is the image of pure white light, the presence of all the colors of the visible spectrum of light. That light shined through a prism splits into many colors. Each of us reflects our own essential portion of that spectrum of light. It’s as if our soul’s mission is to reflect the light of God through our own particular spark of divinity. When each of us reflects our own special portion of the light, all of us combined becomes the image of all the colors of light, the image of the light of God.
When we show kindness we reflect the light of God. When we are merciful, compassionate, loving... we reflect the light of God. When we work for justice and speak the truth we reflect the light of God. When we understand our own divinity by reflecting the light of God we are bringing the light into the world, overcoming the darkness of greed, hatred, and violence.
We ARE the light in the darkness. We reflect the light of God, we carry the light of Christ within us. We are made in the image of the creator as a unique and beloved child of God. Let us celebrate the light today and know that each of us participate in bringing the light of God into the world.
Let us pray as we begin a new week,
“God, with you there is no darkness...Yet in our broken world, we see so much darkness around us. Pain, sickness, and disease are in our community and in many of our homes.
Bring your light and restoring presence to the dark places in our lives. Bring your hope to hearts that feel defeated. Bring your love and compassion to those in pain...
In the busyness of today, help us to take a moment to be still and sit with you. To slow down, breathe deeply, and release our burdens ... You are trustworthy, good, and true, and we thank you for caring for us so deeply and beautifully. Open our eyes to see you at work today. Give us your light.”
Amen
https://stfranciswgc.org.uk/light-of-the-world-prayers/
For a list of music suggested to meditate on for this service click the link below.
"I Am Life" Sunday, July 18, 2021, Sunshine Cathedral of Second Life
Please join us in the virtual world of Second Life each Sunday at 2pm Pacific/ 5pm Eastern time. Download the interface at Secondlife.com, create your avatar, and join us at Sunshine Cathedral.
CtoW 20210718
Deuteronomy 30:19
This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses ... that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.
Opening Prayer
OpeningPrayer 20210718
O God, you are my life. You have breathed into me the breath of life, and I have become a living being (Genesis 2:7). My very existence and my being flow from you. In you I live and move and have my being (Acts 17:28). You are the Vine, and I am a true branch of yours (John 15:5)...
[Holy One,] Let your life flow through me and flow and flow throughout this day. O Life, live into me. Encompass me and all that I am; well up within me. O Spring of Life, let your river flow through my heart, soul, mind, and strength (John 7:38)...
Amen
https://wildatheart.org/prayer/life-prayer
Lessons
Reading 20210718
Readings from the Fourth Gospel (John 11.17-25, 35-36, 38-44; 14.5-6 )
When Jesus arrived [to visit Lazarus, Mary, and Martha], he learned that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles distant, and many from the religious community had come to Martha and Mary to console them for the loss of their brother.
When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went forth to meet him, while Mary remained at home. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will grant you whatever you ask.”
Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha replied, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus then said to her,
“I am the resurrection and the life.
Whoever believes in me,
even though they die, will live,
Jesus began to weep, causing the onlookers to say, “See how greatly he loved him!”
Gospel 20210718
The Reading from the gospel according to John continues...
Jesus came to the tomb. It was a cave, with a stone closing the entrance. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the dead man’s sister, said to him, “Lord, by now there will be a stench, for he has been dead for four days.”
Jesus replied, “Did I not tell you that if you have faith you will see the glory of God?” And so they removed the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said,
“Abba, I thank you for hearing me. I know that you always hear me…
When he had said this, he cried out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”
The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with linen bands, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Then Jesus said to them, “Untie him and let him go free.”
[At a later time], Thomas said to Jesus, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”
Jesus replied,
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life.
No one comes to God
except through me.”
Reflection by Rev. Dr. BK Hipsher
I Am Life 20210718
Today’s readings from the Gospel according to John contains two major themes that those who have been involved in the Christian tradition undoubtedly have heard before – the story of Jesus raising his friend Lazarus from the dead and Jesus proclaiming “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to God except through me.” We are confronted today with how precious human life is and with the importance of how we spend our lives.
There is a teaching in the Talmud (Sanhedrin 37a) saying: “Whoever saves a single life is considered by scripture to have saved the whole world.” Think of it, the concept is staggering. This simple principle has the power within it to change the world as we know it and the course of human history.
Around us there are so many things out of our control – droughts, fires, climate change in general, war, hackers, and of course, people who refuse to take a vaccine that can stop a worldwide deadly pandemic mutating to a variant that is vaccine resistant. There are many days when I can only watch 30 minutes of Nora O’Donnell giving me the “bad” news highlights. I just get overwhelmed with the death and destruction in the world and it emotionally paralyses me.
If I could raise people from the dead I would have rushed to Surfside, Florida and raised them all! And even if I could do much simpler things – For instance, if I could make a perfectly intelligent friend of my partner understand that climate change and racism are real, I would spend time trying to convince her. If I could move people who are so stupid that they refuse a life-saving vaccine... If I could motivate them to take that shot and live, I would do it. What is it they say? You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink.
So what can I do to affect the ultimate out comes of these things? Some would say nothing. I’m here today to say that each and every one of us can do our part, one day at a time, and change the course of history. Because as another Jewish text teaches us – We are not expected to finish the work of repairing the world but neither are we free to desist from it. In other words, we are duty bound as people of faith to do our part.
And this teaching from the Talmud gives us the motivation. If I save one life, ONE LIFE, I am saving the whole world. Because each human life contains within it the divine spark of the creator in whose image we are made. The power of one human saving the life of one other human is too much to comprehend. And this “saving of a life” can be literal or figurative. For instance, when we work for prison reform we are saving a life, when we demand humane immigration policy we are saving a life, when we work for police reform we are saving lives. And when we work for economic justice we are saving the lives of those who will never have the opportunity to be educated.
“Whoever saves a single life is considered by scripture to have saved the whole world.” What if Einstein had been killed? What if Louis Pasteur had not discovered that disinfectants kill germs? What if Alexander Fleming had not discovered penicillin? What if the scientists in Wuhan had not decoded the novel corona virus that allowed mRNA vaccine research tools to be used to create vaccines more quickly than at any time in human history? And what if a child destined for a bullet from a mass shooter would have discovered the next thing that will save humanity from extinction?
“Whoever saves a single life is considered by scripture to have saved the whole world.” When we feed the hungry we are doing God’s work. When we mentor a young person raised in poverty without role models for education, work ethics, negotiation, networking, and self-worth - we are saving one life. When we encourage a young woman to expect to be paid what she is worth - we are saving one life. When we stand up against racism, bigotry, and hatred - we are saving a life, perhaps our very own.
“Whoever saves a single life is considered by scripture to have saved the whole world.” It occurs to me that saving one life includes me. CoVid was not good to me. I’ve gained weight, turned to old destructive habits of over eating and over working. These things are not good for my health. How can I do the work I am expected to do in the world if I am not healthy? Simple answer, I can’t.
No I can’t raise the dead still being recovered in Surfside. I can’t solve the immigration crisis, I can’t magically wave a wand and get prison and police reform enacted. I can’t pass laws that will allow for child and elder care or give access to post-secondary education to a generation of the poor. But I can take care of my own health. I can do my work, one day at a time. I can mentor my great nephew. I can lend my voice to groups and organizations working for justice. “Whoever saves a single life is considered by scripture to have saved the whole world.”
Let us pray. Holy One let this day be the beginning of a new life, a life that is based on preserving the precious gift of life you have given me so that I may have the strength and stamina to work for justice for another. This is my prayer today for us all. And let us say, amen.
For a list of music suggested to meditate on for this service click the link below.
Download SL20210718
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