Daniel 7:1-3,15-18
Psalm 149
Ephesians 1:11-23
Luke 6:20-31
Homily by Fr R Christopher Heying
In one of the “proper prefaces” for a saints’ day (the short prayer indicating the particular occasion for our eucharist is celebrated), we thank God:
For the wonderful grace and virtue declared in all your saints, who have been the chosen vessels of your grace, and the lights of the world in their generations. (BCP 380)
But we recall that in John’s gospel Jesus declares, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life” (8.12).
So these saints are the lights of the world not because they have their own light, some secret illumination unique to them, but because in the midst of whatever circumstance they find themselves however dark, they shine forth with the piercing light of Jesus Christ.
Paul, in his second letter to the Corinthian church, speaks about his own ministry underscoring that Jesus is the focus:
We do not proclaim ourselves but we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord. . . . For it is God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness’ who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (4.5-6)
Paul goes on to say that “we have this treasure [this ministry] in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that . . . power belongs to God and does not come from us” (4.7).
These lights, these blesséd saints of God, get that.