“When they had heard the king, they set out, and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen in the east until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary, his mother, and they knelt down and paid him homage.” Matthew 2:9-11
One December night, while driving home, I needed to stop by a gas station. As I pulled in, stepped out of the car, and began to pump gas, my attention was drawn to a full moon illuminating the dark sky. Its bright light captivated me, and I took a moment to stand there, absorbing its beauty. At the small, aging gas station, with only a few lightbulbs casting faint light on the pumps, the moon seemed to shine even more brightly against the pitch-dark backdrop. In that quiet moment, I pondered whether this radiant moonlight resembled the celestial star that guided the Magi from the East to the baby Jesus about two thousand years ago.
While reading the passage about the star leading the Magi to Jesus, I couldn’t help but recall the bright light of that December full moon. It was a sight too enchanting to rush past. As I was appreciating the moonlight in the dark sky, the word of God came to my mind, “You are the light of the world. … let your light shine before others, so that they may … give glory to your Father in heaven.” [Matthew 5:14-16] That moment served as a personal Epiphany. I was reminded that we are not merely meant to observe the light; we are called to be a light – a light that shines forth for others to see, bringing glory to Christ.
We are not called to be a light that shines brightly only to impress others in vain. We are called to be a light that points others to the true Light, Jesus Christ. This calling raised some questions for me: Am I radiating enough for others even to notice? Most importantly, am I directing others beyond myself, guiding them toward Christ?
As we step into the new year of 2024, I invite all of us to ponder the same questions that confronted me during that quiet moment. While planning meetings in many churches often focus on making ourselves a brighter light, aiming at community growth and financial stability, we must not lose sight of our primary mission: pointing others to Christ. It is essential to examine whether our efforts in every area of ministry and life are effectively illuminating the path to Christ.
We, Christians, are fundamentally witnesses. Each one of us is called to bear witness to Jesus Christ. This is our primary calling, a calling not just for clergy but for everyone who believes in the Lord. We are called to point beyond ourselves to Jesus Christ. Having received God’s gracious gift on Christmas day, we now proclaim Christ. We turn away from self-centered pursuits, from looking first at ourselves. Instead, we look first and foremost to God and what God has done. After all, what God has done for all of us and for the world is what matters most. So, let us be who we are, pointing others beyond ourselves to Christ, who is the Way, Truth, and Life. We are witnesses to Christ. We are the church. Amen.
In Christ,