Shining a Light

A child-focused sermon preached with the people of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Oakland, California during an intergenerational service.

I want everyone here to think about someone in your life you really like. Someone special to you. But I don’t want that person to be a family member or someone who lives with you. I want them to be a friend or a teacher, or a coach. Someone you haven’t known since you were a baby.

Would anyone like to share the name of their person and how they know them?

[Bring microphone around for answers]

Now think about the very first time you met them – maybe on a first day of school, or choir practice, or soccer practice. You probably didn’t know much about them when you first met them, did you? You might have had an idea, but you didn’t know how cool they were right in those first moments or days. You didn’t know how well you’d get along.

But now, you know them! You know all about them and you can probably name some reasons you like to spend time with them. The person – who they are — hasn’t really changed. What’s changed is that you know how special they are.

Now, let’s take this one step further. Have you ever TOLD someone about how great another person is?

[Bring microphone around for answers]

It’s a good feeling! And a nice thing to do. Because sometimes it takes shining a light on another person – giving them a compliment, or telling others about something nice they did -- to get others to see how awesome they are.  

In our Bible story this morning, God shines a light on Jesus! God says, “this is Jesus. He is loved and he loves everyone. Listen to him.” And then, to make it really obvious, Jesus’s clothes glow white, just for a few moments. And Jesus’s friends who were there – Peter and James and John – really know how special he is.

That’s the thing – sometimes it takes a little time and a little help to see how special each one of us is; to see God in each one of us – in each one of you.

So I’m going to try to do that more often – to shine a light on other people. As much as I can. Lori here is such a smart and knowledgeable friend. She always takes the time to teach me things when I have questions. Here’s a little light!

Tell people about how great your friends and your family are, and all the people you care about are. Maybe give them opportunities to show off the special things about them. Tell the world about it!

And you know what else? It’s really important to do that for yourself too. Tell people when you do something cool! Tell people when you’re proud of yourself! Shine a light on yourself, too.

You and all all the people you know and care about are always, always a unique, wonderful, child of God. And, sometimes pointing it out – shining a light -- can help other see it too.  

At the Peace, where we go around and greet one another with a peace sign, or a handshake, or hand on our heart; however we’re comfortable — we’ll be handing out these light stickers, so you can all get the chance to shine a light on yourselves and one another. When you think about it, that’s what the Peace is all about. Looking at one another — whether you know each other or not — and seeing the light — recognizing and naming God’s love and peace in everyone here.