Illumination

There’s a passage in the Sermon on the Mount that appears mostly in political speeches in modern America. Probably most people haven’t taken a good close look at it, and what it might portend for us in today's world. Here, in Matthew Five: 14-17, (KJV) the Galilean says,

14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

As mentioned, it’s used by American politicians to imply, “Hey, look us over. We’re the greatest.”

Given its position in The Sermon, it suggests that he was speaking directly at his disciples and other Jews in the crowd. He follows it directly with the part about coming to “fulfill” the law.

Maybe, just maybe, he implied a more stringent meaning, one aimed straight at “his people.”

“Hey, the world is watching you because you sit atop what should be the highest hill of righteousness. Don’t turn off all the lights and wallow in insidious nothingness. Illuminate yourselves and glorify."

The world is watching us, America. Don’t you hope they weren’t this past week? If you truly believe in the Galilean—and fewer people seem to these days—you have to believe that he was.

He was watching us, that is.

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

Good grief.