Inner Light Celebration
Sometimes the heart knows what the mind doesn't.
When Gentiles, who do not possess the law, do instinctively what the law requires, these, though not having the law, are a law to themselves. They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, to which their own conscience also bears witness; and their conflicting thoughts will accuse or perhaps excuse them on the day when, according to my gospel, God, through Jesus Christ, will judge the secret thoughts of all. - Romans 2:14-16
In today's reading from his letter to the Romans, Paul gives us a little gem that we might overlook, if we spot it at all.
He tells us that people do not need to be aware of the inner laws they follow and they may come to be judged well, even though they are not believers.
Now he is talking about the Gentiles and the Jews here, but there is something we can take away from this if we so choose.
In John's gospel, we hear Jesus telling Thomas that the way to the Father is through Jesus. He is the light. Follow him.
We take that to mean there is no other way to get to the Father, and thus, get to Heaven. As a result, some of us try to force our religion on others, or we say that they are damned if they are not Christians.
But what about what Paul is saying? Is it possible for someone to follow the light without possessing it?
Jesus gave many examples of how his disciples should live their lives, how they should act, what they should posses, where they should go, how they should behave in the company of others. He told them to serve and to come to him as a child, unencumbered, stripped of ego and self.
He didn't tell them how to start a new religion. Instead, he was trying to help return some who had been caught up in themselves back to God.
Paul tells the Jews that they already know the law and if they live by it and act as it commands, they are in God's favor, but even those who don't know it can come into that favor by doing what they know to be true in their hearts.
It is the Holy Spirit of God that guides us in that light, and while we have a formal, structured process around inviting the Holy Spirit in, through baptism, we have the ability to share that spirit with others, whether they were baptized or not.
Our Book of Common Prayer tells us that any baptized person can administer baptism in an emergency.
In case of emergency, any baptized person may administer Baptism according to the following form. Using the given name of the one baptized (if known), pour water on him or her, saying. "I baptize you in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
What that tells me is that we who are baptized into the Spirit have the Spirit to share with others.
Now I am not advocating going out and baptizing people. That isn't the point.
The point is we should be sharing our faith in God, not necessarily by beating people over the head with it, but by looking for the light in others and celebrating it with them.
So, today, let us all look for that light in everyone we meet. And when we find it, celebrate it.
We might just discover that the world is a much brighter place than we think. And if someone is struggling to find the light within, ask the Holy Spirit for help. It is amazing how the Spirit works.
Be the light, share the light, celebrate the light you find.
More to come...
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