Under Surveillance 21 February 2008

Mark 4:21-34
Thursday, 21 February 2008

Something fundamental changed in our culture in the transformation of communication and surveillance. While we once might have had the illusion of privacy, now we are aware that our every move can be and probably is being watched. You can place your home address in the computer and at any hour of the day see a satellite-generated picture of your house at that moment, with your car parked out front.

Continuing his conversation with his followers about how to maximize their effectiveness and reach in a sometimes hostile world and environment, Jesus offers an illustration from commonplace, every day experience. No one who lights a candle then obscures its light by placing it under a basket or under a bed. Rather, the person positions the light on a lampstand. Unlike the parallel text from Matthew in which Jesus used the same illustration to discuss his followers' visibility and influence as the light of the world and salt of the earth, this time Jesus uses the image of light as an implicit warning. Everything eventually will be exposed. Everything will come to light. Everything?

Let's be honest. Most of us have good reason to be uncomfortable at the prospect that EVERYTHING will come to light. But we are only uncomfortable to the extent that we forget that Jesus is the Light and that the Light is also the Love. Jesus is not the police, looking for a reason to arrest us or to destroy us. Rather than viewing the promise that light will shine as a curse, we ought to view it as a blessing. God does not expose us to the light in order to condemn us but to heal us.

Sing, "Yes Jesus Loves Me"

Let us pray:

While we are down here praying, please search our hearts. Shine the light of your Holy Spirit upon us. Help us not to shrink away but to walk toward the light. And as we draw nearer to you, allow us to reflect the light. May our lights so shine that people will see our good works and glorify you. Amen