A reflection for July 4th
Today we are keeping “Coming of the Light” Sunday. This is an important celebration when Torres Strait Islander Anglicans observe the 150th Anniversary of the arrival of the first Christian Missionaries in the Torres Strait.
Here's the history lesson which is not the most important part of what I want to offer to you today.
On Saturday 1st July 1871, (so today it's the 150th anniversary) the Reverend Samuel MacFarlane of the London Missionary Society anchored at Darnley Island. The Society had been active in the Southwest Pacific since the 1840’s converting people to Christianity. Dabad, a Warrior Clan Elder “defied his Tribal Law” and openly welcomed the London Missionary Society clergymen and South Sea Islander evangelists and teachers. Torres Strait Islanders' acknowledgment of the missionaries was the acceptance of a change that would profoundly affect every aspect of life in the Torres Strait from that time onwards. The Islanders' acceptance of the missionaries and Christianity meant the end of inter-island conflict. Christian principles were partly compatible with traditional religion and the missionaries gave some protection and assistance to Islanders in their contact with foreigners in the maritime industry. Today, Torres Strait Islanders of all denominations wherever they live, in the islands or on the mainland, come together to honour this anniversary. The Torres Strait Islander festival of the Coming of the Light is a day like no other in Australia. Church services and a re-enactment of the landing are central to the day’s activities. Hymn singing, feasting and hoopla strengthen community and family ties.
The gospel chosen for this celebration talks about light Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.
So here’s a bit about light and its symbolism which is also not the most important part of what I want to offer to you today.
Light is beautiful and mysterious—like God. It is one but can be separated into many colours. No one knows if light is made up of particles or waves. In addition, light has many functions that make it a good symbol for Jesus. Light helps us see things. Jesus gives us the truth about God and about life, our origin, and our destiny. Light guides us as we travel. Jesus guides us safely through life to our heavenly home. Light promotes growth and life. Jesus brings us everlasting life. Light warms and comforts. Jesus welcomes us and calms us. Light deters crime. Jesus is goodness itself. Light dispels darkness, which stands for evil. Jesus pierces the darkness of sin and death and conquers them. All the darkness in the world cannot put out one candle flame. Jesus cannot be overcome by evil.
But the most significant and important thing that I really want to say to you today is this. If you forget the history lesson, or you forget the mucking about with the symbolism of light, please remember this simple phrase.
“You are the light of the world”.
Yes, you who have made it to the altar today. You who may have looked a little disheveled in the mirror this morning. You who stumble and fumble and rejoice and giggle and weep and have loving, joyful and sometimes aching hearts. You are the light of the world.You may not even notice it and sometimes it probably doesn’t feel like it and sometimes yes, we can go to some very dark places where it is inky black and there seems no way out. It is then, when the gloom seems to have engulfed us, when we are at wits end and the walls are high and hard and in the words of the gospel…“Jesus left and hid himself from them”.
It is then that we can become quite magnificent just by keeping on with our prayers and being faithful at the altar. You are the light of the world. And day by day in this parish in countless little ways, I see the light that you are and I see it and I am warmed and encouraged and inspired and delighted.You are the light of the world and one of the lovely things about the gospel coming to the Torres Strait Islands is that God was on both sides of the beach 150 years ago and in some conscious or subconscious way everyone was open to that possibility. So the world was a brighter and warmer place for it.
It will be so now in 2021, if we claim for ourselves the reality
“I am the light of the word”.