There's an awful lot in the world to be afraid of, isn't there—terrorists, natural disasters, credit card debt, losing a job, cancer, AIDS, Alzheimer's, bird flu, death. Somehow, in this moment of time, the darkness of terror and suffering feels quite real and powerful to me and, I think, to you as well.
And when fear knocks on our door, it's time for faith to answer!
You'll recall that in tonight's gospel lesson from Mark, when the disciples, in that great storm at sea, were overcome by fear and cried out for Jesus to save them, Jesus first stilled the wind, and then asked his disciples: "Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?" (Mark 4:40)
Yes, fear-which, of course, arises ever so naturally within us amidst all the storms of life-fear is to be faced with faith, with faith in the loving God who has been made known to us in Christ Jesus, the One who has triumphed even over death!
Some 2,500 years ago, the prophet whom we call Second Isaiah understood this ever so well. It was he who proclaimed: (40:9; 41:9b-10)
"Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings;
lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear;
say to the cities of Judah, 'Here is your God!'"
"'You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off';
do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be afraid, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my � right hand."
Yes, we humans are vulnerable to so very many things—to attack, to natural disaster, to personal loss, to illness and suffering. And that vulnerability can never be erased. It will always be with us. But the fear that takes root in this vulnerability can be overcome through faith and trust in the God who has proclaimed to us: "Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you."
One of the oldest symbols of the act of facing fear with faith is the act of lighting a candle to dispel the darkness—which has already been done aplenty tonight, as you can see by looking around you. I don't know about you, but I can truthfully say that each time I step into this sanctuary darkened by nightfall yet illuminated by candlelight, I can feel the tensions and anxieties and fears that accompanied me to this place melting away, for here I know with certainty that I am in the presence of God, and that I can lean back trustingly on the Everlasting Arms.
Still, tonight I ask you to join me in one additional symbolic act of faith and courage in the face of the fears and anxieties of life. And that is to go beyond simply accepting the candlelight that others have ignited to dispel our darkness-to go beyond that by yourself lighting your own personal candle to dispel the darkness and to help cast out, through that act of faith, whatever fear you may now be facing.
It's in the Gospel of John that the evangelist bears witness to Christ by proclaiming: "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it." (1:5)
So tonight I invite you to come forward individually to this communion table in order to light your candle, and when you have lighted that candle I invite each of you individually to tarry there and to repeat after me those words from John: "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it." (1:5)
And when we say those words, may they be for us not only words of faith facing fear but also words of commitment rising from that faith. So let us keep our candles aglow tonight as we leave this sanctuary, and let that be for us a sign that we are committed to becoming a light that shines into other peoples' darkness, dispelling their fears. Let that be for us a sign that we are committed to help overcome the darkness that pervades this world of ours.
So let us now come forward one at a time to light our candles as an act of faith in the face of fear, for "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it."
(CANDLELIGHTING CEREMONY)
Let us pray:nGod of grace and God of glory, cast Your light upon our ways. From the fears that long have bound us, free our hearts to faith and praise. Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the living of these days. Amen.