Be someone's light and save a life

Pastor Phil Beck
St. Paul's Lutheran Church
Walkersville

(1/2022) What does it mean to be blessed? If we go by the characterizations I have just enumerated, many of us would probably fit into the latter category of the woes but not really enjoy being put in that position. This is just what Jesus does for us, he turns the status quo on its head much like when he said the first will be last and the last will be first. Jesus is calling out and pointing his fingers at those of us who have not embraced the Kingdom of God in our midst, those of us who have not sought out the downtrodden or come beside one of our neighbors who may be in a tough spot, or those of us who would let someone who is hurting, continue to suffer.

This has really hit home for me as I recently officiated a funeral for a marine who was unable to cope with the struggle of his PTSD and ended his life with so much possibility ahead. While working on my sermon prep, one of my best friends called to let me know her father in law, an Army veteran, had taken his own life after struggling with mental health issues of his own. These instances are not unique to me and I am sure many of you can relate to knowing someone who has had mental health issues or maybe you are struggling yourself. Jesus is pointing his finger at us to be the ones to come beside those who are hurting, to lift them up, and assist them in providing resources to help them not be overwhelmed in their lives.

I am very aware this is a daunting task because of the stigma associated with mental health issues and for most of us wanting to be able to rectify our own affairs in the way we see fit. I had a couple of friends in my previous job who I would have never suspected were having issues to the point at which they also took their own lives. We sit back and say to ourselves boy we never saw that coming and what could be so terrible in our lives that someone would go to the extreme of taking their own life. Sometimes we just don’t know and we never might get the answer.

This is where we come in and start to live the life Jesus calls us to live. We have the ability to educate our children, to comfort our friends, and love our neighbor in the way that when we are struggling, it is ok and expected of us to ask for help. It is not enough for us to know there is a problem and do nothing about it, this is exactly why Jesus points his finger at us in his Sermon on the Plain. We are asked to do for others as we would want others to do for us. I know many families who have identified an issue, struggle with finding help or even having their loved one get the help we so desperately want them to have.

It is difficult for us to see the destructive path our loved ones are travelling and we desire so much to be able to be the catalyst in making things well. It can be overburdening, tiresome, and even discouraging when we have seemingly identified an issue and yet we are powerless to intervene. It is even more challenging when we are caught by surprise, not having recognized the signs, and something tragic occurs that can’t be undone. While we would like to think so, there is no quick fix, wrestling with these situations takes time on both sides and can be traumatizing in a variety of ways.

As you read this message, I invite you to imagine yourself in a mass of people collected to hear Jesus speak. I invite you to picture yourself trying to catch a glimpse of Jesus and discern for yourself where you stand in your walk with Jesus. As we examine this group, we find there are three different kinds of people there from all walks of life. The first group are those who have come are very focused on what they need, they come seeking healing for many of them had various diseases and illnesses. Others came because of being controlled by unclean or evil spirits, much of whom we would characterize in our lives as suffering from mental illness.

There is no telling how many are in this crowd but it is our belief all were healed in their own ways, restoring them to their status within their community. The second group of people in attendance were those who considered themselves disciples. These were the ones who followed Jesus and not only wanted to hear what Jesus had to say, they also wanted and needed to learn from him. By hearing Jesus, they would be able to change their lives to conduct themselves in a godly life, living out the teachings of Jesus among the people. The third group was that of the Apostles, the group hand-picked by Jesus to be his messengers in the world. The members of this group were the ones who would continue to further Jesus’ mission on earth after his departure.

Jesus is looking. What does he see? Jesus sees the three different groups but he also sees them collectively, he saw: men and women, boys and girls, young and old, Jew and Gentile. He also saw their needs. Each of these groups of people needed very different things from Jesus much like we do. I would posit to say that, at any given time, we fit into all three of the categories of people Jesus saw as he gazed out upon the crowd.

Jesus saw the needs of everyone no matter their position that day and saw fit to provide each person the very thing they were searching for. We have what we are searching for from Jesus and it is time for us to take our gifts into the world, to come beside those who are searching, and share with them the goodness we know in Jesus. The time is now for us to realize we are carrying on the work of Jesus and for us to be ever vigilant in recognizing others not as fortunate as us, those who may be hurting for whatever reason.

Jesus gives us the wake-up call in the second part of the Sermon on the Plain where he highlights four specific areas of people who need a nudge in the right direction. Woe to those who are rich which is not a condemnation against wealth, it is a beacon shined on those who are not utilizing their wealth in a manner to serve others. Woe to you who are full, is not disapproval for those with enough sustenance, it is about not sharing with those who are lacking. Woe to you who are laughing puts us on notice to go away from rejecting, ridiculing, and taking advantage of others at their expense. The last woe is a warning to recognize those false prophets in our lives, the ones we put above all else, especially those we put above God. God knows we have done this in the past and continue to do so, this is an admonishment against putting other things above God.

When we identify as the poor, hungry, weepers, or those who are taken advantage of, we seek out refuge in those we can count on to come alongside us in our journey. We all have those people we know will put their lives on hold to take time to accompany us in these tough times. Are we able to accept when we need help and will we welcome a disciple or apostle alongside us in our struggles? Sometimes we find it hard to reach out to those who are near to us and get the help we need. There are no easy answers but we have to be ready and willing to listen, to be the ones who promote against the stigma of mental health. Are you one of those persons? Are you among the persons who will be blessed because you recognize when someone is in trouble?

"Leslie Weatherhead in his book A Private House of Prayer tells of a conversation which took place in a university common room. Someone posed the question, "What do you want to be?" Many answers were given, academic distinction, an athletic prize, a professor’s chair. Then one quiet, shy, sensitive man spoke, ‘You fellows will laugh at me,’ he said, ‘but I want to be a saint’." And then Weatherhead gave three definitions of a saint: one, a saint is someone in whom Christ lives again; two, a saint is someone who makes it easier to believe in God; three, a saint is someone who lets the light shine through."

As the saints who have gone before us, today we live out our own lives of sainthood and are the light shining through to someone who needs help. The promise of Christ living in us allows us to show others God is here now and forever. Mental health is something we can be out in front of to take away the stigma of someone’s struggle. Our call today is to be someone’s light, come beside them, and save a life.

Dial 988 where someone is available to you 24/7.

To learn more about St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, visit them on-line at www.saintpaulslutheranchurch.org, or better yet join them for Sunday at 14 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Walkersville.