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Jesus as the Light1 Are we the Light
After John the Baptist was arrested, Jesus left his home in Nazareth to begin his ministry in Capernaum.
We read in Matthew that Isaiah prophesied of Jesus bringing hope and light to the people there.
Isaiah said God humbled the people living in the area.
God was angered at them because they broke their covenant with Him, practiced idolatry and injustice, especially towards the poor.2
But He will bring them glory in the future.
600 years later that glory was Jesus.
I also read that Capernaum was a busy city.3
Travelers and merchants from Asia and the East crossed to Europe and Africa through Capernaum.

So, Jesus positioned his ministry to run into people.
How is Jesus a light to the world?
(Ask audience and encourage participation, no right or wrong)
Jesus came to offer his life so that our sins can be forgiven.
He traveled throughout the region proclaiming the good news of God’s kingdom, curing every disease and sickness to the people.
How can we be the light to the world?
How can we offer good news to people?
We cannot cure every disease and sickness.
But I really like Sovanny’s and Tim’s visions.
Sovanny’s desire for the kids to experience Jesus.
And Diocese has been encouraging to empower the younger generation.
Sovanny knows her kids needed more.
They know the Bible facts but yet to experience Jesus.
I must also admit, the kids in America are too sheltered.

Or that the second generation from immigrants’ family are too protected.
My parents and you older adults had to flee Pol Pot, Khmer Rouge and war.
I did not have to experience that.
But I had to learn English and help my parents to navigate America.
I am looking at Annita as she had to do the same, being the oldest and parents do not speak English.
Father Rong had to raise his younger siblings while a kid himself.
But some non-immigrant children had to do the same.
The kids who live in foster homes where their parents abandoned them.
Or even a Caucasian kid like Tim, who had to wake up early, deliver newspapers to help his parents pay bills while he was 12 years old!
In other words, our lives had difficulties, so we needed Jesus and prayer.
We experienced Him.

Now the second generation, born in America, do not have to experience this struggle.
And we hear about how technology and smartphones are delaying kids’ development and causing them to have other mental health and emotional issues.
Friday night was a great example.
The kids enjoyed the activity, and we had all the adults here to help.
I was grateful that my step-niece came on Friday.
She will volunteer at the Tacoma Rescue Mission this spring.
They are a Christian organization that serves the homeless.
She will teach afterschool programs for homeless youths.
We only see the drug addicts and mentally ill as the homeless.
But I forget about the homeless families who do not make enough to cover their bills.
Who are living in their cars.

It will be great if we can take the kids to visit the homeless families and youths.
I think when they see other kids struggle, they will experience Jesus.
I also see in Jesus’ ministry.
He went out to meet people.
Honestly, I can’t count how many times I, Sopha, and likely you all
Send invite to family, friends, coworkers to visit church.
They never come.
This is where I like Tim’s vision.
Go out to care for people.
I don’t recall reading about Jesus inviting people to the synagogues or temples, or if so, very minimal.
You can research the Bible and challenge me on it.
But why would people want to come to church?
What do we offer them to attend?

I don’t think they want to come here to listen to my sermon.
But people can go online and listen to a good sermon.
People change when we build relationships with them.
When we do something for them.
There must be a deeper social connection.
I came to Holy Family because Father Rong was my dad’s friend.
And I discovered a few weeks ago that the Episcopal church helped sponsor my family.
Just telling people come to church does not do anything for them unless they are already motivated,
I was looking for Cambodian church
Or with Sovanny, their parents think it will benefit their kids and get off their smartphones.
Tim’s desire to care for those outside made me think about what ministry would interest me.

I used to volunteer at the crisis hotline center, but it was in Seattle after work and I wanted to talk about Jesus.
I have been thinking about joining a prison ministry or work with Tim to reach out to others.
I would encourage you to think of a ministry that you might be interested in.
What would make you want to join a church?
The church I am referring to is not a building.
It is group of believers.
Jesus says the church is the body of Christ, its people.
Jesus is the light of the world.
But how do we bring the light of Jesus to the world outside these doors?
If not outside these doors, how do we motivate them to come in?
Amen.