Sermon Text: Matthew 5:9
Sermon Excerpt
Growing up in Texas I learned that bigger is better or, at least, bigger is much more likely to attract attention. In the late 1990s when creative decorating with candles was booming I saw some very large candles in homes and offices. Even the largest of these – candles nearly as large as I am – look tiny when placed beside the world’s largest candles.
We can thank Darrel Brock for constructing the world’s largest candle. Back in 1971 his team ran a natural gas line up through the center of an existing 50-foot silo then put over 45,000 pounds of multi-colored wax on the outside.
When the owner of a candle company creates such a massive candle alongside his candle factory we assume it is a marketing strategy. While that may have been true, it was also intended to be something far more significant.
The world’s largest candle was dedicated by Mr. Brock, the town’s mayor, and the state’s governor before a crowd of over 5,000 people as the peace candle of the world. And, this candle was designed to burn from that day forward as an eternal flame for the cause of peace.
Since I wasn’t born when the world’s largest peace candle was dedicated, perhaps it is in my best interest to focus on more recent happenings . . . A few days after arriving as your Transitional Pastor in January, I encountered an oddly shaped box. This cardboard container was quite long and rather narrow. Within the box was . . . (read manuscript or watch video)
So What?
Peacemaking is not a task for a select few, but a part of our identity as followers of the Way of Jesus. It is also a part of our shared life together as local communities of faith and as networks or denominations. Rather than adopting a one size fits all (or even a one size fits most) approach, it is essential that each person, church, and network or denomination understand and respond to this call in organic and authentic ways.
- How do you understand Jesus’ call to peacemaking?
- What does your response to that call look like? your congregation’s response?