While We Wait
Luke 2:22-40 2:22 When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 2:23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”), 2:24 and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” 2:25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. 2:26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 2:27 Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, 2:28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, 2:29 “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; 2:30 for my eyes have seen your salvation, 2:31 which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 2:32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” 2:33 And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 2:34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed 2:35 so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed–and a sword will pierce your own soul too.” 2:36 There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 2
2:37 then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. 2:38 At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. 2:39 When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 2:40 The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.
Notes:
- We have prepared to celebrate the arrival of Jesus, decking the halls with what matters: the hope, peace, joy and love of God as divine ornaments suited for the occasion. We have prepared for guests, and the best guest of all has come—Jesus.
- Many pastors report the Sunday after Christmas as a “down” day—lower attendance, the excitement of the build-up to Christmas Eve and Day have waned as the festivities have come and gone. There is a communal experience of post-partum blues of sorts.
- Some are asking the more theological question, will anything really change after this, now that the Messiah has come?
- Transformation and real, sustained change often take longer than we’d like, but usually start with something small—a new idea or vision, a spark of hope, a newborn baby in a manger. From small beginnings come big changes. Wait for it. It just takes time.
- Let’s look at today’s scripture for some clues as to how to wait.
- Simeon has waited all his life for the revelation of the Chosen One, the Messiah, the one who would redeem Israel. Perhaps he was refreshed in his waiting with these words from the prophet Isaiah, “Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength.” Is. 40:31 or the Psalmist who wrote, “For God alone my soul waits in silence.” Ps. 62:1.
- But we have a hard time waiting, our inability to be still and know that God is God may result in our missing God. What do you mean by that? Vs. 25-29. Simeon was close to God spiritually, then physically. He allowed the Spirit to rest upon him. Sometimes we are too busy running here and there, literally or mentally, that the Spirit has a hard time catching up and we miss the blessing God is trying to reveal to us.
- Anna had waited a long time too. Again, she aligned herself with God, praying and fasting. Both Simeon and Anna were able to bless others by virtue of their own consultation with God. We all have people in our sphere of influence who we can bless because of OUR conversations and encounters with God. Seniors —especially listen to that. You have people in your family, neighbors, friends, who you can bless because the Spirit is resting upon YOU, perhaps for a long time.
- In your waiting for God to do something—stay close to God. The Christmas story reveals that God is working things out while we wait. God has not forgotten us in our state of affairs.
- Simeon was “dismissed”, perhaps not from life but from his position of “watching and waiting”. It would be yet another 30 years before Jesus’s mission on earth was fully accomplished. And we are still waiting for it to be fully realized in the heavenly realm. In the meanwhile, there are miracles waiting to happen all around us. Like Joseph, Mary and Jesus, there are parents and children, those who struggle to remain faithful who we can proclaim the good news to and even bless materially as we are able. In the process, while we wait, we allow the Spirit to rest upon us so that we may truly see what God wants us to see and do what God wants us to do. Amen.