First Sunday after Christmas 27th December 2020

Luke 2.22–40

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 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”),  and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” 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. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.  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,  Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,

 “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,
    according to your word;
 for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
 a light for revelation to the Gentiles
    and for glory to your people Israel.”

And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 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  so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

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, 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. 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. When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favour of God was upon him.

Reflection:

It’s amazing how quickly Christmas passes, isn’t it? After all the preparations – both in church and at home – after four weeks of Advent, after carols at Raleigh, Christmas Eve and then Christmas Day services…. After all this and whatever else you’ve been doing… it seems suddenly Christmas is done. The presents are opened, the wrapping paper in the recycling bin, and it’s 363 more days until next year’s celebration.

But, of course, Christmas isn’t over. And really, why should it be, I mean how can we really celebrate, let alone comprehend, the Incarnation in a day, so in many places it is recognized in twelve days of Christmas. The days after Christmas are still somewhat connected to Christmas, though mostly from a worldy perspective as the days to clear up the mess, exchange unwanted gifts for something more desirable or the right size! And days to sleep and rest after a hectic few weeks prior. Or perhaps, it’s on to planning for New Year’s celebrations, making resolutions, looking ahead to the sporting events, and all the other things with which we fill summer. And of cause- what I find most terrible is that you wait- in only another week or two we will have Easter eggs beginning to take their place on the shelves. It’s like Christmas gets quickly left behind, almost squeezed out of it rightful place.

But today, as I ponder briefly the clash between the church’s sense of Christmas-time and the culture’s. It’s not that we must keep Christmas for twelve days, but rather because I think most of us need to keep Christmas much longer to face all that the New Year will bring. And keeping Christmas into the New Year, is no easy task. 

I suggest that there is another part of the story of Jesus birth that we do not often hear or tell. It’s the part of the story when the angels stop singing and go back to heaven and the shepherds return to the fields. And at some point, Mary and Joseph will gather their belongings, and travel home, with Jesus, to Nazareth. …

That is the part of the story that is often left untold. It’s that part when everything looks like it did before the birth. This, however, does not signal the end of Christmas. It is, rather, the beginning. Christmas really begins when we stop talking about the story and allow our lives to become the story….. I encourage you to continue to reflect and ponder the wonder of Christ in us and with us- in all circumstances of life. And also how he guides us through. 

Now Mary and Joseph are not just any young couple, they have been chosen to parent the Son of God most high. And we hear of them taking Jesus to the Temple as all good new Jewish parents would do to have their child blessed and circumcised. It strikes me that they have a great dedication to the traditions of their faith. They have a reverence to God and in obedience to the law they bring their child.

What happens while they’re there is quite extraordinary to say the least. And so I wonder if this Sunday’s story of Simeon and Anna might be just what we need.

Notice, first, that very day as Jesus is brought to be presented, we hear that Simeon is ‘Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple, not by chance but because he knew by the Spirit of God that the time was right.

And then Simeon sings to the new parents, Mary and Joseph. It is a song about Simeon’s death. He has been waiting all his life to see the sign of God’s salvation and, having witnessed to God’s commitment to Israel and the world made manifest in this child, he now asks to depart in peace; that is, to die…. Beautiful, but also a little hard to understand especially I expect to these young parents. Although I have to wonder if after all the events of the last few months and especially that last couple of weeks nothing would now surprise them- I don’t know….

However, Simeon’s song doesn’t end there. After praising God for the light Jesus will shed on all nations, Simeon blesses Mary and Joseph, but also tells them that because of their son many will rise and fall of many. He concludes by telling Mary that a sword will pierce her heart also. It must have all been quite difficult to comprehend. I wonder what Mary and Joseph made of it all- 

And so, I offer you a reflection by Henri Neuwin who may shed some light for us as he writes:

“Every time I meditate on a sacred event such as this- the Presentation at the Temple- I find myself tempted to think about it in an intellectual way. But today I realised more strongly than ever before that I simply have to be there. I have to travel with Mary and Joseph to Jerusalem, walk with them on the busy temple square, join the thousands of simple people in offering their simple gifts… and listen to two unknown old people who have something to say, something that sounds very strange and even frightening. Why do we want more?... But the story is so simple, so crystal clear, so unpretentious. I do not have to do anything with it. I do not have to explain or examine these events. I simply have to step into them and allow them to surround me.”

Stepping into them I realise that glory and sorrow, gladness and opposition…all these and more will be contained in this child…and indeed in each of our own lives, also. And that’s just why we need Christmas to last longer than 24 or 48 hours, why we need it not simply to stay into the new year, but to keep us strong throughout the year. Because this life is wonderful…and difficult. And God came in Jesus to be with us and for us through all of it: the ups and down, hopes and fears, successes and disappointments, accomplishments to relish and mistakes to regret; in all of it. God is with us and for us…not just some of the time, but all of the time, even when we don’t act as we would like to, even when we do not live into the identity God has given us, or make it to church on a regular basis. Emmanuel: God is with us

So as we prepare to enter the new year may we experience a measure of courage that comes from confidence that God continues to keep God’s promises, because God is indeed walking with us, and God will in time bring all things – including the work we do and love we offer – to a good end.

Christmas courage, comes from knowing God is with us – every single day of our lives – this brings us peace and confidence to face the new year, and leads us to thanksgiving for all God has done…and is still doing…to us, with us, and through us.