Long-Awaited Gift -- A Message for December 27, 2020

 

In the Jewish religion, it is customary that sons are circumcised a few days after their birth.  Some families have a little celebration to welcome their son during the bris.  After Jesus’ birth, before the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, sons were presented at the Temple and their circumcision took place within those holy walls.  Many special and mystical events occurred at the beginning of Jesus’ life, and this was true on the day of his circumcision.  Listen to how the story unfolded as we read the Gospel of Luke, chapter 2, verses twenty-two through forty:

Scripture Reading: Luke 2:22-40

On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 

(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), 

and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”

Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 

It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 

Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 

Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,

    you may now dismiss your servant in peace.

For my eyes have seen your salvation,

which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:

a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

    and the glory of your people Israel.”

The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 

Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 

so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 

and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 

Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 

And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.

Here ends this reading of the Word of God for the People of God. Thanks be to God. Amen.

Prayer for Understanding

Almighty god, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen. 

Message                       “Long-Awaited Gift”          

          This morning finds us just a few days before the end of the year.  For most of us, 2020 has not been the best year of our lives.  Many of us hope 2021 will be a tad less complicated and perhaps more enjoyable.  This has been a year to remember, but not necessarily for all the best reasons.

          In typical years, most people start the New Year by making a resolution or two.   We make promises to ourselves to start a new practice or end an unhealthy one.  Perhaps we will vow to start exercising more consistently or read the Bible every day.  Perhaps we will diet or eliminate caffeine from our lives.  Perhaps we will stop smoking or stop eating meat. 

          Oftentimes, we are not successful at keeping these promises we make to ourselves.  When I was a young adult, I worked at the YMCA in St. Louis. The staff members would always joke that you couldn’t find a parking space in the lot in January, but by mid-February there were plenty of spots available.

          In our scripture reading this morning, we are reminded that unlike us fallible human beings, God keeps God’s promises.

          Mary and Joseph were extremely faithful people.  They followed God’s desires for them and worked together to parent Jesus.  After Jesus’ tumultuous birth in Bethlehem, they travelled to Jerusalem so that they could perform the religious obligations observed when a son was born to a family.  When a family had their “firstborn” son, they had to make a greater sacrifice.

          Jesus was “presented” at the Temple.  He was circumcised following the religious laws regarding how to perform the procedure.  His parents made sacrifices on his behalf—some birds were dedicated in his honor.  We don’t know exactly what it would have been like, but we know how excited church members are when we have a baby baptized at Trinity.  Everyone wants to see the baby, and coo over them and smile at them.  The baby is dressed up in special clothing, and the parents are all-smiles.  The parents and the baby are the center of everyone’s’ attention. 

          This is where the promises of God come into play.  Simeon was waiting for “the consolation of Israel.” This means, Simeon was waiting for the messianic age to come – for the Messiah to arrive and put everything to rights. 

          God’s Holy Spirit told Simeon that he would not die before the Messiah arrived.  And, God keeps God’s promises. When Mary and Joseph walked into the Temple Courts with Jesus, Simeon immediately knew who he was.  Simeon knew Jesus was the Messiah.  He approached Mary and Joseph, took Jesus into his arms, and praised God.  Then Simeon blessed Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus.

          Anna was a prophet who lived in the Temple.  She fasted and prayed day and night.  She had been a widow for a very long time and was steadfast in her faith in God.  She also immediately knew who Jesus was.  She approached Jesus and his parents and told everyone who could hear that Jesus was the messiah who had come to redeem the people of Israel.   God had promised a Messiah would come, and in the birth of Jesus, God fulfilled God’s promises. 

          Although Christmas 2020 has been a different kind of Christmas, we can be consoled that God keeps God’s promises.  God doesn’t prevent sin from entering the world.  We fall short again and again.  And, disasters befall the people of the earth – we are blessed with mobility and connection with people all over the earth.  In a few hours, we can fly in an airplane to a faraway destination.  We can hop into our cars and comfortably travel long distances.  But, with all of this mobility and connection, we also can spread germs.  The Covid virus quickly spread across the globe, spread by people who had no idea they were infected. For months, we have been contending with the results of the spread of this virus, which has upset our lives in countless ways.  Nothing has been normal in 2020. 

          But, God keeps God’s promises.  Things will get better soon. Scientists and engineers developed the technology to enable our mobility.  Now, scientists and engineers are developing treatments for Covid and vaccinations to stop its spread.   We just have to be patient and wait to have access to the vaccinations. 

          Simeon and Anna waited their whole lives to meet Jesus.  The Jewish people waited hundreds of years for the Messiah to arrive the first time.  The people of the Resurrected Jesus have waited hundreds of years for Jesus to return.  God keeps God’s promises.  Jesus will return to us. And, Covid will soon be a thing of the past.

          Thanks be to God. Amen.