-Story of the Presentation with some insights:
When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, the parents of Jesus 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." (2:22-24)
-When Jesus was born, according to Moses’ Law, as stated in Leviticus, Mary would have been seen as impure for one whole week. She would have been bathed after seven days, as a means of purification, yet this was not the end of it. For thirty-three days more Mary would have been prohibited from touching anything holy. So forty days after December 25th when we celebrate Jesus’ birth, is February 2nd (today) when this purification would have occurred. At the time of her purification, Mary would have presented an offering as well. In the case of someone from her lowly social class, her offering would be not three French hens, not a partridge in a pear tree, but two turtledoves or two pigeons.
-Yet, in Luke’s gospel it is not Mary that goes to the Temple for purification, but the whole family. Mary, Joseph, and Jesus go to the Temple together bringing their offering and themselves in line with both the Law of Moses and God’s will. In this case, unlike many times later in life when Jesus will be at odds with the Pharisees quoting the Law of Moses, God’s will and the aim of the law are in sync with one another.
-Still the law comes off seeming a bit strange in regard to Mary. She who bore God’s Son, the Messiah, the Incarnation of all things holy, was not to touch anything that was holy for forty days. So maybe the law is not completely in line with God’s workings here, but at least it is close.
-Today we offer our first fruits to God in the spiritual practice of stewardship, in this day and age, it was customary that the first male child was offered to God as a priest in God’s Temple. One could get out this priestly duty for merely five shekels. (Look at Evan: You mean we can get out of this for five shekels?). We call today the Presentation because this is the day on which Jesus is presented to God and designated as holy to the Lord. Imagining this Holy moment when Mary and Joseph travel from Galilee to Jerusalem so that they can fulfill the law and be righteous to God designating their son to the Lord AND at the same time on some level knowing from the visions of angels before Jesus’ birth that this actually was the LORD on Earth… seeing this moment makes me my heart burst. Yet, it gets better!
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; (2:25-27a)
-Simeon was a priest in the Temple whom the Holy Spirit had visited. In this visitation Simeon discovered that he was not to taste death until he had met the Savior, the one who would console Israel, the Lord’ Messiah. Simeon has a gift that constantly eludes me: patience.
-Waiting: traffic, airports, dorm staff, laundry mat; I do not enjoy this.
-Simeon though spent his life being ready, waiting and watching. It is in this hyper awareness that the Spirit leads Simeon to be at the Temple and to take the Christ child in his arms.
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." (2:27b-32)
OR
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, *
according to thy word;
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, *
which thou hast prepared before the face of all people,
To be a light to lighten the Gentiles, *
and to be the glory of thy people Israel. (BCP p. 66)
OR
Lord, you now have set your servant free *
to go in peace as you have promised;
For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, *
whom you have prepared for all the world to see:
A Light to enlighten the nations, *
and the glory of your people Israel. (BCP p. 135)
-Every Sunday that the EYC (our Episcopal Youth Community) meets at about 6:45 in the evening, you can hear this beautiful song. To be present in hearing its harmonies dance upon my ears makes my heart smile. Still there is more beauty in this song than even its pleasant sound in my hearing.
-God had called Simeon to wait, and to be a far more patient man than I will ever be. When he finally takes the Christ child in his arms he cannot help but burst into song, for consolation has come to Israel and God’s Savior has come into the world. Sure Simeon is free from waiting, but he is free from so much more. He is free now to help in sharing that light that will enlighten the nations, he is free to go in peace, he is free to be a part of the Good News.
-As difficult as it is, I pray that I might have patience, so that I might be alert enough to pay attention when God is right in front of me. In a friend who requires me to listen, in a beggar who needs more than money to get by, in a stranger who seeks true connection Jesus Christ is there. Am I going to be like Simeon, waiting and watching, to see Jesus in my arms? At the altar? At the peace? Do I see Christ in my arms like he saw Jesus in his?
And the child's father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. (2:33)
-After forty days of changing diapers, feeding, and bathing baby Jesus, his parents were bleary eyed and exhausted. Perhaps they forgot that the angels had visited them, maybe the whole “This is God’s Son” thing was wearing off when they heard Simeon’s song. They were amazed.
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." (2:34-35)
-Simeon’s final words to Mary after he blesses them are haunting. Jesus will reveal the inner thoughts of many and he is destined for the rising and falling of many in Israel. Even among God’s Chosen people Jesus will cause tumult. Those who wanted Jesus to lead with military force would surely be disappointed, those who saw the messiah as one taking away their power would also face a fall, but those who were lowly and like Simeon sought the fulfilling of all things would rise.
-Like Simeon, Anna has been waiting. She has lived a long life after her marriage and spends here nights and days fasting and praying. Right as Mary and Joseph have been amazed by one prophet of God Anna reiterates that in Jesus God is praised.
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. (2:36-38)
-If we look at what Simeon and Anna do together: fast, pray, spend time in Temple, look for the redemption (consolation) of Israel, present to the Spirit, praise God.
-This is what we must also do.
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 favor of God was upon him.(2:39-40)
-Mary and Joseph went to fulfill the law, but what they receive is reaffirmation that the child Jesus in their care is God’s Messiah destined to cause many in Israel to rise and fall and to bring out their thoughts and to cause the fulfillment of God’s purposes on this earth.
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