Wednesday, January 2, 2019

Today’s Scripture Reading  |  Luke 2:21–40
After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 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 favor of God was upon him. (NRSV)

Reflection
People can say some awkwardly personal things to expectant parents or parents of newborns. The weekend I candidated to be the pastor of a church in California in 2008, my wife, Meredith, was about five months pregnant with our daughter, Laura. During a cookies-and-coffee reception in the linoleum-floored fellowship hall after worship, as we greeted church members one by one, a delightfully cheery congregant shook my and Meredith’s hands, looked at Meredith’s midsection, and declared to us, “God has never blessed me with children of my own, but I love children.” Then she asked, “Can I speak to the baby?”

Meredith politely answered, “Sure.” To both our surprise, the woman then knelt in front of Meredith and cradled her stomach in two hands as she chirped a greeting to our unborn child. “Hello baby! How are you? We can’t wait to meet you!”

It was awkward.

I wonder if the way Meredith and I looked at each other then was anything like the way Joseph and Mary look as the old codger Simeon cradles their eight-day-old in his arms and begins singing about “a light for revelation to the Gentiles.” And I wonder how Mary’s face registers his warning about what this child is destined for and the sword that will pierce Mary’s soul. I wonder because Luke doesn’t say. That seems like the kind of thing a person would respond to.

The new life coming into the world in this child interacts awkwardly, uncomfortably, with our conventions and expectations, as it is bound always to do.

Prayer
God of Simeon and Anna, of Joseph and Mary, help us to follow this child, that we may see more than we’ve looked for in this season and beyond it. Amen.

Written by Rocky Supinger, Associate Pastor for Youth Ministry

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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