January 14, 2025
LUKE 2:22-40
22 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 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”, 24 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.”
25 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. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 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, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”
33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 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, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
36 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, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 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.
39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.
In Luke, the infant Jesus and his parents are portrayed as law-abiding, devout Jews. Notice our reading points out that Jesus was circumcised on the eighth day (Luke 2:21). After the time of purification, his parents brought him to Jerusalem for dedication (2:22-24). There, they encountered Simeon, a devout and righteous man (2:25-35), and the widow Anna, a prophet who "never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying." (2:36-38). After fulfilling “everything required by the law of the Lord” in Jerusalem (2:39), the young family, returned home to Galilee.
This trip to Jerusalem was not a not a one-time event; we are told they brought Jesus to Jerusalem every year to observe Passover (2:41). These details help us in recognizing that Jesus and his parents, Mary and Joseph embodied the values and practices of a honorable Jewish family, and as Jesus grew, the favor of God and people was upon him. (2:40).
Jesus the Messiah, according to our reading, fulfills Israel’s hopes, bringing God’s consolation for Israel (2:25) and being a light of revelation to the Gentiles (2:32).
In Simeon’s blessing, Jesus is paradoxically portrayed as a stumbling block or a challenging presence, he is “destined for the falling and rising of many in Israel” (2:34).
One of the noticeable features of the season(s) we have just gone through is that we are told about this this dual message. God, through Jesus Christ, is faithful to his promises, (Advent, Christmastide) but in the Epiphany scriptures, like todays verses, we are challenged to pay close attention to how God is revealing himself in new ways, and transforming the world.
I am so struck by the truth revealed in the incarnation, it drives me to my knees in worship. Think about this, the child whom Simeon held in his arms, and whom the prophet Anna proclaimed as the "redemption of Israel", this child is the One who holds us, and all creation, in peace, redemption, and salvation.
HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD, sing with me, HOW GREAT, HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD!!
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