He Still Wants to See Jesus

This Sunday we will experience a rare moment: a major feast day of the Church will fall on what we often refer to as the Lord’s Day.  Normally, when a feast day falls on a Sunday, the Sunday trumps it because Sunday is the weekly reminder of the Resurrection of Jesus.  Every week, therefore, we celebrate Easter.  But on the rare occasion that one of the Church’s major feast days—that is, a celebration that is commemorated in Scripture or a day that honors one of the saints named in Scripture—that feast day trumps Sunday.  And that is what we get this week.

February 2 is the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple.  It is the day that Jesus, being the first-born son in his family, was taken to the temple in Jerusalem and presented to the priests, setting him apart as a dedication to the Lord (the command is found in Exodus 13: 2).  Thus, Mary and Joseph, obeying the Law of Moses, brought Jesus to Jerusalem to be presented and dedicated to God.

But something remarkable happened when they got there.  An old man named Simeon, who had been told by God that he would not see death until he met the Messiah, entered the temple and was immediately drawn to the baby Jesus.  Simeon took Jesus in his arms and prayed one of the most poetic, most beautiful prayers in all the Bible—a prayer so lovely that we sing it at every single Evensong service.  It is called the Nunc Dimitis, “The Song of Simeon.”

“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.”

-Luke 2: 29-32

Simeon recognized the glory of God in this little baby, saw God’s promises reflected in his eyes, felt God’s love in his tiny little fist. Thus, this day is not only sacred because Jesus is presented in the temple according to Mosaic law, but it is sacred because of the glory of God revealed to someone who had been searching for God his whole life.  Now, at this moment, gazing at this little baby in his arms, Simeon saw God.  Simeon could rest now because his long journey to find gone was fulfilled.

There are Simeons still in this world, all around us.  The world is hungry to see the face of God, hungry to hear the Good News of God’s unending, uncompromising love.  Simeon wanders the streets, longing for the church to open its doors.  Simeon lays homeless on the corner, praying to get a glimpse of kindness.  Simeon sits in the prison cell, holding on to the hope that God will walk through the door.

Simeon still wants to see Jesus, still wants to behold God’s glory.  And you are the one to offer it to him.  You are the one to show Jesus to Simeon once again, to fulfill his hopes, his prayers, his longings to see the salvation of God. 

This is the reason that this Sunday is a major feast, because it is a day that not only recalls the story of Simeon beholding God’s glory and finally being able to rest in peace, but it is a day in which we are called to show Jesus to Simeon once more, to share that love and joy with a world that so desperately longs for it.

Simeon still wants to see Jesus.  Will you be the one to show Jesus to him?

God Shows no Partiality

There are times when I truly struggle with the difference between what I believe God expects of me and what I want or think. I run head long into that struggle each time I  recall the words of Peter in Acts 10:34-36: "Then Peter began to speak to them: "I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every  nation anyone who fears him and does what is acceptable to him." Or, as The Message translation puts it, "Peter fairly exploded with his good news: “It’s God’s own truth, nothing could be plainer: God plays no favorites! It makes no difference who you are or where you’re from—if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open."

I hope this does not shock you, but there are individuals and groups who just drive me crazy. They don't think like me; don't value their children enough to suit me; don't take care of their animals in a way that is acceptable to me; refuse to share my political views. Then there are those who want to tell others how to dress or not dress; what to think or what not to think; and/or with whom to live or with whom not to live. The lists could go on and on. But wait, for every situation that gets under my skin, I could just as likely be the protagonist to the other person's skin. Talk about bringing one'self up short....

I think my capacity to love and accept others is large, but when compared to the depth and breadth of God's love, my capacity is sadly in need of constant improvement. Christ shows no favorites but accepts all who seek God's presence in their lives. Because God calls me to do likewise in loving my brothers and sisters as myself, I must open my heart and my mind more than I currently do.

Dear Lord, help us to embrace others as you embrace all your sons and daughters. Give us the courage and determination to love those with whom we disagree and whose lives are so very different from our own. Make us instruments of your peace that the world may see your Holy presence reflected in our lives. In Christ's name I pray. Amen.

Season of Light

The camels and wise men have come, paying homage to the babe.  These wise men were wise in part because they listened to the inner stirrings of their lives and paid attention to all of life in their surroundings.  They read the signs in the world around them, knowing that the star that they had spotted would take them to the messiah.  They followed this bright sign and did indeed find the Christ.  There was something about this child that registered a yes within these wise people.  They then listened to the inner stirrings in their dreams and knew that they must go home another way. Their listening mattered.

We might say that these wise people were present to life in all of its many facets.  Their minds perhaps were not going over to do lists or how this holy family might be perceiving them.  I like to think that they had a practice such as centering prayer and sharing the messages of their dreams with each other.  Such practices would have helped them to let go of distractions so that the divine spark within could connect to the divine that is within all.  Christ was born anew in these wise people.  They took what they received from that light home in a new way.

A few weeks before Christmas, I was feeling terribly distracted and completely disengaged as to how God was stirring within me.  I left my office to wander downstairs for a refill on my coffee. The lights were already out but some natural light had found its way to the coffee nook.  I was completely taken off guard when the notes of the First Noel being practiced on the organ made their way to me.  Tears came to my eyes as I felt stirrings within.  I argued back and forth with myself about going right back upstairs to work or to sit for a moment to ponder what was happening.  I chose to find a seat in the Tilford Room and just sat.  I was brought back to what all of this work was about.  I took a few deep breaths knowing that God was being born anew in me.  This is what I must stay connected to as I go about the details of my life.  The light of this new birth is what I celebrate during Epiphany - the season of light.  The birth does not end at Christmas.  The light is sent out into the world.  We must be the bearers of this light in the world.  How will you celebrate and spread the new light that was born within you during Christmas?  If you are not even aware of any birth within, take some time to yourself and look back over the seasons of Advent and Christmas.  Where was God doing something new in you?  I promise you that it was happening.