The First Sunday of Christmas is one of my favorite Sundays of the church year. Like the conversation about prayer in the movie, Talladega Nights, the gospel reading on the First Sunday of Christmas serves as a reminder that Jesus didn't just jump from the manger to his baptism. Along the way, Jesus grew up, experiencing a fully human life along the way.
This year, Luke 2:22-40 gives us a glimpse of what Jesus experienced in childhood as we consider our faith and the faithfulness of God.
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Merry Christmas, everyone! Though Christmas day has come and gone, we still have some time to celebrate. In fact, there are twelve days in the season of Christmas, just like in the song, twelve days to intentionally celebrate the gift of God to the world.
The First Sunday of Christmas is one of my favorite Sundays. Unlike Christmas Day where we focus specifically on the stories of Jesus’ birth, the First Sunday of Christmas often has a story set sometime between his birth and the start of his ministry at his baptism by John. For me, this makes the stories we read on this Sunday even more important in some ways than the stories of Jesus’ birth.
I think there are times that we can forget about the time period between Jesus’ birth and his baptism. We love the stories of the little baby lying in a manger, but then we jump so quickly to the story of his baptism and all the ministry that followed. Sometimes we need the intentional reminder that Jesus grew up just as we do. God came into the world and experienced every step of human life that we experience.
As he grew older, Jesus surely faced all the challenges of growing into adulthood that we face. He was born into the world as any other human is. He grew up as children do, likely facing many of the experiences we do of friendships and even heartbreak. And Jesus was surely influenced by the life of his parents as well. He likely learned a bit of his father’s trade, and he seems to have been influenced by his mother’s knowledge and wisdom. Surely he learned from their expressions of faith.
In today’s story, we get a glimpse into Mary and Joseph's practice of faith. Our story begins with the explanation that they are taking Jesus to the Temple for his dedication. The story tells us that it is a religious obligation that all first-born males are dedicated to God. As faithful Jews, Joseph and Mary undertake this journey to Jerusalem to fulfill this religious rite. Their dedication to their faith surely had an influence on Jesus as he continued to grow.
Of course, the faith of Mary and Joseph is not the only expression of faith that we see in today’s story. Some of you may recall the mention of Simeon last weekend. As we discussed the Canticle of Mary, I mentioned how the Canticle of Simeon has long been a part of the traditional pattern of prayers before going to bed. As we read it here, perhaps it is not hard to see why. This song of praise that Simeon offers is a song that speaks of dismissal, of things drawing to an end.
“Now, master, let your servant go in peace according to your word, because my eyes have seen your salvation” (Luke 2:29-30, CEB). For generations, people of faith around the world have sung this song at the close of day as they prepare for bed. It is a way of expressing our praise of God at the end of the day, of asking God to allow us a peaceful night’s sleep.
But let us back up for a moment to look at the faith of this man. He is described as a devout and righteous man who longs for the salvation and restoration of Israel. Inspired by the language of the prophets, he waits with hope for the day that God’s Messiah comes to bring healing and redemption. At some point, the Holy Spirit had told him that he would not die before he had seen the Messiah. Though we are not given any information about his age, this idea of not dying until he has seen the Christ suggests he is perhaps very old. In fact, in the Eastern Orthodox tradition, Simeon is thought to have been over 200 years old at the time he met the holy family at the Temple.¹
That said, the words we have read today are the only mention of Simeon in the Bible. Whatever his age, the text still paints the picture of a devoted man of faith. When Mary and Joseph arrived at the Temple with Jesus, Simeon was prompted by the Holy Spirit to recognize that this child was the Christ-child. He took Jesus into his arms and praised God, singing the song that appears here. For Simeon, it is a song of thanksgiving, expressing his gratitude that God has allowed him to see the Messiah, to know the coming salvation of Israel, even if he will not live to see it himself. Simeon’s praise is offered because he knows that God is faithful, and he can now depart the world in peace.
The interesting thing about our passage today is that we have not one but two people who see the holy family in the Temple and respond with knowledge and joy at seeing Jesus. After meeting Simeon, Mary and Joseph are approached by a prophet named Anna. We are at least told her age, and we are told about her faithfulness as well. Anna spent every day in the Temple worshipping God and fasting and praying day and night.
When Anna sees Jesus, she approaches and offers praise to God. Then she begins telling all who will listen who Jesus is and how will be the one to redeem Israel.
It is important that we have these two encounters here together. As we’ve heard before, God comes into the world for all people. Both Simeon and Anna have a role to play in announcing all that God is doing in the world. Both men and women have a place in the story of God’s redemption. Both men and women have a place in announcing God’s salvation.
The other important part of this story is its recognition of God’s faithfulness. Like Mary in her song which we focused on last week, both Simeon and Anna praise God for God’s faithfulness. While the story highlights their names and we hear their words, the praise and thanksgiving they offer is because they know that God remains faithful. They are singing because God’s promises are being kept. They are giving thanks for all that God has done and all that God is doing. They are grateful that they have lived to see God’s grace born into the world in the person of Jesus.
Their story shows us their trust in God’s faithfulness. Through all that the people of Israel had been through, God had not forsaken them. Jesus is proof of that promise. Even in the midst of foreign occupation, Simeon and Anna were able to see God’s presence in their midst.
The good news is that we can have the same faith, that same trust in God’s promises. Just as Jesus was proof of God’s faithfulness for God’s people in ancient times, Jesus is the proof of God’s love for us today as well. Through everything we’ve been through, God remains faithful.
In the midst of the year we have had, where do we see signs of God’s faithfulness? What are the praises we sing to God in times such as this?
I look around and see the work of God in the way that people have pulled together to take care of one another.
I see the trust that people have in God and one another that things will turn out for the better.
I see the faith of people who continue to love their communities in times when it is so tempting to take care of only ourselves.
God is with us. God remains faithful to the promises that have been made. God does not forget or forsake us.
I saw a post on Facebook recently that I found to be quite a good reminder in this year we have had.
Even if we cannot gather in person, Emmanuel, God with us.
Even if some Christmas traditions have had to go, Emmanuel, God with us.
Even if we might not get to hug family and friends, Emmanuel, God with us.
Even if we cannot sing carols beside each other, Emmanuel, God with us.
Even if Christmas cheer is harder this year, Emmanuel, God with us.²
This expresses the same trust and faith in God that Simeon and Anna recognize in Jesus. Jesus is our proof that God has come into the world to be with us. Even in the worst of times, God is with us. Even when it is hard, we can rely on God’s faithfulness.
May our faith and trust in God inspire others as much as the words of Simeon and Anna inspired Mary and Joseph and all those who were present that day.