Stroll through Scripture for December 29, 2024

Based on Luke 2:21-38

Jesus has come!  Hallelujah!  Most of society is ready to move on to the next thing unfortunately.  But for the church, we just began the season of Christmas, which goes all the way to Jan. 6 and Epiphany.  

Likewise, so many people get excited about the birth of the infant Jesus but forget that Christmas isn’t just about a nice nostalgic feeling with a quiet manger and shepherds coming.  It’s just as much about Jesus’ return.  The kingdom of God has already been inaugurated with Jesus’ birth.  His return will finish the job, so to speak. 

This Sunday, the Narrative Lectionary moves us past the manger scene to the realities of life past the initial joy of the arrival of a newborn.  For Jesus’ family, that means circumcision, an offering at the Temple, naming the child, etc.  While the family is doing all of this, they encounter Simeon, who has been faithful his entire life.  He was promised to see the Savior before he died.  And that promise is now fulfilled.  Simeon offers amazing words about the newborn Jesus.  

I find Simeon’s conversation with Mary to be the most interesting – “This child is destined for the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed – a sword will pierce your own soul too.”  Wow.  That’s quite a statement.  In these difficult times, like so many before, it seems that Simeon’s words still ring true.  

The passage also tells us about the prophet Anna.  Though the Scripture doesn’t give us the words she says, we hear about her faithfulness and her expression of praise.  She knows that Jesus will redeem Jerusalem.  I often wonder what people thought when they heard Simeon and Anna proclaim these things about Jesus.  I wonder how they misinterpreted them and heard what they wanted to hear.  My observation is that people still do this today. 

Questions for further reflection:

• Much is said about Jesus.  Much of it gets twisted.  How do we discern what is true and what is not?  
• Simeon and Anna have been waiting for a long time for the Savior to come.  Their lives are fulfilled in his arrival.  And they know peace as a result.  It changes their life.  How does Jesus change our lives?