+ First Sunday of Christmas December 28, 2008
Readings: Isaiah 61:10-62:3; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:22-40
Hymns: 275, 313, 294, 279, 277, 270
“Strange Christmas Song”
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Some worship junkies, some liturgical snobs, some peculiarly observant youth, and a few Bible-totin’, Bible-believn’, Bible-rememberin’ folks, will make the connection between the Gospel reading today and the portion of our Sunday morning Worship that uses the praise of Simeon. In other words, Simeon’s strange praise becomes our song during Worship. It’s used at a very specific place for a very definite reason. (More about that later.)
Over the course of twelve days during our celebration of Jesus’ birth we are wrapped in powerful Bible passages that help us pay attention to important, faithful things.
One of those “things” is that Mary and Joseph abide by the Jewish laws… both for Mary’s ritual purification and the presentation of Jesus at the Temple. The Bible says in Exodus 13 to, “Dedicate to me every first-born…” And so Mary and Joseph arrive at the Temple in Jerusalem, about a two hour walk from Bethlehem. The law said that 40 days after the birth of a boy a woman must present herself for purification and present an offering at the Temple… and that’s what they are doing.
Things had gone normally enough during their journey to the Temple and in their making the appropriate offerings both for Mary’s purification and for the baby Jesus’ presentation. But then things got a bit weird. A man named Simeon, perhaps with a wonderfully strange glint in his eye, walked purposefully over to the family standing with their bundled infant in the Court of the Women at the great Temple. For years Simeon had been waiting for the fulfillment of messianic expectations and this was the day. Finally the culmination of all his waiting and watching for the coming Messiah was over!
Hopefully he explained to the awestruck couple that God had assured him that he would live to see the infant Christ. Empowered by the Holy Spirit Simeon knew, just knew, that this child was the one… the one who would deliver people from their captivity to sin and their fear of death. Hopefully he explained all that because what he does next is take the child up in his arms and praise God.
The words that Simeon uttered have come down through Christian history as one of the most beloved prayers of the church. Can you begin to imagine what Simeon was going through as he, guided by the Holy Spirit, assured that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah, is now able to put into words the feelings of his head and heart? He eloquently says to God:
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace,
according to thy word;
for mine eyes have seen thy salvation
which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to thy people Israel.
At this moment Mary and Joseph, even with all they had experienced up to this point… the visit of angel Gabriel, the pregnancy of Elizabeth, the visit of shepherds to the stable/cave just after Mary had given birth – and the story they told of angels… now they have this righteous and devout man saying these incredible things about their son.
We sing this strange “Christmas” song of Simeon just after we receive Holy Communion. The church has placed those words and that song in that spot for generations and generations. Simeon’s words are about how we’ve seen all that matters… and now we can die in peace… because our eyes of faith have seen in Jesus the salvation of the world… and how glorious our lives are at the moment we receive Jesus in the Eucharist… which means that for us, as it was for Simeon, our lives are full of the greatest blessing, so we can die and rejoice!
Simeon’s message continues, but with a bitter slant. He adds prophetic words to his tune saying that, “this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for 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.”
Ouch. Strange that Simeon, after just drawing our attention to the glorious, wonderful mission that Jesus will accomplish, and the joy we have to look forward to, now blasts the populace of Israel with words of impending doom, and, of all things, of severe heartache that will cut Mary to the quick.
Simeon, perhaps more than any other, has served a role as a transition figure… standing between the Old and New Testaments, rooted in the ancient Scriptural promises and prophecies, yet gazing at their fulfillment… the Child in Mary’s arms… and knowing, absolutely believing without a doubt, that he could die right now and do so in peace.
Those are the words we sing immediately after we receive the Body and Blood of Jesus… just after we are privileged to take into our hands the Body of Jesus. Simeon got to see Jesus in Mary’s arms. We get to take Jesus into our hands, into our bodies, so that we, too, can die in peace because we are with Jesus and Jesus is in us.
Bringing Holy Communion to the homebound and sick is a great privilege. Our ministry of taking the Sacrament to those not able to be here on Sunday has not gotten off the ground the way we had initially anticipated, but, for those who have either received the Sacrament in special circumstances, or for those of us who are able to bring Holy Communion to someone… it’s a precious moment. Maybe two or three people are together; we sometimes speak softly so as not to disturb others in the hospital bed next to us; we confess our sins and hear the promise of forgiveness; and then, THEN, we receive Jesus. Our bodies are strengthened for living. Our souls are fortified for dying. Either way Jesus is with us! Simeon knew it. Now we know it. Now every time we sing his strange “Christ-Mass” song we are reminded of the infant Jesus with his parents, of the man Simeon praising God because the gift of peace and salvation, light and life, has come into the world. Truly, our eyes have now seen Jesus… our salvation… in bread and wine… in faith and love… thanks be to God!
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
