In a blog called, “Wonderoak,” a mother wrote about the phrase, “Enjoy every moment.” It’s a difficult phrase to agree with, she argues, because there are some things that are pretty hard to enjoy. She said:
Nothing makes me feel quite as
overwhelmed as the words “enjoy every minute”.
Like do you mean right now
while my kid is spread eagle on the Target floor demanding a slushy? Do you
mean when I make dinner and half of the family is crying because it looks
weird?...
I can do it; it’s worth it. But enjoying
every minute is a different type of pressure.
In truth, there are a whole lot of
minutes I feel annoyed or tired. [1]
The difficulty of “enjoy every moment” is also true for
fathers. I will never forget the helpless feeling of holding a child while the
anesthesiologist put her to sleep and feeling her go deathly limp. “Daddy, I’m
scared…will it hurt when they take my tonsils out?” What do you say to that? There
was the week the whole family had the flu, at the same time, and the sewer line
decided it was the time to break and back up. I’ve stayed up late and gotten up
early. I’ve cried tears of joy and tears of pain and tears of heartache with my
kids and for my kids. “Enjoy every moment?” No…I don’t think so.
This morning’s Gospel lesson gives us St. Luke’s matched
bookend to the Christmas narrative. What began with the Angel Gabriel appearing
to Mary and telling her that she would become the Mother of God, giving birth
to a child by the power of the Holy Spirit, now ends when Mary, Joseph and the
Baby Jesus go to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices of purification. There, in the
Temple, was another strange messenger of God. This, not a heavenly angel, but
an old man who had been patiently and prayerfully waiting for God’s promises to
be fulfilled. We don’t know much about him, other than Simeon had waited in
patient faith for Messiah. He is probably most well known for the song that he
sings. We call it the Nunc Dimittis, after the Latin translation of the first
few words he sang, “Lord, let me depart in peace.” We sang these words in our
midweek services: “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace,
according to thy word…” Those words thank God for allowing Simeon to see the
fulfillment of God’s promises, in allowing him the baby Jesus.
If you will allow a little bit of creative license, I imagine
Mary and Joseph beaming with pride as this man of God sings about their son. After
all, the last 9 months had been filled with wonder as angels spoke, shepherds
arrived, and the news that her son was God’s Son. Simeon’s song was yet another
beautiful moment for them to enjoy and to want to remember forever.
Or is it?
Before the echoes of his melody fade away, Simeon adds this: “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall
and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will
pierce your own soul, also) so that the thoughts from many hearts may be
revealed.” With these words, Simeon identifies that Jesus life and ministry
will be neither easy nor peaceful. Because of His preaching, people will react
strongly towards Jesus – some favorably in faith, some in curiosity, and some
in angry denial. He will be opposed by the religious and civil leaders who will
go so far as to have Jesus arrested and falsely convicted for heresy. Before He
has taken his first steps, the cross is already being spoken about, being
teased from the shadows into the periphery of Mary’s view of her Son. In fact,
the Cross will not only be for Jesus. A sword – in the form of the cross - will
pierce Mary’s own heart as she stands at the foot of the cross and hears her
Son say, “It is finished.”
I do not think this would be a moment that Mary would want to
recall. No parent would want to think of such things and remember them…not
while holding their newborn in their arms. Yet, this is God’s plan of
salvation, enfleshed for the entire world.
It’s tempting for us to try to hold on to the romance of
Christmas. Filled with the beautiful, majestic message of the angels, Christmas
Eve was filled with beauty, wonder, and joy. We left here to go to our homes
where gifts waited under the tree, families gathered to celebrate, and the
smells of Christmas ham made hungry stomachs growl.
We realize this, in a small way. The presents are already assimilated
into our homes and toy boxes. The wrapping paper has been recycled. Already, just
a few days later, many of us have already taken down the Christmas tree. The
ornaments are boxed up; the lights are dark; the stockings – once full – now are
in a pile in the corner. It’s funny…Christians lament how early stores put up
their Christmas displays in November, but we’re right with them when it comes
time to move on.
I don’t say that to make anyone feel guilty. We did it last
night, too. And, as we were packing up the ornaments I came across this one: a
baby Jesus in the manger. But hanging under the manger is a small sign. In the
center of the sign is a cross with the word “Sacrifice” across it. This
ornament is titled “Sacrifice/Life.” It could just as easily be titled “The
Song of Simeon.” Simeon will not leave us at the manger. Simon pulls us from
the “peace on earth and good will among men” of Christmas Eve to the reality
that that peace will only be restored between God and man by the death of this
boy in his arms. Simeon takes us from manger to cross where Jesus’ name will be
on display. Remember: Jesus means “Savior.”
Did Mary and Joseph understand all of this on that day in the
temple? Did they know what Simeon was talking about? The crosses that they
passed by as they entered Jerusalem…did they have any idea that one of those
crosses would one day be their son’s throne as King of the Jews? Could they
even begin to understand how difficult it would be to “enjoy every moment” of
Jesus life and ministry? I don’t know. I don’t think so. What I do know is that
the Scriptures tell us that Mary and Joseph remained faithful, trusting the
promises of God for them and for all of God’s people.
In her blog, (see previous reference) the Wonderoak writer
said this:
Being a mom is hard work, and that’s
okay. It’s okay to admit it. It’s okay to cry about it and to vent about it.
That doesn’t make us bad at this, and it doesn’t mean we love our kids any
less.
It makes us human.
You do not need to understand everything in the Scriptures to
be God’s people. There will be days that life doesn't make sense over and against the life of faith. You may cry about it and vent about it. That doesn’t make you a bad Christian, or that you love Jesus
less, or that He looks down on you as a less-than other Christians. There are things contained in the Bible, things about the Christian faith that I do not understand, to be
honest. God does not call us to understand; He calls us to faith as His people.
As we stand on the cusp of a new year, perhaps that is the greatest thing for
us to remember today. We – like Mary and Joseph – have no idea of what this
earthly life has in store for us or our families. There will be times that we
want to “enjoy every moment” of what is taking place; and there will be moments
that we will wish we could forget forever. Wherever that moment falls, whatever
that moment may be, believe and take comfort in this: the Bethlehem Babe is
also the Christ of the Cross and Lord of Life. I didn't pay attention to the ornament last night. I only noticed this today: on the back of the cross and "Sacrifice" side is an empty tomb that reads "Life." Because He is Jesus – Savior – and because you
are baptized into Him, you are able to look through the cross, through your own grave, and into eternity where truly you will
enjoy every moment.
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