Chances are you have either heard someone say it to you as a
parent, or you have heard yourself telling it to a new mom or dad, “Enjoy every
moment, because they grow up too fast.” I’ve heard those words come out of my
mouth more than a few times. I’ve often wanted to add sort of a verbal asterisk
and then read the fine print: well, perhaps not every moment…
The difficulty of “enjoy every moment” is that not every
moment is enjoyable. 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. I’ve watched them grow up
and I’ve seen them leave home for the first time. Hearing their voice from a
thousand miles away say, “I made a mistake doing this,” and knowing I can’t do
a thing about it broke my heart in two. “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. The Angel Gabriel set this in motion by appearing
to Mary with the Divine news she would become the Mother of God, giving birth
to a child by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Christmas story now ends when
Mary, Joseph and the eight-day old Baby Jesus going 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. His name was Simeon.
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, bid your servant go in peace, Your Word is now
fulfilled. These eyes have seen salvation’s dawn, this Child so long foretold”
(LSB #937.1) 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 very quickly after the initial encounter - “Who’s this??? What’s going
on???” - Mary and Joseph were beaming with pride as this man of God sings about
their son. After all, the last 9 months had been filled with wonder upon 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.” If Mary and Joseph were
listening closely, and I suspect they were, I can imagine those beaming,
radiant smiles slowly disappearing as eyebrows wrinkled, Mary looking at Joseph
in concern, and Joseph starting to get a stern look on his face about what this
man was saying about Mary’s Son.
Simeon isn’t trying to ruin the Temple experience for these
new parents. Rather, Simeon prophetically 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; it looms in the future for Mary as
well. A day will come when she will stand at the foot of the cross and hears
her Son say, “It is finished.” It will feel as if the sword that pierces her Son’s
heart stabbed her as well.
I do not think this moment in the Temple with an 8-day old Son
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. Last Sunday evening, we were 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 queso and fresh cookies that made
hungry stomachs growl. But we can’t hold onto the romance of Christmas any more
than any parent, including Mary, can keep their child forever at the simple age
of 8 days.
We realize this, in a small way. The presents are already
assimilated into our homes and toy boxes. The wrapping paper has been recycled.
I suspect many of us have already taken down the Christmas tree or plan to do
so later today. The ornaments are boxed up; the lights are dark; the stockings
– once full –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’ll be taking
the tree down and stowing the yard Nativity soon, too. I do have one ornament,
however, that I never box up. It stays in my office so I can always see it: 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 left 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.
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. 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.
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