Tuesday 5 February 2008

Sunday 3 February 2008 The Presentation Hebrews 2:14-18, Luke 2:22-40, Bruce

Our Father, who art in heaven
At the hinge point between Christmas and Easter, we are reminded that heaven’s only Son was fully one with us. Humble servants have waited long years for a glimpse of heaven on earth. His parents are doing all they can humanly do, and they must trust …

Last week we began a series of associated talks, on the theme of the Lord’s Prayer.

Today we remember the Presentation of our Lord. Arising from the regulations in Leviticus in the Hebrew scriptures, a woman need to be ritually cleansed after childbirth; this took place forty days after the birth of a boy and sixty six days after the birth of a girl. Until recently it was customary for women to be ‘churched’ after a birth.

In addition, it is part of the Exodus story that the first born son belonged to the Lord, and had to be ‘redeemed’. This is connected with the story of the Passover, and the concept that the nation of Israel is God’s special son among the nations. The son was to be redeemed by the offering of a lamb.

And so Mary and Joseph come on the fortieth day with their son to the temple. The prescribed offering is a lamb for the son and a dove or pigeon for the mother. However if the couple are too poor to afford a lamb, they may offer a dove or pigeon, and that is what we find happened in this case.

And so we tell for the last time this season the Christmas story: angels from the realms of glory, shepherds in the field abiding, sages, or wise ones, leaving their contemplations, all have passed before us. And now we have these faithful ones who have dedicated their lives to waiting for the coming of the promised saviour. The prophet Malachi had promised that the promised one would appear “suddenly” in the temple (page 961), and they were determined not to miss it!

And so this wizened old man, probably with a bald head and a white beard, rushes up and seizes their child! Simeon praises God with the words that generations of Christians have known as the Nunc Dimittis, calling Jesus the light for the revelation of the Gentiles and the glory of Israel. It is from these words that we have the custom of lighting candles at this time, to acknowledge the light of Christ shining out.

For Simeon, Jesus is the presence of heaven here on earth. The darkness of this world will be dispersed by the brightness heaven’s glory. As we take this last look back to Christmas, so we also take our first look forward to the cross. Jesus will bring the light of heaven by causing many to fall, perhaps as they become conscious of the darkness within them; he will cause many to rise, as they trust personally in Jesus for forgiveness and wholeness. As the writer to the Hebrews says, Jesus has become fully human. He has come to suffer temptation and suffer and die for us, in order to atone for us. He will be spoken against by many, but many will also find their thoughts and motivations exposed and made clear.

For Mary, there is puzzlement and pain: a sword will pierce her soul also.

All this backed up Anna, who has been waiting for this moment and joins in the songs of praise. This special child will grow up to make a difference, to bring about heaven on earth as the fortunes of God’s people are transformed.

What are we to make of this?

Every child is special. We are here to baptise little Abi, rejoicing in the potential and hope that her young life brings us. On her behalf her parents and godparents pledge a life of obedience to Christ and walking in his ways. She will be part of the bringing in of the kingdom. Can we guarantee this? Of course not. Rather, we are writing a cheque of faith on her life. Through the prayers and example of us all, as we welcome her into the family of God, we will do all that we can to help her.

Mary and Joseph offered up their child to the service of God. We humbly come to do the same today. Perhaps we have here a teacher, a doctor, an engineer, a railway worker, a prime minister or a bishop! Whatever paths she takes, we offer her and entrust her to God’s keeping.

And each of us is called to live out those baptismal promises - to reject evil and turn to Christ. Today, as we say the words of the service together, we each have an opportunity, as Simeon and Anna did, to respond to the presence and love of Christ, living in the presence of our Father, who is in heaven.

May the light of Christ shine in your life! Amen.

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