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12-28-08 Text: Luke 2:22-40 ● Admittedly, I’m having trouble feeling ‘inspired’ or feeling ‘inspirational’. I’ll attribute it to “PCMD”--- Post Christmas Mood Disorder! ● We seem to come to this day grateful, perhaps, for even the temporary “distraction” which Christmas has offered--- maybe by entering the ‘chaos’ of the nativity it has somehow diverted our attention, and made our situation not look so confusing after all! ● Still, there’s something about the story of the incarnation that makes you just long to stay… to hold on… to get caught up in the revelry… to let the mystery wash over you. But, I feel like there’s a part of the story that is wanting to release us; to send us with hearts filled with hope and wonder into the “certain uncertainty” of the future. ● I find that I’m not up for a lot of ‘introspection’ this year; I just don’t seem to have the energy. Introspection seems to suggest that I’m “digging deep” to find something of which I am currently unaware--- I just need to know what to do with everything I’ve already heard! I need time to ‘process’: what the story suggests is time to ‘ponder’—observe, try to pull all this together so that I might know how to respond appropriately. Of one thing I am certain… The story refuses to let us suppose that faith is all about tidy-outcomes and straightforward conclusions. ● It’s complicated, it’s demanding, it’s provocative. The people could not have walked away ‘unscathed’; it says, “You can’t just walk away so quickly and so nonchalantly”. ● Each of this characters has experienced the gamut of emotions: fear, dazed/confusion, excitement, wonder, anxiety, disappointment, fatigue. ---Some still have the hope-filled dreams of the prophets reverberating in their heads… “the nations will see your righteousness. World leaders will be blinded by your glory” (Isaiah 62). ---Some respond as with the Psalmists in praise--- because praise seemed to be the only response that made any sense; a way to celebrate in the midst of your confusion. ---Others returned to their flocks or their home towns with a certain feeling of ‘status-quo’. The sheep were still smelly and stupid, and Jesus, without the soft-glow of the light shining on him from above and the angels hovering around him, looked pretty much like any other newborn. ---One ‘old man’ saying, “Take me now, God” and one old lady running out the doors of the Temple engaging everyone with discussion about the child. ● Mostly left trying to convince themselves and others that this was it… God was now rescuing his people; left trying to console themselves with the hope that although little about their circumstance had changed, that life would never be the same. Love had come. ● With what little space there is available in my already over-crowded thoughts, I want to know how to respond to this. I want to believe. ►I need to know “how to do ordinary”. Because the biggest chunk of my life seems to fit best in this category. ● Most of the seasons of the Christian Church year are organized around the two major festivals, Christmas and Easter, used to mark “sacred” time. The rest of the year following Epiphany and Pentecost is known as “Ordinary Time” [from the word "ordinal," which simply means “counted time”. ● I know by “ordinary time”, they are not referring to mundane or profane, but much of life sure seems to lack the luster and the fantastic associated with Christmas and Easter. ● But, it’s where we will spend most of our time… so I need to “make the time count”… to live thoughtfully in our world. ● Luke does something very interesting here with Simeon and Anna: he places the announcement of the Messiah on the lips of these two old people who have been listening for a ‘silent God’, waiting for his response. Anna:
…a prophetess, the “daughter
of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.” It is surprising that we are given so much
detail since Anna is only mentioned once and very briefly in the Bible. ● In the Temple she found solace because she found God there. The fasting and praying was a response to her “ordinary” life. Fasting was associated most often with mourning and, apparently, she had plenty of cause. Was she the “Temple-lady”? The pathetic old woman that hung around the temple like it was a homeless shelter? ● We are left to “ponder”… was it her suffering that opened her heart to God? Had a “sword pierced her heart” too? She had witnessed countless children being brought to the temple, presumably, none of them her own, but when she laid her eyes on the infant Jesus she knew at once who it was; she had an experience that paralleled that of Elizabeth and Simeon--- something inside of her “moved”, something within her was “stirred”. Simeon… Simeon awaits the moment when God will console (comfort/bring relief) those who are in exile (in Babylon or the Roman Empire). Taking the child in his arms, he declares that that moment of deliverance has arrived (verses 29-32).
But, just as quickly, Simeon
warns Mary and Joseph that “the child” who signifies the presence of salvation
in their midst will also be the cause of the 'falling and rising' of many…
hearts will be pierced--- even their own. ►It is important to remind ourselves at Christmas that God’s salvation is for this world. Salvation is “Emmanuel, God with us”; it is “peace on earth and with all upon whom his favor rests”; it’s “your kingdom come on earth…” ● If you listen closely to the text, you’ll discover that we are not the “insiders”… the “ones who get it”, but the “outsiders”: somehow, we haven’t chosen the story, the story has chosen us! We have been accepted and welcomed in by the grace of God into his new work in the world: we ARE that work in the world. And it’s “a whole new world”! my offerings… ~Follow stars. Be willing to see in the moment signs pointing you toward something else. Be open to extra-ordinary guidance; know that God has an “unlimited repertoire” when it comes to getting our attention--- many of them will not seem logical. ● Don’t allow your inexperience to overrule the subtle promptings of the Spirit, meant to guide you gently into unexpected adventure. Remember, none of these people had experienced such ‘phenomenon’ either! But, don’t get distracted by the star! Remember, signs are only for those actively seeking guidance, and, they are not the reality themselves but point us toward the reality. ~Establish a rhythm to your life. Most often, we allow life to dictate our movements; to determine our pursuits. A rightly-ordered life will prevent life being “determined for us”--- that life doesn’t just ‘happen to you’. By rightly-ordering your life you also prevent your faith from becoming “incidental” and you allow for spontaneity. WARNING: Don’t allow your spiritual growth to make you even more irrelevant and unapproachable! ~Develop an “ample” Gospel. Don’t settle for a ‘diluted’ faith. Make sure that your portrayal of the gospel incites “pondering”; make sure that is it big enough to warrant wonder and encompass the restoration of all of creation… if it doesn’t, it’s not the gospel! ~Revive the art of “waiting”. Incarnational living requires “being with God” and “being with others”… try not to put a time limit on either of those! Transformation is a lengthy and disturbing process and any attempt to “short cut it” will greatly alter the outcome. ● Incarnation requires that we “persevere”. Realize that this entire season is offered to us as a paradox of “fulfillment” and “longing”… “already” and “not yet”. ● “Persevere” doesn’t suggest that we should “just suck it up and stop feeling sorry for yourself”. But, the Latin root of the word might help us better understand; loosely translated it is interpreted, “by means of the truth”. We persevere by recognizing and recalling what is true--- about God and our life. Our paradigms, meant to help us deal with ‘reality’, can often prevent us from seeing what is real.
● Could it be that our present beliefs (ways of interpreting life) may actually keep us unaware of the overwhelming ‘signs’ of God all around us?! ● As followers of Jesus, we will often be required to trust beyond what we think we are currently able to handle. It may mean that your faith, in its current condition, is inadequate to meet the challenge; so, expect more grace! ~Work for “world peace”. You’re right, it is a daunting task, but it’s at the heart of the gospel. Invite heaven and earth to collide in unique and daring ways [i.e. pray for someone, model generosity in times of scarcity, serve without obligation, etc.] Help people finally “put their finger on” what their hearts have been longing for. ~Embrace “abnormality”… do “ordinary”. Maybe the incarnation was meant to forever alter ‘ordinary’. Most often, “holy” (sacred) looks pretty ordinary! Perceive God’s restorative work to be most effective in an environment of commonality and routine.
Sacred is what happens when
the ordinary “reeks of God”. |
