Scripture: Luke 2:22-40

 

Before we get into the scriptures today, we need to do a little background work. There are 3 things going on in this trip to Jerusalem. Luke has probably combined a couple of trips, and remember Bethlehem is only 3 miles from Jerusalem so this isn’t a big trip. I call these practices of God’s presence.

 

Practice #1 – Circumcision of the son – Each Jewish boy was circumcised on the 8^th day after birth. Circumcision was a practice a ritual that said this child is set apart from God. This is one of God’s children. As Christians, we do a similar act with baptism. The child while very young is baptized and signifies the child as one of God’s children. It is an act of grace that allows us to be called children of God. Later as the child grows, they will have to decide are they going to be a child of God. It is also an act of the community saying we are going to support and help in seeing this child grow into who they are - a child of God. 

 

Practice #2 – Redemption of first born male - You might remember in Exodus and the story of Moses that God said, all first-born males are mine including your children and even your cattle. This means they are to be given into the service of God’s work. Since, the Levites functioned as workers in the church, you could purchase your child back – this is a type of ransom. This ransom was 5 shekels, and could not be done sooner than 31 days after birth. Numbers 18:16 describes this service known as the “Redemption of the firstborn.”   If we go all the way back to the time of Abraham, the common practice was the first born was sacrificed to the gods. God said no! God uses in his service. God doesn’t want us dead. He wants us alive. Satan lures people to think that death is attractive. God tells the story there is more of life than what we experience here on this planet. God allows us to redeem the children. God redeemed us through Jesus, he purchased us back to be used for God. 

 

Practice #3 – Purification for the Woman – After childbirth, the woman was required to go to the temple 40 days after childbirth if a boy, and 80 days after childbirth if a girl, for a purification rite. She is not allowed to be around others for this time period. The woman could not re-enter the life of Temple and worship until this was done. She was required to bring a lamb and a pigeon as a sin offering. This was actually a costly gift. There was an exception called the “Offering of the Poor” where two pigeons were given. This is the offering that Joseph and Mary brought. Jesus was from a poor family. 

 

When the scriptures say that Joseph and Mary did everything required by law, they did every one of these practices. These practices were difficult for a poor person to keep. The religious system had put a heavy burden on the poor, while the rich elite enjoyed  their success, their wealth accumulation, and their influence brought on by politics and money. Jesus was not born into that system. He was from a devout couple who could barely afford the “offering of the poor” so that Mary could worship in the temple 

 

Within these 3 symbols and rituals, we get these meanings: we are to be set apart for God. This is an active choice. We are to be redeemed or bought back – Jesus does this for us, but we have to make an active choice to be “one of the redeemed.” It is an active choice to bear whatever sacrifice is required to be in fellowship with our family, neighbors, and church. We are made for relationships. We come together as a church, to be God’s witness to the world. 

 

Everything we do, represents one of our beliefs or values. There is probably not one of us here that would knowingly not help someone in need if we knew they were truly in need. Yet, our practices will allow us to drive by someone and not pick them up, or will allow us to remain blind of people’s plight right in our backyard. I want you to see today, Mary and Joseph practiced being in God’s presence. The truth be told, we don’t always want to be in God’s presence. He might see something we don’t want him seeing. The reality is we need practices to keep us on the straight and narrow. We have already mentioned 3: Being baptized, being one of the redeemed, and fellowship with God’s people, but the story doesn’t stop there. 

 

I call this “Practicing being in God’s Presence for the New Year.” 

 

We begin by looking at Simeon. He was described as being righteous, being devout, and looking forward to the consolation of Israel. The result of such activity is the Holy Spirit was upon him. God’s presence was with him. 

 

Well let’s begin by talking about who Simeon was not. At the time of Jesus, the typical Jew was looking at God’s blessings entirely in blessing them as a nation and a people. They saw themselves as conquering and ruling over the entire world. An obvious first thing that needed to happen, was the Romans had to go. Encouraged by the success of the Maccabean Wars in 165BC or CE, many were looking for a future king to be sent, a Messiah, who would lead his people in military battles, and conquer the world. They were called zealots. 

 

Simeon was not a zealot. He was part of a minority group known as the “Quiet in the Land.” They had no dreams, nor visions of grandeur of going to war. They did not see violence as the way to solve their plight in life. Here is one of their practices:

 

To live a life of constant prayer and quiet watchfulness until Christ comes. Simeon waited patiently on God. Now that is a hard one to do. It is hard to be patient. God doesn’t always do things, when I want them done. Yet, Simeon waited patiently on God and kept his eyes open for the sign of his coming. Simeon was humble and full of God’s Spirit. 

 

Let’s list them again – what are the practices so far? Being baptized, being redeemed, fellowshipping with the saints, and now constant prayer and watchfulness.   

 

What was Simeon able to see through the Holy Spirit – many would fall because of this baby and many would rise – the heart would not be hidden from him so Jesus can see our inner thoughts. When Simeon says he has now seen God’s salvation, he is not talking about a nationalistic military leader. He is talking about one, Jesus, who sees our heart, and can redeem us. 

 

Simeon is described as being righteous, or just, or holy. He was the bedrock of the community. He was trustworthy, and compassionate. He lived his life as Christ would. He treated others as Christ would. If the world was unfair he didn’t grumble. 

 

It is said he was devout. We don’t want to make this a legalistic thing about church attendance but he lived an amazing forgiving life. In other words, his actions matched his words. He taught, and he did.

 

We move to Anna. 

Anna too was one of the “Quiet in the Land.” Life had been rough on Anna. She had only been married 7 years before her husband died. She had been widowed young and now she was an old woman. She had reason to be bitter. She had reason to question God.  She had reason to be tired of life, but we do not see her living her life in that way. Anna lived a life of hope. 

 

This might be one of the bigger practices – to live like we have hope. Can you do it? When life is down, can you remain steadfast in God and know that one day God is going to conquer this old dying body and give me and you a new body. Can life not being you down so far, that you can’t look up to see God? 

How did she live out this life of hope? 

 

She constantly worshipped God. You couldn’t get here out of the church building. She was always there. It is not a surprise that she was there when Joseph and Mary showed up. For all practical purposes, she lived there. To not worship, Barclay says, “is to rob ourselves of a priceless treasure.” 

 

Anna didn’t just go to church. She fasted and prayed – she sought God. If you haven’t discovered the secret of prayer it is this, “God change me into whom you want me to be.” That’s what it means to pray. When we say we don’t have time to pray, we are saying I don’t have time to be God’s person. Anna had time – she prayed both night and day. 

 

We will name this as another practice: actively seeking out. Let’s list them:

 

That’s how Simeon and Anna lived. They were not man and wife, but they give us a perfect example of living for God as man and woman. What was the result? They were filled with the Holy Spirit. They saw God actively at work in just the mundane normal things of life. Simeon said he was waiting for God’s consolation. That means comfort. Simeon was comforted by the fact that God was busy with his plan of redemption and Anna was telling everyone who believed that God would redeem us about Jesus. 

 

So what are your practices?

 

See any you need to work on?

 

Let’s ask this as a church – what are our practices as a church? Is there something we need to work on?

 

As we begin a new year, let us as a people and as a church say we are going about seeking God’s presence, living God’s presence, and even if we don’t feel God, we will practice what we know will bring us in God’s presence. 

 

Amen.