First Sunday after Christmas Day

Call to Worship

L: We have welcomed the Christ child and declared the glory of God’s salvation that comes to live among us. And yet, still, we wait.

P: We watch and work for God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.

L: We prepare to welcome a new year, thankful for how God has brought us through the past year and anxious to discover what the new year might bring.

P: We watch and work for God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.

L: We join generations of Simeons and Annas who learned and taught us how to listen, notice, and discern divine love at work in the world.

P: We watch and work for God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.

L: Come, let us worship God, whose love endures from generation to generation, guiding us from one year to the next.

P: Come, let us worship as we live in anticipation of God’s kingdom on earth as it is heaven. Amen.

First Reading: Galatians 4:4-7

4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.  6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.

The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Ga 4:4–7.

Second Reading: Luke 2:22-40

22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.” 

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,

you may now dismiss your servant in peace.

30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,

31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:

32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

and the glory of your people Israel.”

33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.  She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.

The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Lk 2:22–40.

Sermon:

This past Monday, as you sat around the Christmas tree in your pajamas looking at all the wrapping paper, with the gifts all opened, it’s possible you had this thought, “I’m so glad Christmas is finally over.” This year I’ve even heard people say that. People have said, “Maybe I shouldn’t say this but I’m glad Christmas is over this year.”

And I wonder, do you think Mary and Joseph felt that way? According to Luke 2, we know that they traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem. That’s approximately 90 miles which meant that if they walked for 8 hours a day, they could make it in 4 days. But Mary was very pregnant and probably wasn’t able to take the trip even that quickly. The only accommodations they were able to find was a stable out back. Certainly not the best place to have a child. Certainly not the most comfortable for two adults to sleep after a long journey.

But Jesus is finally born, Christ-mas, Christ’s birth, and I can imagine Mary looking at Joseph, Joseph looking at Mary and they both say together, “I don’t know about you, but I’m glad this is over.”

Even if they had, for them, it wasn’t over. For Mary, Jewish law required a time of purification after giving birth. And God had established with Abraham that all male babies were to be circumcised on the 8th day. Having already mentioned the geography of a 4-day journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, it’s almost 3 weeks to go from Bethlehem back to Nazareth and then to Jerusalem which means they remained in Bethlehem in luxury until it was time to take Jesus to the Temple.

And it’s in the Temple where they encounter Simeon and Anna. They take Jesus to have done what was needed on the 8th day and Simeon would be the rabbi who would perform the task. But Luke records for us that Simeon was full of the Holy Spirit. And when he took Jesus into his arms, God revealed to him that this was the Messiah. Simeon recognized that this was not “just another baby” but that this child was, “destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

And then as Joseph and Mary take Jesus back into their arms amazed at what Simeon has said, they begin to walk back to the entrance and they encounter Anna. An elderly woman who spends her time in the temple. Regardless of what time of day it is, you’ll find Anna in the temple. She loves God. She worships Him and praises Him. And as Joseph and Mary and Jesus are walking they encounter Anna who does what all women do when they see a family with a new little baby.

First, she looks at Joseph, the father. Tired from the journey, the lack of sleep, and the weight of caring for the new child. Anna smiles and thinks to herself, “Poor guy has no idea what he’s gotten himself into.” She looks at Mary who also appears tired from travel and lack of sleep but has that glow of a new mother, and Anna smiles and in that smile communicates with Mary, you are truly blessed. But then Anna looks at Jesus and she looks into His eyes and she saw as Simeon had seen that this wasn’t “just another baby”.

Now Luke doesn’t tell us if Anna says anything to Joseph and Mary. But he does tell us she thanks God and then Luke writes, “[she] spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.” Which makes me think she left the temple and went out to tell those who lived in the community.

Do you realize that by the time Jesus is 8 days old, there have already been at least two encounters He has had with people that have caused them to want to go and tell others. The first recorded encounter was with the shepherds. After they found Jesus just like they had been told by the angels, they went and told others. And Anna is reported as speaking to all who look[ed] forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. Only 8 days old and already people go and tell.