Waiting To Exhale

Luke 2:21–38 NRSV

21 After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 22 When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”), 24 and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, 29 “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” 33 And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed 35 so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.” 36 There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

Have you ever been in the position of waiting for something that you really, really wanted? Some of our children have just experienced this. For months they have been hinting, and asking and hoping out loud, for that special something for Christmas. They are not the ones. Don’t we adults do the same thing? many times we have fidgeted in expectation for that special gift that we spent all year dropping hints about! We hold our breaths in expectation and hope that our desires will be realized. Finally the day comes and the wait is over. The gift is given or the awaited event happens, and when it happens we can finally breathe again. It is a relief, and a joy. That’s the way it must have felt on a certain long ago when hope and expectation met fulfillment, when the yearning heart held in its hands the answer to countless whispered prayers. I believe that this was the moment that Simeon had been waiting for. This was the sign that he had watched all these years to see. This was his exhale and his release.

About Simeon

Righteous and devout (Just, fair, equitable, and reverent toward God)

Forward looking, welcoming, living in expectation of “paraklesis” comfort/encouragement of Israel

The Comforter (Holy Spirit) rested or had a place, space, residence with him

Lived by Promise

A God Arranged Meeting

Guided by the paraklete

Mary and Joseph brought the sacrifice for the firstborn (children are special to God, no matter the circumstances of their conception or family history)

A humble offering for the King of Kings

Simeon’s Exhale

Praise to God

A Departure in peace ( because of an eternal hope)

“There's a land that is fairer than day. And by faith we can see it afar. For the father waits over the way. To prepare us a dwelling place there. In the sweet by and by. We shall meet on that beautiful shore. In the sweet by and by. We shall meet on that beautiful shore. We shall sing on that beautiful shore.”

The Blessing and the Warning

The promise of salvation

The global implication of that promise

the inclusion of you and me and everybody.

Seeing the rejection of Messiah

the secrets of hearts revealed/The necessity to choose whom you will serve

The scandal of the cross, both to Jesus and Mary

The Take-aways.

Doing right matters even if it feels insignificant (a small offering for a huge king)

Being just and fair, reverent toward God, and having a “forward look” of hope will sustain us in the long run

Allowing the Spirit to have His place and be our leader will bring us to our expected hope

All of Simeon’s hopes and desires were met in Jesus. Jesus can meet your needs, hopes and desires too