The Holy Family | Sunday 26 December 2021

Today is Sunday the 26th of December, the feast of the Holy Family, Jesus Mary and Joseph.

One Hope Project sing,’ ‘See Amid The Winter’s Snow’.

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke.

Luke 2:22-40
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 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord’), and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, ‘a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons.’
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. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 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, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,
‘Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,
   according to your word;
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
   which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles
   and for glory to your people Israel.’
And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 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 so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.’

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 for seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshipped there with fasting and prayer night and day. 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.
When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favour of God was upon him.

The scene is the Temple at Jerusalem . . . let it come to your mind’s eye . . . It’s OK if your local church or another building comes to you . . . be there in imagination . . . are you inside or outside? . . . what do you see? . . . what do you hear?  . . .

Find Simeon, a holy man, at work in the Temple in some way . . . what do you notice about him? . . . does he remind you of anyone you know or have known? . . . how is he holding God’s promise? . . .

Find Anna . . . praying perhaps? . . . what is she doing? . . . what do you notice about her? . . . what’s in her heart? . . . does she remind you of anyone?

Watch as Mary, Joseph and Jesus enter the Temple and are met by Simeon . . .
What happens in him? . . . watch him, looking at them . . . holding the child . . . what does he say to Joseph and to Mary . . .

Hear him pray to God . . .
‘Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,
   according to your word;
for my eyes have seen your salvation . . .’

Anna senses something is afoot . . . she arrives . . . what happens in her . . . what does she do? . . . what does she say? . . .

As we celebrate this season of Christmas, what promise of God are you wanting to hold onto?

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.