After Advent - The Work of Christmas (Luke 2:25-38)
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American poet Howard Thurman wrote what is probably my favourite Christmas poem:
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flocks,
The work of Christmas begins.
To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among the people,
To make music in the heart.
We often think of the work of Christmas as preparation for Christmas—the things we do before the day. Thurman’s poem focuses instead on the work that happens after Christmas. The work that happens because of Christmas. The work that Christmas itself does in us.
The work that Christmas did in, for example, Simeon.
Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Led by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. 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 blessed God, saying:
“Sovereign Lord, as You have promised, You now dismiss Your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people Israel.” (Luke 2:25-32)
Simeon was not a priest. He was not a prophet. He was a man who lived in Jerusalem at the time of Jesus’ birth, and who was, as the scripture says, filled with the Holy Spirit. Simeon had been promised by God that he would see in his lifetime the birth of the consolation of Israel. Before Christmas, Simeon did the work of waiting. Simeon’s job was to wait. To wait until God fulfilled his promise. So every day, just as on that day, Simeon went to work at the temple. To do his work of waiting in hope—in expectancy—like a child at the window, waiting for the car to pull in the driveway. Simeon's job was to just be in the room, bearing witness to the fact that God had made a promise. And when Simeon saw that promise fulfilled, after Christmas, Simeon's work was done. When He had done what God had given him to do, he prayed, “God, release your servant. The work that you gave me is complete. I have borne witness to the promise fulfilled.” For Simeon who had waited all those years for God's peace to arrive—after Christmas, his work was complete: he had waited for, and had seen, the peace of God coming into the world.
The Child’s father and mother were amazed at what was spoken about Him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary: “Behold, this Child is appointed to cause the rise and fall of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your soul as well.” (Luke 2:33-35)
In the temple that day with Simeon were Joseph and Mary. After Christmas, Joseph’s and Mary's work continued. Their work began when Jesus was conceived, and continued
...a month later when they brought him to the temple to be presented to God fulfilling the traditions and the Law,
...when they left Jerusalem to raise this child,
...after three years, when Jesus was given his first tasseled robe that identified him with the people of Israel,
...when Jesus turned 5 and he began to learn the Law,
...after 10 years when Jesus began his serious study of Mishna,
...after he turned 12, when as his parents they ushered him into his own adult ownership and responsibilities in the faith,
...when he turned 18 and he graduated to a deeper study of the rest of the Talmud and the Scriptures.
After Christmas, Joseph’s and Mary's work continued every day of their everyday lives. Joseph as a dad and a tradesman, Mary as a homemaker, parent, and behind-the-scenes partner in the family business. Even in the shadow of Simeon's ominous blessing, after Christmas their work continued as they looked in hope for God's great fulfillment of what had been promised about this child.
There was also a prophetess named Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, who was well along in years. She had been married for seven years, and then was a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, but served in worship night and day, fasting and praying. Coming forward at that moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the Child to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. (Luke 2:36-38)
And then there was Anna. Her work changed after Christmas. Scripture says that she was, “very old in her many days.” Really, really old. Depending on how you translate the phrases that describe her age, she was either 84 or 105. This was an elderly woman. She had lived almost all of her life in the temple, praying and fasting and, Scripture says, “serving in worship.” That word translated as “serving in worship” suggests that she was performing tasks because she was qualified or equipped. Some translations say she “worshipped with prayer and fasting,” but it's more apt to say she served with prayer and fasting. Exactly what that looked like we don't know. It's easy to imagine a volunteer at the temple coming alongside people who were confused by the scale of it all, not knowing what they were supposed to do, and Anna walking them through where they needed to go. Or praying with people who looked like they were overwhelmed by something or, for example, coming alongside a young couple as they came to the temple to dedicate their oldest son in devotion to Yahweh God, and to offer their sacrifice of two doves. It's easy to imagine Anna getting to know Simeon over the years, the two of them both spending so much time there, having conversations about what God had promised. It's easy to imagine Anna—a prophet—seeing Simeon holding baby Jesus. And recognizing the moment, understanding what Simeon was experiencing. She is someone to whom and through whom God spoke, recognized in her community as one who had credibility and authority. And she saw this moment happening, and she knew that this was it.
We don't know if she had been told to expect Jesus in the same way that Simeon had been told. Maybe she was just in the right place at the right time as God led her steps that day, but when she heard Simeon speak his words of praise to God for this child... She knew what this meant. From that moment, her work in the temple was transformed. It became something new. Anna became the voice of joy, speaking as the prophet she was, to her people: “He's been born! He is in the world! Just you give him time to grow up. You are not going to believe what God does next!” After Christmas, Anna's work was changed.
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There was, of course, one more person present in the temple that day—Jesus. Jesus' work began after Christmas. He began to grow, he began to learn, he began the humble work of childhood: of becoming taller and stronger and smarter. Of asking questions. Of accepting his responsibilities and accepting the gifts that were given to him, and of starting on that long long road through death, back to us, and back to eternity.
Next week, the Nativity figurines displayed on our church’s communion table will be packed away safely for another year. But Jesus will still be present among us. Next week, our communion table will not be filled with figures that represent his conception, birth, and his coming to earth to begin his ministry. Next week on our table, we will have the symbols that remind us of how he completed and fulfilled all that he had come to earth to do. The bread and the cup that represent his death.
Jesus’ work began after Christmas. His work of preaching the good news, of building for the kingdom of heaven to earth, and of healing. Of doing all of the things listed in Howard Thurman’s poem: seeking the lost, feeding the hungry, freeing the prisoners, bringing peace to the nations.
After Christmas, the work of Christ began.
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