Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Eighth Christmas Day
Luke 2:28-31, 34-35 Simeon took [Jesus] in his arms and praised 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" ... 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 ... And a sword will pierce your own soul too."
WEEP NO MORE
When a child is born, there is great joy. The parents especially are filled with delight to welcome a new member of the family. Surely Mary and stepfather Joseph felt great happiness when Jesus was born.
How often, though, our joy is mixed together with the sorrows and struggles of living in a fallen, sinful world. Simeon indicated to Mary that a "sword" would "pierce" her own soul-- that ahead of her was a sorrow she could hardly yet imagine (the agonizing death of her firstborn son on a cross).
None of us know what swords are waiting in our futures to pierce us, but we know this: Jesus' birth, death, and resurrection from the dead gain for us everlasting life in heaven. The cross that Jesus bore "for me, for you" is a cross He bore while carrying on His soul the sins of the world. With our debt to God paid in full, we can say with Simeon, "You now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation." With the threat of eternal condemnation no longer hanging over us, we look forward to living a new life "there on high, in that joy which can vanish never."
Ye whose anguish knew no measure,
Weep no more; See the door
To celestial pleasure.
Cling to Him, for He will guide you
Where no cross, Pain, or loss
Can again betide you.
Dearest Lord, Thee will I cherish
Though my breath Fail in death,
Yet I shall not perish,
But with Thee abide forever
There on high, In that joy
Which can vanish never.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 77:9, 15)
