Luke 2: 22-40
Today’s gospel reading has a wintry feel to it.
- It seems designed for a dark night…a cold night.
- You might expect the presentation of our Lord at the Temple…the ritual purification of the child Jesus and his acceptance as a member of the people of Israel…to be a joyous event.
- And…in a way…it is.
- But there are undercurrents throughout the story that hint at a tragic dimension to the occasion.
It reminds me of Frosty the Snowman when I was a kid.
- The song lyrics had a tragic dimension for me.
- Christmas was over and so was poor Frosty.
- Frosty the Snowman
Was a jolly happy soul
With a corncob pipe and a button nose
And two eyes made out of coal. - But then: Oh…Frosty the Snowman
Knew the sun was hot that day
So he said: “Let’s run…and we’ll have some fun.
Now…before I melt away.”
- Poor frosty…poor me…back to school. The same old grind.
- As I said…the story has a tragic dimension.
That is…Jesus’s presentation is the culmination of Simeon’s life…and the end of it.
- The righteous and devout old man had learned from the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.
- But now that the day has come…the old servant of the Lord knows that his time has ended.
- He has been dismissed in peace…and his part in the story of God and the people of God is almost at an end.
- He will melt away.
But first he has some news to deliver.
- That Jesus 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.
- So far…so good…but then he adds to Mary that “a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
- The uncomprehending parents are amazed.
- Even more when the prophet Anna approaches and begins to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
The news is so profoundly mixed…that it is hard to imagine how Joseph and Mary could respond to it.
- Joseph cannot help but be aware that his own presence in the crowning moments of the story is not alluded to.
- Indications are…that this good…gentle man who was willing to spare Mary shame and disgrace…
- Will not see the redemption of Israel through the child who is…by his mercy…and yes…his obedience to God’s call…his son at least in the eyes of the Lord.
Joseph knows only that the story will go on…and that…like Simeon himself…he has played his part…and he will melt away.
- But Mary? Mary is promised nothing but that a “sword will pierce her soul.
- We know this…because we know how the story turns out.
- The sword will not be literal.
- It will be the mother’s agony of seeing her beloved son rise to great heights.
- Only to be disgraced and executed by the tortuous methods of the Roman Empire.
- A death reserved only for rebels and traitors.
What are the parents to make of this prophecy…glorious and dire…terrifying and yet hopeful…culminating in the redemption of Israel?
- What on earth is going on with this reading?
- How can the redemption of Israel be welcomed if it comes with so much loss?
The following is a glorious and dire…terrifying and yet hopeful event…in my own life…among many…I will share:
- It happened in front of my apartment in the city when I was in seminary.
- One night a young woman walked rapidly past my apartment being followed by a car.
- The driver was talking to her…or shouting…two students going in the opposite direction paused as though concerned.
- The woman hurried on…and the car kept pace…clearly following her…the students would have helped…but had no haven to offer.
- Leaving my own door ajar so I would not be locked out…I ran to catch up with her.
- And then slowed so that she would not be frightened by my approach.
- “Can I help?” …I asked… “Would you like to use my telephone?”
- She paused…not sure of me and not quite understanding.
- I repeated the offer of assistance.
- The car had turned around and was coming toward us.
- Then a warm smile appeared on her dark face and she relaxed.
- “Thank you so much” …she said … “but the people in the car are my friends.
- And we are just looking for number 56 on this street.”
This is one way of saying just how the redemption of Israel can be welcoming when it comes with so much loss.
- It is the warm smile of a dark face on a nighttime city street.
- It is surprise at being so wrong concerning someone we had every right to expect to be just one more frightened person…one more victim.
- It is to be surprised by life at times and places where all our previous experience has prepared us to expect death.
The faithful one is betrayed…the man of peace is beaten…the healer dies…and they lay him in a tomb.
- It happens all the time…and it is so normal.
- And it is why the students and I were sure that the people in the car were harassing the woman walking the sidewalk.
- It happens all the time.
What does not happen all the time is to find the tomb empty.
- What does not happen all the time is the reversal of what is usual.
- What does not happen all the time is an empty tomb or a smile instead of harassment on a nighttime city street.
What does not happen all the time is Frosty the Snowman waving goodbye and saying:
- “Don’t you cry.
I’ll be back again someday.”