Saturday, December 27, 2014

Promises fulfilled...

LUKE 2:22-35

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 turtledoves 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.”

Lord Jesus,
You were just a baby.
Your parent took you to the temple
following their faith.
They remembered the promises of God:
"Blessed are You, our Lord, Ruler of the universe,
who has sanctified us through Your commandments
and has commanded us to bring our sons
into the covenant of Abraham our father." (from modern B'rit Milah ritual)
That day you were marked in your body
with the sign of the covenant,
the covenant promise you came to fulfill.

And a man, Simeon,
whom God had promised
would see the Lord's Messiah.
Simeon took you in his arms and declared
his gratitude to God for fulfilling the promise,
for in you Simeon saw your salvation
not just for God's chosen Israel,
but for ALL nations.

You were just a baby,
but you were already changing the world
bringing hope,
bringing life,
bringing peace,
being fulfillment.

Every time a child is baptized,
I remember God's covenant.
And I make promises
to help raise this child
to know the promises you came to fulfill.

Help me fulfill my promises,
and so participate in the continuing fulfillment
of your promises to the world!
Amen.

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