“SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS”
Saint Luke 2: 22-40
Sunday after Christmas: December 29 Anno Domini 2024
Fr Jay Watson, SSP
Sin does not just destroy the soul, it also darkens, and desensitizes the bodies’ five senses and the brain’s receptors too. People living at the time of Esaias, Saint Luke, all the way up to the pre-Renaissance, or more accurately, pre-scientific enlightenment and ‘age of reason,’ were all able to marvel. The Saints of God were able to be awe—whether genuflecting, prostrating themselves, averting their eyes. Being in the actual presence of God caused a believer to show it forth with their own bodies, tongues, and minds.
You do not marvel enough at The Lord’s Person and Work. I do not.
To be fair, your new man wants to marvel at God’s goodness and mercy toward you; that is one of the reasons you are here. We all marvel at the ‘Sacramental Union’ of Christ with humble bread and wine.
Joseph, and the Ever-Virgin, carried He Who was the ‘hypostatic union’ (i.e., the ‘personal union’) of The Divine and the human in one little baby. They marveled at This Son all their lives. But this day that we celebrate, they are marveling at “those things which were spoken of Him.”
Those awe-filled, marvelous, words spoken (or chanted by St. Simeon) towards Jesus; and His mother and guardian. The trio, that Holy Family rightly bespeaks The Church. 1) The Object of its joy, salvation, and marvel, 2) The Church (St. Mary) and 3) the Servant-Pastors (St. Joseph).
The Blessed Theotokos was still bearing God, in her arms when “the days of her purification” were over. On the 40th day since God’s birth, The Babe was presented in the Temple, and St. Mary was ritually purified (this Holy Day is officially celebrated on February 2: Candlemas). But, it is her child Who purifies you with His passive and active obedience. These things took place in Jerusalem “according to the law of Moses.” But that Law, and its damning consequences of your inability to keep it, were to be fully “accomplished” some 33 years later at Golgotha. The blood that The Savior shed on His first 8th day (in Circumcision) pointed to the Blood He would shed from the cross; the Blood that you will soon drink!
For it was written in The Law of The Lord that “every male that openeth the womb shall be called Holy to The Lord.” He was not just male, though He was, He was the 2nd Perfect and Sinless Adam, and He would open not a womb, but the Tomb on Easter morning. He will do the same for you at the end of time even as He already opens your tombs at the womb of the Holy Baptismal + Font.
The Temple priests required of the parents either a lamb to be slaughtered, or, if financial hardship existed, a pair of doves. Joseph and Mary produce the twin birds—pointing mystically to The Infant’s two natures—The God/Man. But in reality, Mary did indeed present The Lamb of God.
God The Holy Ghost was “upon” St. Simeon—that faith given him was what made him devout—for like you he was waiting for the consolation of Israel, the Redeeming of all God’s lambs. You no longer wait for the deliverance wrought at Calvary, but you do still wait for His final Advent. But you wait in joy as you soon will eat and drink a foretaste of the eternal Feast.
The chronological age of Simeon is not important, for he was living in the Final Age—the New Testament of God. He had been promised that he would see the Lord’s Christ. And He did. Simeon did not just see God in the flesh, He handled Him, He held and touched Him, and looked into His face; no less than St. Thomas 8 days after The Resurrection.
Looking into the face of his Redeemer God, the old man blessed God and sang from his forgiven soul the words of the Nunc Dimittis.
This too was a “type” of what you receive today; a “dress rehearsal” the Sacrament this morning.
The Christ also lets you depart in Peace from this communion rail. You return to your seats filled with Peace in the Flesh (and Blood)…“according to His [Thy] Word”—The Word made flesh, Immanuel.
When Simeon sings, he is not looking to the skies but into the face and eyes of baby Jesus. He is chanting to God in his hands. Simeon’s eyes saw his salvation—in the flesh of his Savior. No matter how old he was, Simeon departed with a light that lightened him with the glory of God in the face, and flesh of Christ—for him, and all nations.
And now, Royal Priests, your eyes will see your salvation. The eyes of your faith will feast on Jesus’ Mercy, Forgiveness, and Strength unto eternity. And, your eyes will behold, not St. Joseph, Proto-Guardian, but a man who also seeks to guard and put forth The Christ—for you. The sacred host—The Body of Christ; The blessed cup—The Blood of Christ; prepared for you.
“And Joseph and His mother, and you, marvel at these things which are spoken of Him:” Immanuel.
In The Name of The Father and of + The Son and of The Holy Ghost
Email the webmaster.Contact Augsburg Lutheran Church: (913) 403-6194