Today, February 2nd, is exactly 40 days after the birth of Jesus and it is celebrated as the feast day of The Presentation of the Lord. In monasteries around the world this day is observed as Candlemas representing the coming of the Light into the world.
When the holy family arrive at the temple they encounter two prophets, Simeon and Anna. Both recognize that this infant is the one who they and their people have been waiting for. Both see what others don’t see, the Messiah.
Simeon takes the baby Jesus into his arms and says to God, “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word: for my eyes have seen your salvation which you prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light of revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” These beautiful words might sound familiar to some of you, as they are in our beloved Book of Common Prayer. In our prayer book there is a section of daily prayers called offices, and the last office of the day is called Compline. Brother Dennis and I have prayed with these words, spoken by Simeon as he holds the infant Jesus, countless times over the years. These words from of Simeon carry us into our Grand Silence through the night and well into the next day.
Simeon clearly heard from God that he would encounter the Messiah and that this would fulfill his life’s journey. Now he can die in peace. What faith and patience Simeon had waiting on God’s word to be fulfilled in his lifetime. His prophecy turns to a warning when he tells Mary that a sword will pierce her soul. I wonder how Mary felt hearing these prophetic words.
Next in this story, set in the temple, is Anna who is identified as a prophet so she must have been a revered elder in the temple community. Sadly, her words are not recorded but it says she spoke about the child “to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.” She could see that Jesus was the Messiah. She spent her life since the death of her husband in great devotion to God possibly even living in the temple.
I love this idea of this old wise woman so devoted to God that she spends her days in prayer and probably caring for others and for the temple itself. It reminds me of all the wise and kind women who care for our churches by being on the altar guild. It has been a great blessing serving with these devout women as they care for our churches often for years and years in humble service and with great prayerful intention. We must not take for granted the generosity these women offer to our church. Maybe the prophet Anna should be their special patron.
We have a number of important prophets in our time. One of which is Bishop William Barber II. He is a Protestant Pastor, an activist, and a professor at Yale Divinity School.
This is what he says about prophets:
“From Moses to Jesus, the Bible tells us that those who fought for justice—those who spoke truth to power, those who refused to accept that injustice and inequality had to exist and that there was no better way—always found themselves hated, hounded, and heaped upon with false accusations simply because they believed in the necessity of speaking and working for the cause of righteousness and building a more just community. This lack of majority support is why the just must live by faith and must know exactly who we are.”
If you are not familiar with this powerful and prophetic leader, I highly recommend that you investigate his work particularly the Poor Peoples Campaign and Moral Mondays.
And as many of you surely heard our very own Episcopal Bishop Marian Edgar Budde just joined the ranks of great prophets when she gave a powerful sermon at the National Cathedral in a service for unity for the incoming administration. This slight, elegant woman had the courage to speak truth to the highest power of our land as she looked directly at our new President and pleaded with him to have mercy for those who are now afraid including the transgender community, those who pick our crops, those who clean our dishes, and who work in hospitals. She spoke with concern for the least, just as Jesus did.
And just like that this Bishop made church relevant. A soft-spoken woman showed the world what courage and grace look like. I for one have never been so proud to be an Episcopalian.
It takes a strong and resilient person to handle the heat and consequences of speaking truth to power. As we know from the life of Jesus standing up to the domination systems doesn’t often end well. It takes real courage and profound faith in our God.
Every Saturday I go into the California Men’s Colony prison to facilitate a seminary course called TUMI which stands for The Urban Ministry Institute. It is a serious four-year program offered to incarcerated men and women nationally. I have deep respect for these men diligently studying scripture and theology, writing papers and taking tests week after week. Often these men are also taking college courses and have jobs, attend church a couple times a week and maybe another few programs. Their schedule is packed. But when they show up at TUMI they are committed and ready to sing, praise and study.
I have been deeply blessed by my time with these men. I get to witness how their passionate faith transforms and heals them. I get to hear their stories and see the kindness they show each other. They have found a profound faith. They pray over each other as they face health challenges, they rejoice together when someone is going home after decades inside, they sing and raise up their arms in love of our God.
Today I am more aware than ever of the relevance and need for church. This is where we find the strength and courage to be prophets like Bishops Barbar and Bishop Budde. This is where we find the sustaining faith we need to face adversity as the cold winds blow. This is where we find the support of a loving community that will have our backs when we feel afraid. This is where we are fed with the nourishment of the body and blood of Jesus.
Now more than ever it is here in church where we will remind each other that we are Beloved of God and that our faith and life of prayer will see us through. Then in the end we can like Simeon be dismissed by God and leave in peace.
Amen.
Rev. Sister Greta
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