Saint Michael’s Church
Serving God and Bishop’s Stortford
Sermon 31st January 2010
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St Michael's Church 31st January 2010 Epiphany 4 8.00am and 10.00am Rev'd June Knight |
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The Presentation of Christ in the temple Luke 2: 22-40
Come with me on a journey to meet two very special people. The first person I want to introduce you to is my old friend Simeon. Everyone In Jerusalem knows of Simeon, he is a loyal God-fearing prayerful Jew and for years has been telling people that he will not die until he has seen the coming of the Messiah. You know it takes a lot of courage to make a prophetic statement like that.
You can imagine how he is ridiculed for this – a bit like when old Noah was building that huge boat. Actually none of this ridicule worries Simeon because he is one of those rare people who never takes his eyes off God. His faith is real, it is tangible and it is humbling.
On the day in question he was on temple duty. The Holy place was heaving with people from far and wide. His gaze fell upon one little family in particular, there was something about this little group which quickened his heart.
As they stepped forward to offer their sacrifice for the gift of their first born son, taking the child in his arms, Simeon knew in his heart that this was the moment he had been waiting for all his life.
He was filled with an inexpressible joy and he found himself saying to Mary the mother ‘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’
Hold onto those thoughts whilst I introduce you to another old friend of mine, Anna. Anna married very young to her childhood sweetheart, sadly they could not have children, then tragically her beloved died after only seven short years of marriage.
Young as she was, instead of seeking remarriage, Anna dedicated the rest of her life to serving God. Simeon of course knew of Anna’s situation and her resolve to live a holy life and greatly admired and respected her devotion.
So just as Simeon had finished his prophecy about the child in his arms, and inwardly thinking, ‘Lord I really hope I have not got this one wrong’ Anna appears on the scene, exactly on cue and to his utter delight and I am sure relief confirms his words by telling all in the vicinity that this child is the long awaited messiah.
Do you realise that Anna, dear old Anna, was the very first Christian evangelist. The moment she found Christ she spread the news to all around her.
As our thoughts begin to turn towards Lent, what a wonderful story to reflect on. If our Lenten devotions could in some small way reflect the prayerful devotions of these two elderly folk, our lives would be much enriched.
There are lessons in this gospel for all of us.
For young families
We see in Mary and Joseph a pair of very proud parents going to the temple in obedience to their religion which stated that first born boys had to be presented for consecration and purification. In Jewish law a woman was unclean for 40 days after the birth of a boy and unclean for 80 days after the birth of a girl.
Alongside your busy lives, always make time for God, allow him to lead and direct you in your decision making, in the nurture and bringing up of your children – and this will only happen if your prayer life and study of God’s word is disciplined
For the elderly
Many times older people say, I cant do what I used to do I feel useless. In the family of God you are never useless, ok you may not be able to get around like you used to, but you have the precious gift of time, time to be and time to pray.
And for the widowed
I was doing a bereavement visit the other day and this gentleman told me he used to be very devout in his younger days and sang in the choir, then when his first wife died he turned against God, saying ‘how could a loving God be so cruel’?
Bereavement can make some people hard, bitter, resentful, and rebellious towards God. Or it can make us kinder and more sympathetic. Anna had coped with her bereavement by turning to God. She was a very devout lady praying, fasting and worshipping God night and day.
It is a great comfort to have God as a constant companion, for, however good and helpful friends and family are, they have their own lives to lead. God promises never to leave us – and that is a wonderful promise.
I want to share with you something that happened to me a couple of months ago. Something which spoke to me of God’s love and constant presence.
I woke one morning early feeling really ill. I suffer with Atriel Fibrillation, and was having a really bad attack.
I slowly crept downstairs and unlocked the back door in case the paramedics needed to get to me. I decided not to ring my daughters but to pray and lie very still.
At 8.00 o’clock I heard the back door open and a little voice called me saying ‘Mum are you alright?’
‘No, I’m not I’m in bed’
My daughter Jenni came bounding up the stairs and when I asked her why she had come she said
‘Mum I can hardly believe this, but when I was praying this morning, God spoke to me and said ‘Go an see your mother, she needs you’
When she queried this, God repeated the message and with this Jenni jumped in her car and drove to me.
We both wept and prayed and thanked God for his infinite care and love.
I may have lost David, but thank God I have not lost my faith.
Today’s gospel account is about faith it is a very good precursor for Lent – for we all need to smarten up our relationship with God, do some spring cleaning and put our house in order.
Simeon and Anna could well have hung up their boots and thought, I deserve a rest, I am going to enjoy a peaceful retirement – but sorry folks, in God’s kingdom retirement is not an option.
Amen
June Knight
Office Address:
Saint Michael’s Church
Windhill
Bishops Stortford
Hertfordshire
CM23 2ND