Sunday, December 31, 2023

First Sunday after Christmas
Isaiah 61:10-62:3
Psalm 111
Galatians 4:4-7
Luke 2:22-40

So you are no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

When I was pregnant with Victoria, I was absolutely certain that she was a boy. I don’t know why. I had no reason to think so. I didn’t know what the wives’ tales meant or how it should feel if I was carrying a boy. I just knew in my ‘gut’ that it was a boy. Bruce and I decided very early in the pregnancy that he would choose a boy’s name and I would choose a girl’s name and we would use whichever was necessary. Since I was certain Victoria was a boy, I didn’t bother choosing a name.

About a week before she was born, Bruce said, “You really need to choose a name. It could be a girl, you know.” I responded, “Fine. Victoria.” It really was that quick. Although I had read some of the name books during my pregnancy, there was little thought put into the decision, but I think it is a beautiful and absolutely perfect name for her. The meaning of the name (it means conqueror or victory) was not part of my decision. I like the name and I think it fits my daughter well.

Other people are far more intentional with their name decisions. Some people want to honor someone special like a grandparent or favorite teacher. One couple (probably many) chose to use parts of several people’s names they wanted to honor. These created names often seem bizarre because they aren’t recognizable. Others choose names that remind them of their favorite things. I worked data processing for a Christmas charity, and I was constantly surprised by the children’s names. One name was particularly popular: Abcde (pronounced Absidee). Whatever the reason, many families pick names with special meaning.

There was nothing particularly special about the way we chose our kids’ names or the way we gave them their names. We didn’t go through a ritual or wait a period of time. We picked a name, wrote it on the paper and began calling them by those names immediately. We may have solemnly announced their names to those who were nearby, and we sent notices to our friends and family announcing their births, but we didn’t follow any age-old traditions in choosing or giving their names, as happens in many societies.

Many cultures wait a few days to have a naming ceremony, often at seven days, with special food and rituals. In China, they have eggs died red to symbolize new life and good luck. Other traditions use rice and saffron in the ceremony. Some traditions use fake names in the beginning, to ward off or fool evil spirits. In some places the baby’s name is given when he or she is thought to be able to hear, and it is whispered in their ear first. Some families provide a sacrifice as an offering of thankfulness for the baby. In one Native American culture, the baby sleeps with an ear of corn for a month and then the corn is rubbed on its skin while the baby is faced toward the rising sun and is named at the moment the first rays hit.

Some of the rituals and traditions sound so odd to us because we are used to naming our children whatever we want. We go through baby books and listen to trends; we make up our own names, using creative juxtapositions of letters from other names or words. Some celebrities have become infamous for their odd use of words as names for their children. In some societies, however, the parents did not even have a choice. The names are given by elders or masters. In others, the expectation is to give names that will help the child rise in stature or succeed in their world. Names mean something, which is why we go to so much trouble giving our children the right name.

Names mean something special in the scriptures. Children were often given names that represent something about the character of their life. Isaac means, “one who laughs” and he was given that name because his mother laughed when she heard that she would bear a son. Jacob means “supplanter” or “held by the heel” and we know why he has that name by the biblical record: he took the birthright from his older twin brother.

Jacob’s name was changed, however, which is something God did frequently. Jacob became Israel, which means “God wrestler.” Jacob contended with God and his name was changed to define his new place in God’s plan. Abram became Abraham and Sara became Sarah because God added His Spirit (Ha) to their life and their names. Saul (responder) became Paul (humble) because Saul was humbled by Jesus on the road to Damascus and called to a totally different life in God’s kingdom. These names each have a purpose and the changes mean something in the story of the people to whom they were given. The lives of those God named with a purpose pointed to the promises of God. Even Jerusalem.

The Jews had been exiled, but by God’s grace they were redeemed and returned to their homes in Jerusalem. The city that had been destroyed by war was restored to its glory. The song of praise in today’s Old Testament passage is a cry of thanksgiving to God for remembering His people and saving them. This transformation was a great and wonderful gift, and God was glorified by it. The prophet said that he would not be silent; he said that he would shout God’s praises until the whole world saw what God had done for His people. Jerusalem would have a new name, no longer forsaken or desolate, because God now delights in her.

We celebrate the naming of Jesus on January 1st. As a Jewish boy, Jesus was dedicated to the Lord on the eighth day, circumcised according to their traditions. Luke tells us that He was named Jesus, given the name that had been told to Mary and Joseph before He was born.

This baby Jesus was surrounded by promises that God spoke to His people from the beginning. God promised Abraham that he would be the father of many nations, which came true in Jesus. David was promised that his throne would last forever, which came true in Jesus. The book of Isaiah the prophet is filled with promises fulfilled in the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Every book of the Bible points to God’s promised salvation, which came to us through Jesus. He is the culmination of God’s promises.

God spoke specific promises to the people in Jesus’ story. Elizabeth and Zechariah were given John, the one who would make way for Jesus. Mary and Joseph were promised the incredible gift of a baby who would truly change the world. Two others awaited the fulfillment of the promises God made to them.

The Gospel lesson reports that Mary and Joseph followed all the traditions according to the Law of Moses. Forty days after Jesus was born Mary went to the Temple to be purified. Joseph and Mary made the proper sacrifices, but the visit was something special because it was the fulfillment of more promises. While at the Temple, Mary, Joseph, and Jesus met two people who were awaiting the arrival of the Messiah. They knew, without a doubt, that they had seen Him in flesh. Simeon was a righteous and devout old man who was promised by the Holy Spirit that he would see the Messiah before he died. The moment he saw Jesus, Simeon cried, “Now you are releasing your servant, Master, according to your word, in peace; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared before the face of all peoples; a light for revelation to the nations, and the glory of your people Israel.”

What a marvelous promise fulfilled in a baby! And yet, we are reminded that with the promise of salvation came great pain and suffering. Simeon blessed the family, but then turned to Mary and told her the truth. “Your soul will be pierced.” Salvation would come at a price, and Mary among all people would feel the pain in a very real way. We do not know what happened to Simeon after that day. I have always assumed he died immediately, but it really does not matter. Here we see the fulfillment of yet another promise.

Perhaps in a way Simeon did die that day. The nation of Israel had certain expectations about the type of Messiah that would come to save them. Simeon was in the temple, not because he was waiting for the Messiah but because the Holy Spirit led him there. Imagine his thoughts when he realized he was seeing the salvation of God in the flesh of a poor infant child. Could the Messiah, the king of Israel that will bring salvation to the Jews, really be found in such a humble being? What were his expectations of the promise? Did he believe with unwavering doubt, or did have the same question we hear repeatedly in Jesus’ birth story? “How can this be?” The other person they met was a woman, a prophetess, who had been living in the Temple for many years. She worshipped, fasted, and prayed constantly. She knew God’s promises. At the moment Anna saw Jesus, she knew that God’s promises were fulfilled in Him. She began to praise God and tell everyone that the Redeemer they were waiting for had arrived. Isn’t it amazing that these two people, Simeon and Anna, seemed to live to an old age for one very specific purpose: to praise God for Jesus.

How many did Anna tell? How many did Simeon tell? How many did the shepherds and wise men tell? What of Mary and Joseph’s family? Why weren’t there more people who knew that Jesus was the one for whom they had been waiting?

Why did the Jews doubt when Jesus appeared thirty years later? The Good News had been told by the Old Testament prophecies and the Nativity witnesses. Why are there people who still don’t believe? We are just like those who heard the Good News two thousand years ago and still doubted.

We are inundated by promises on the television and other media. “Buy our product and you will have the happiest kids, the whitest teeth, or the cleanest clothing. Our product provides the fastest connection, the most reliable service, or the cheapest price. With our product, you will be more popular, more beautiful, or more intelligent.” We are bombarded by promises constantly. A promise is defined in Webster’s as “an assurance that one will or will not do something.” Companies around the world recognize the incredible power of a promise to today's consumers. They spend billions of dollars producing and airing commercials that will attract the greatest number of people to their product. Unfortunately, these promises often go unfulfilled.

It is no wonder that we doubt whether promises will be fulfilled. People are people, after all, and we don’t believe without proof. Plus, we put our own expectations on those promises just like they did. The baby in Mary’s arms doesn’t seem like much of a Messiah and He didn’t fit their expectations as an adult. Thankfully some people had faith and shared their stories. We, too, amidst our doubt and uncertainty ask, “How can this be?” are called to believe that God has, and does, fulfill all His promises. In faith we glorify God as we praise Him for His faithfulness.

Luke wrote, “Joseph and his mother were marveling at the things which were spoken concerning him...” They marveled? They were amazed? I suppose that could be true, but I have to wonder what it means that they were amazed? Was it surprising to hear these things about their son? How could that be? After all, they both were met by angels who told them all these things. They knew going into this parenthood that Jesus was special. They knew He came from God. They knew He was the promised one. How could they be amazed by the words of Simeon and Anna?

Faith isn’t about knowledge. Mary and Joseph continued to be amazed at what was happening to them because it was a matter of faith. Even though they had knowledge about Jesus and His future, they continued to experience the faithfulness of God in new, miraculous ways. How could Simeon and Anna know these things about a tiny baby among many who were in the Temple for their ritual sacrifices? Perhaps we should read this story about Mary and Joseph and realize that no matter how well we know God and understand the scriptures, we should still view God as surprising every day.

A local radio station once did a segment on toys during which callers were asked which toys were their favorites when they were children. The DJ also wanted to know how much they would be willing to pay to relive their childhood. For those of us who have been around a few years, some of those toys are now collector’s items and worth a lot of money. Some items sell on e-bay for hundreds of dollars. What is truly funny is that some of those toys have returned to the shelves for a new generation of children.

The discussion on the radio became a discussion at our dinner table. At first Bruce and I were sharing memories of our childhoods, our favorite toys, and the way we used to play. We talked about the saucers we used to fly down snowy hillsides during winter. Bruce’s experience was a little bit different than mine since he grew up in the country and I grew up in the city. We talked about our toy trucks and dolls and other favorites. I remember one of my favorite toys was a Spirograph (which I have since received as a gift!) I bought Bruce some Legos for Christmas this year. You don’t have to stop being a child when you grow up.

The children eventually shared their own memories. Zack had a Little Tykes car that he refused to get out of on the Christmas day it became his. Victoria remembered some other toys that kept them busy for hours at a time. It was a wonderful conversation, a chance to really enjoy each other’s company and to share those things that mean the most to us with those who mean the most to us.

The Christmas season is a time for family. It is a time to gather together, for homecomings and remembering. It is also a time when relationships are put to the test. Unfortunately, for some families the pressure of holiday gatherings is too much to bear. Old grudges bubble to the top and bitter rivalries explode. Those who are afraid that they have not lived up to the expectations of their family may approach the gathering with resentment. Others may use the time to place greater burdens on those from whom they desire more. Those relationships are strained, and the people have a difficult time experiencing peace on earth while they carry the weight of brokenness.

Paul wrote about God as our Father and how we are His family. Even as we share in the joy and the miracle of Christmas, we face the lingering doubts we share with those who were part of His story from the beginning of time. Paul’s letter brings these doubts to light. His words make us wonder about our relationship with this God who is faithful to His promises. Is He like a family member with whom you might sit around the dinner table sharing memories of your childhood? Or is the relationship strained and uncomfortable? One of Paul’s analogies throughout his letters is that we are slaves. He’s clear in this letter to the Galatians is that we were once slaves to sin, but now are set free to be sons of God. Yet, we tend to hold on to our sins. We are slaves to those things that keep us from knowing and loving God fully and freely, just as happens in our earthly families.

Christ came, born of a woman which makes Him as human as you and me, but He is something much more. He is the Son of the Living God, as fully divine as He is human. He came to make us sons, setting free those who are burdened by the Law, healing our brokenness, and adopting us to be His children. The Kingdom of God belongs to us, and we are called to live and laugh and love as heirs of His Kingdom, doing all we do for God’s glory. We live in an incredible promise.

We try too hard to fit God’s promises into our ideas and expectations. The whole Christmas story is ridiculous; no writer would have created a story with so many miraculous moments because they make it unbelievable. We want God to fit in a box we’ve created. It was no different for those in the days of Jesus. They were looking for a powerful king, not the poor son of a carpenter who grew up in Nazareth. They were looking for a warrior who would defeat their enemies, not an itinerant preacher who would defeat their self-righteousness. They were looking for David. Any stories that might have been passed from those who witnessed the baby Jesus and later remembered would never make sense in the context of their expectations. Jesus didn’t fit in their box.

David knew that the promise would have to be bigger than our expectations; he had hope that the Messiah would be all that God promised. David knew by God’s Spirit that the Messiah would be His Lord, not just a son of his house. When considering the work of God, we might want to reduce it to things we understand, David knew God was so much more. He made His wonderful works to be remembered, passing the message of mercy and grace from generation to generation through faith. God remembers His promises; He not only remembers but He is faithful. He provides justice and displays His power for the sake of those He loves. It might seem unbelievable, we might doubt, but everything the scriptures tell us about God is to be believed because God always keeps His promises.

The most breathtaking, and inspiring, moments of my life have been in extraordinary places. There’s nothing like standing on top of a mountain, seeing the snow-covered range go on and on seemingly forever. At night, the sky above those mountains is filled with so many stars that they would be impossible to count. A beach at sunrise, with nothing obstructing the view of the rising sun, is amazing. Standing at the foot of a giant redwood is beyond imagination. A field full of bluebonnets, a rainbow sweeping over a plain, and a perfectly still mountain lake can raise in us a sense of wonder and praise like little else. God created all these things, and it makes us ponder His greatness.

We are also awed by the power that God has given to the creation. The roar of a lion, the thunder and lightning of a storm, the constancy of the waves crashing against the shore reminds us that we are just a small part of God’s great big world. It is not always pleasant. It is fearful to be in the path of a tornado or a hurricane. The tiniest mosquito can spread life-taking disease. Yet even those creations of God have a purpose and are given by God to do His will. A raging wildfire that is out of control is a necessary part of the natural process of forest growth and renewal. We don’t always understand these things, especially when they cause us harm, but as we ponder the world around us, we see that God is always worthy of our praise.

I love those extraordinary moments when I can see God’s hand in the world around me. Are we changed forever when we experience God? Those who trust Him are changed. They were made new. Faith is not blind. The psalmist confessed his faith in the presence of an assembly, and he did so by recounting the wonderful things God had done. He praised God by referencing the works of His hands. Unfortunately, God’s people often forgot the great and marvelous things He has done and when He came to them in the final and most incredible act of mercy, they did not recognize Him. The people may have heard stories of the Nativity, but they rejected Jesus when He appeared to fulfill the promises of God.

In today’s Psalm, the writer praises God for something much different than the tangible blessings of creation. God’s work as it relates to His relationship with His people is not always obvious or even believable. We have the stories of the Exodus, but we were not there to cross the Red Sea with Moses and the rest of Israel. We can read about the miracles of Jesus and believe in His healing power, but we have not experienced His physical touch. The psalmist knew God’s mighty works among His people, and yet those works were little more than a memory, handed down by generation after generation. These stories are still worth our songs of praise. God did these things, and in them we see His power, faithfulness and grace. Those stories point us to the greatest act of salvation when God sent Jesus. This news fills us with awe; even those who were nearest to Him pondered His life and His purpose.

The wise men, the shepherds, Simeon, and Anna were sent by God to strengthen Mary’s faith. The life of her child would be extraordinary and not always pleasant. She would see her baby rejected, persecuted, beaten, and crucified, a promise fulfilled that no mother would want to bear. Yet Mary treasured every word and sign; she pondered them, but she trusted God’s faithfulness even through any uncertainty. We can do the same.

And so, as we ponder His story and wonder about the witnesses who shared the Good News, we are called to praise Him, for the beauty of His creation and for the goodness of His dealings with His people. He is our Father, and we are heirs to His Kingdom thanks to the baby that was named Jesus who was the fulfillment of all His promises. We know His power. We know His mercy and grace. We know He is faithful. The story of Jesus which has been shared by the witnesses of His birth leads us to delight in our God. We delight in God because He has done this great thing, and our praise is our witness to the faithfulness of the God who has kept His promises for His people today, tomorrow, and always.