LUKE 2:22-35

[22] And 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

[23] (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”)

[24] and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”

[25] Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

[26] And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

[27] And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, [28] he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

[29] “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word;

[30] for my eyes have seen your salvation

[31] that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,

[32] a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”

[33] And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him.

[34] And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed

[35] (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

It’s amazing how joyful people can be in the days leading up to Christmas and then so down in the dumps in the days after Christmas.  When I was a much younger minister I saw the pre-Christmas joy while leading a special Christmas service for some of the elderly women in my first church.   When finished singing our carols the chapel was full of laughter and love a lot of hugging. While all of that was going on I saw Gertrude standing there.  She had a funny look on her face.  So, I went over to her and said, “Gertrude, what’s the matter? Would you like a Christmas hug?” “Oh yes,” she said.  After we hugged I jokingly told her that I was going to open a hugging both at the church fair the following year. “Really,” she said. “You’re going to be giving hugs away?”  At that point I feigned a little indignation and said, “Gertrude, I’m surprised at you. I may be easy, but I’m not cheap. The hugs are going to be a $1.00 each.”  Gertrude laughed and then slowly made her way out of the chapel with her walker.  She didn’t get very far though before she turned the walker around and made her way back to the front of the chapel. Then she looked at me with a twinkle in her eye me and said, “Of course there will be a senior citizens discount right?”

Yes, it’s amazing how people can be so joyful in the days leading up to Christmas and then so down in the dumps in the days after Christmas.  We call it the post-Christmas blues and it’s very real for some people.  Maybe you know the feeling.  Fortunately, there is a cure for the post-Christmas blues.   There is a way to make the joy of Christmas last throughout the year.  You’d like to make the Christmas joy last right? Well, just look at Simeon.   Simeon’s Christmas came when he saw the baby Jesus in the Temple.  It was a wonderful grace filled moment.  Simeon took the baby Jesus in his arms and said, “Lord now let your servant depart in peace for I have seen your salvation….” (RSV)

Simeon was positively ecstatic which is really surprising when you think about it.  You see if anyone had a reason to feel a little down in the dumps after celebrating the birth of the Christ child it was Simeon.   After all Simeon knew that because he’d finally seen the Christ child he could die now at any moment.  Remember Luke says that “it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.”

Well, Simeon had seen the Lord’s anointed now and knew that he could die now at any moment. He wasn’t sad though.  He was glad.  He was because he knew that he wasn’t just holding an adorable little baby in his arms.  He knew he was holding an adorable little baby who was going to grow up and bring salvation to people near and far. 

That’s the key to making the joy of Christmas last throughout the year. 

You have to connect the baby Jesus with the adult Jesus. 

You have to connect the cradle in Bethlehem with the Cross in Jerusalem.

You have to connect the promise of “Peace on earth and good will to men” out there in the fields with the “Peace I leave with you” that was there at the Last Supper.

You have to connect the “Be not afraid” that the angel said to the shepherds with the “Be not afraid” that the angel said to the women who went to the tomb on Easter morning.

Ann Weems has written a wonderful poem called “The Cross In The Manger.”  In the poem she suggests that the joy of Christmas will last when you connect the baby Jesus with the adult Jesus and you allow it to change you.   The poem goes like this:

If there is no cross in the manger, there is no Christmas.

If the Babe doesn’t become the Adult, there is no Bethlehem star.

If there is no commitment in us, there are no wise men searching.

If we offer no cup of cold water, there is no gold, no frankincense, no myrrh.

If there is no praising God’s name, there are no angels singing.

If there is no spirit of alleluia, there are no shepherds watching.

If there is no standing up, no speaking out, no risk, there is no Herod, no flight into Egypt.

If there is no room in our inn, then “Merry Christmas” mocks the Christ Child,
and the Holy Family is just a holiday card…

For if there is no reconciliation, we cannot call Christ “Prince of Peace”.

If there is no goodwill towards others, it can all be packed away in boxes for another year.

If there is no forgiveness in us, there is no cause for celebration.

If we cannot go even now unto Golgotha, there is no Christmas in us.

If Christmas is not now,
If Christ is not born into the everyday present,
      then what is all the noise about?

When you connect the baby Jesus with the adult Jesus it changes everything. It changes everything because what you have in the baby Jesus is the promise of God’s love.  What you have in the adult Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s love.

What you experience in the baby Jesus is a sentimental kind of love.   What you see and receive in the adult Jesus is a love that is strong; strong enough to conquer death and open the gates of everlasting life to all who believe.  After all, the baby Jesus wasn’t the one who said, “Greater love hath no man than this that he lay down his life for his friends.”  It was the adult Jesus who said that and proved it by going to the Cross.

When you connect the baby Jesus with the adult Jesus it makes the Christmas joy last because the saving love that you find in the adult Jesus also changes you.  It makes it possible for you to live your life differently.

You begin to live your life in a way that can be seen in a special Christmas gift that I received this year.  The gift was completely unexpected and it came from TJ Putney. TJ grew up in this church.  He’s twelve-years-old now and lives with his family out in Colorado.   The Christmas gift was this orange tee shirt with the words “No regrets” on the front.   When I saw the tee shirt I wasn’t sure why TJ wanted me to have it until I went to put it on and noticed these words on the back. “No regrets.  Live your life so the preacher won’t have to lie at your funeral.”

All of this is what made it possible for Bill LaPierre to do something really amazing just a couple of weeks ago.   If the name sounds familiar it’s because Bill’s wife Karen was the woman who was killed by that drunk driver while getting donuts for Sacred Heart Church up in Haverhill.  In many ways Karen LaPierre was a saint.  Not only did she and her husband run the food pantry for their church but she was also a foster mother who cared for more than 160 different kids over the years.   So, what did Bill LaPierre do that was so amazing?   Even though he and his family were devastated by the senseless tragedy he said, “I forgive the woman and I hope she gets the help she needs…”

Things like that happen when you connect the baby Jesus with the adult Jesus.  Simeon knew that he wasn’t just holding an adorable little baby in his arms that day.  He knew that he was holding an adorable little baby in his arms was Christ the Lord, a baby who was going to grow up to become an adult and bring salvation to people near and far by showing us the way to the life that is truly abundant and the life that will be everlasting.   The adult Jesus also said “I am the light of the world.” So, when you make the connection that Simeon made that day it will fill you with a joy that won’t go dark when you unplug the lights on the Christmas tree for the last time.   Amen.

Rev. Dr. Richard A. Hughes

January 1, 2012