“21 After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 22 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 firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord"), 24 and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated 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; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Messiah.27 Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,
29 "Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,
according to your word;
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which 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 the child's father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, "This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed 35 so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed — and a sword will pierce your own soul too." 36 There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 then as a widow to the age of eighty- four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. 39 When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him” Luke 2:21-40.
We are in the Temple again, just as we were with John the Baptist’s birth. Mary and Joseph are following their religious traditions in presenting Jesus to God (see Exodus 13: 2-16) and offered a sacrifice for ritual purification of Mary (see Leviticus 12: 2-6). Every Jewish family had to follow certain traditions after birth. Circumcision was one, and occurred on the 8th day after birth. It was a symbol of their separation from Gentiles and their unique relationship with God as the Chosen People of God. Usually a local rabbi did this at home.
A firstborn son was also presented to God 1 month after birth. The child was “bought back” – or redeemed - from God through an offering. The parents acknowledged that the child belonged to God. The mother was also purified 40 days after giving birth to a son and 80 days after a daughter. The mother was ceremonially cleaned and then she could enter the Temple again. A lamb, dove, or pigeon was the offering to be made and sacrificed at the Temple. The rabbi did the sacrifice. Simeon is introduced as still yet another person who would be told of the birth of the Messiah. The “consolation of Israel” (v.25) – the Messiah – will be seen by Simeon before his death. Look at the beautiful Song of Simeon, called the “Nunc Dimittis,” (verses 29-32), the 1st two words in Latin (“Now dismiss”). What does that song tell you about Simeon and God? Simeon says that Jesus is “a light for revelations” to BOTH Gentiles and Jews. This is a stunning revelation from the words of Simeon – and critical to understanding Luke – that the Messiah has come, not just for the House of Israel but for ALL the world. What does that tell you about yourself and God? If you want to know what God has to say to you, look at who Christ was and is.
This story and Christmas tell me: You matter to God! Everybody matters to God. How different would our lives be if we looked at everyone as people who matter to God! So stay in prayer these days of Advent, and remember that you matter to God. Give Him thanks. Christmas assures us - even shouts to us - that we all matter to God!
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.
From the Bible:
“2 Consecrate to me all the firstborn; whatever is the first to open the womb among the Israelites, of human beings and animals, is mine.”
3 Moses said to the people, “Remember this day on which you came out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, because the Lord brought you out from there by strength of hand; no leavened bread shall be eaten. 4 Today, in the month of Abib, you are going out. 5 When the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he swore to your ancestors to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, you shall keep this observance in this month. 6 Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a festival to the Lord. 7 Unleavened bread shall be eaten for seven days; no leavened bread shall be seen in your possession, and no leaven shall be seen among you in all your territory. 8 You shall tell your child on that day, ‘It is because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.’ 9 It shall serve for you as a sign on your hand and as a reminder on your forehead, so that the teaching of the Lord may be on your lips, for with a strong hand the Lord brought you out of Egypt. 10 You shall keep this ordinance at its proper time from year to year.
11 “When the Lord has brought you into the land of the Canaanites, as he swore to you and your ancestors, and has given it to you, 12 you shall set apart to the Lord all that first opens the womb. All the firstborn offspring of your livestock that are males shall be the Lord’s. 13 But every firstborn donkey you shall redeem with a sheep; if you do not redeem it, you must break its neck. Every firstborn male among your children you shall redeem. 14 When in the future your child asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ you shall answer, ‘By strength of hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery. 15 When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the Lord killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from human firstborn to the firstborn of animals. Therefore I sacrifice to the Lord every male that first opens the womb, but every firstborn of my sons I redeem.’ 16 It shall serve as a sign on your hand and as an emblem on your forehead that by strength of hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt” Exodus 13: 2-16.
“2 Speak to the Israelites, saying: ‘If a woman conceives and bears a male child, she shall be unclean seven days; as at the time of her menstruation, she shall be unclean. 3 On the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. 4 Her time of blood purification shall be thirty-three days; she shall not touch any holy thing or come into the sanctuary until the days of her purification are completed. 5 If she bears a female child, she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her menstruation; her time of blood purification shall be sixty-six days.
6 ‘When the days of her purification are completed, whether for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting a lamb in its first year for a burnt offering and a pigeon or a turtledove for a purification offering’” Leviticus 12: 2-6.
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