For Sunday, December 28, 2014 – Luke 2:22-40
They did not stay in the Christmas moment long, just resting in the glow of the child, precious symbol of hope and longing. We too now shift abruptly from the wonder of the baby, the holy child, prince of peace, who has planted the seeds of perfect shalom among us, back to a world grossly lacking shalom. Where is it? Did we miss some packages under the tree? Thrust now from the womb of our reverie, newborn we are with him, squalling our way into the harsh light of these days. We might wish we could linger in the mood of the Christmas moment, be cradled in “love’s pure light” a bit longer, simply ponder the dream, but here we are, with all our regular and irregular responsibilities. Did the real Christmas come this year? Have we been born to new purposes and paths? Or is everything the same as before?
Joseph and Mary do go back to Galilee, you know, to their own town of Nazareth, the scripture is clear to say, in case we might wonder where one goes to be duly appreciated and fully of service after being chosen of God for divine purposes. Lest we think a divine calling means venturing to faraway, exotic lands and living among far more interesting people, or at least finding better jobs with loftier titles, the story says it might mean simply going home. Go back to where you started, back to the old stories and whispers, back to your mundane and sometimes even boring life. Change might never show up in a particular place or position; change might only show up in you.
At the temple the family makes a sacrifice of thanksgiving for this, their firstborn son. Simeon is there, as is Anna, both of whom have the clarity of sight that can come to those who journey by staying at home, never losing faith in God’s plans. They see the child, sweet little boy of God, and they see beyond the child to the wisdom journey God intends for us all. We too are given sight beyond sight, comprehension beyond our understanding. Don’t you see how close it is, how palpable the peace we long for? See how the holy already threads through our mundane? The “same old, same old” is ever new, ever becoming, because we are. Everything that really matters is coming to an end. Everything that really matters is now beginning. Where will we see it? In us.
