God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, and giving us the message of reconciliation… [2 Corinthians 5]
Text: Luke 2:8-38
Have you ever wondered what the angels did after, as our Christmas story tells us, they “had…gone into heaven.” Did they go back and practice their harps? Did they get new assignments as guardian angels? Did they try out for their great reality show, Dancing on the head of a pin? For some reason, that question struck me. I do believe, when we are reading the Bible, the Holy Spirit uses strange questions to help us realize the Bible is alive for each new day. Then I wondered if Jesus himself gave us a clue to my question when he taught us to pray, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. I wondered if the angel’s announcement of peace on earth – given to a world where there seems so little peace – suggests there is a heavenly peace, and it is our task, following our Savior, to be working for that – on earth as it is in heaven.
A few days before Christmas, while listening to Christmas music on the radio, I caught another rendition of one of the most popular songs for the season: Have yourself a merry little Christmas. We might note that that song does include the word Christmas. For some reason I was paying attention to the words. If this song is particularly meaningful to you please understand the reasons for my reaction. I could not help but notice how flat is the message offered in that song. I had been thinking of some of the lines from the carol, Hark the herald angels sing. A couple of comparisons: Have yourself, a merry little Christmas… Let your heart be light… Now, that is a good wish; but as we know, it is very hard to make Christmas merry by one’s self. In contrast, peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled. Or, Through the years we all will be together, if the Fates allow… Again the contrast: veiled in flesh the God-head see! Hail, incarnate deity! Pleased as man with us to dwell, Jesus our Emmanuel. The fates – or God with us?
As we enter the new year, we have read summaries from the year 2011. One of the biggest stories, perhaps the biggest story of the old year is what is called the Arab spring. We have watched – I trust with prayer – as various peoples have risen up against tyrants. Last spring we heard that Lutheran World Relief was very involved in the mission to refugees from the uprising in Egypt. As the year progressed, however, just because a tyrant is deposed, does not automatically mean peace will settle in. What about the angel’s message?
Today we read more of the stories from the earliest days of Jesus. We can see the segments of the story – the shepherd went back, excitedly sharing what they had seen. Then come a couple of events, all because Mary and Joseph wanted to observe the rituals of righteousness, that is, human acts that show they are trusting God to be faithful to his promise to save the world.
We read that on the eighth day, the name was formally given to the infant. We recall that this name was not just a label. This showed Mary and Joseph trusted in the word that came before the birth, the trusted God was indeed, taking new steps to save the world. Accompanied with this was the ritual of circumcision. Now this is a very personal thing. We come across that term quite a bit in the Bible. What we may fail to realize is that this was not just a religious ritual; this was also a political statement. Sometime before the birth of Jesus, an outside conqueror had prohibited this ritual. We understand that, though that ban was lifted, not all folks of Jewish descent resumed the practice. As Jews who desired to live righteously before God, Mary and Joseph did not separate their daily life from their religious life from the outward implications toward the community. They knew the potentially deadly consequences. But they knew God’s righteousness was the only way, and would ultimately bring peace.
Forty days after the birth came more rituals. I’m not sure what comparison we can make to customs we have today. Perhaps we need to be reminded that birth and life are not to be taken for granted. The offering of sacrifice emphasizes that all of life includes some cost.
There in the temple we meet two special persons. It sounds like both had lived a good life. In their retirement years they hung around the temple. Their faith led them to live expectantly. They believed that God would, one day, show up. They believed that the rituals of their religious faith were important. They also believed the Holy Spirit would use those rituals to help them see God at work. Simeon spoke words that, no doubt, puzzled the parents, perhaps even cast a shadow over their joy. Yet Mary and Joseph knew that God’s work was not without its cost. They knew the story of Moses, the escape from Pharaoh’s slavery, and the freedom that came as a result. They also knew this freedom carried a great price of faithfulness. Mary and Joseph had seen the pain inflicted by the swords of the Roman tyrants, the swords wielded by the petty but cruel king Herod. They knew that God’s liberating peace would come only with a steep price. So perhaps they heard Simeon’s words as assurance – not easy, but assurance that God was at work through their faithfulness. And blessed Anna – every child needs some older person to remind the parents how precious that child is.
We also can take to heart Simeon’s song of praise. To be sure, we hear words of someone who feels such great joy that his waiting is over. At the same time, we can hear one who is experiencing the peace the angel’s proclaimed. I don’t think he was retreating into his own private little world. He saw God’s whole salvation presented in this forty day-old child. He saw God’s peace – which includes his own people and all people.
So, perhaps the angels continue to listen for our prayers – on earth, as in heaven. Perhaps the angels hum along with us when we sing, Hail the heav’n born Prince of peace!…Light and life to all he brings, ris’n with healing in his wings…born that we no more may die. Perhaps the angels are ready to work with us, as we work for this peace.
