St. Andrew’s Pictou, January 1^st 2006

 

More to be Revealed

 

Isaiah 61:10-62:3

Galatians 4: 4-7

Luke 2:22-40

 

It is a normal, expected aspect of the human condition, that there are times and events when we think that we accurately know what is going on. We have done our homework and for one reason or another, we believe that we can make an accurate assessment of the situation.

 

Time and time again, we find ourselves to be wrong:

-there is something that we didn’t know,

-someone wiser will ask us to consider, “A,” “B,” or “C” and we muse to ourselves, “Yes maybe that is a possibility.”

-the autopsy shows what the catscan missed.

 

The reality is that there is hardly a time in our lives when we are involved with a situation when there isn’t “more to be revealed.”

 

We never know it all.

 

As the inspired Word of God, we often find examples in the Bible, when God can see what we can’t.

 

In today’s scriptures, for example:

-the prophet Isaiah looks at the ruins of Jerusalem and sees a garden of promise,

-in Psalm 148, the psalmist looks at Creation and sees the Creator,

-Paul looks at a servant and sees the child of a loving father,

-in the Gospel two elderly people see something in a child that nobody else sees.

 

If you and I want to be able to see what more is to be revealed, we have to open our minds to God’s infinite possibilities.

 

The story found in Luke where Mary and Joseph present Jesus to two older people presents an interesting case in point.

 

There was nothing miraculous in presenting the infant Jesus for dedication at the temple, he being their first born, but we find miraculous things prophesied about Jesus.

 

With Joseph and Mary following regular Jewish piety, we find unique kinds of blessings offered by the old man Simeon and the prophetess, Anna.

 

Simeon does not just “go” into the temple, but we read that he was “Guided by the Spirit” to come into the temple.

 

“Simeon took him in his arms and praised God saying,

‘Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,

according to your word;

for my eyes have seen your salvation,

which you have prepared in the presence of all people,

a light for the revelation o the Gentiles

and for glory to your people Israel.’”

 

Simeon is affirming that in his praise to God, that in Jesus he has salvation for all people, both Jews and Gentiles.

 

But he goes on in an even more dramatic way. After blessing them he says to Mary:

“This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed – and a sword will pierce you own soul too.”

 

This was probably a little too much revealed for Joseph and Mary with a newborn.

 

Anna was a widow, 84 years of age and she never left the temple. After fasting and praying for years, when she saw Jesus, she couldn’t stop telling people that he was the redemption of Israel.

 

On the first day of the New Year, I hope that the realty of the event here recorded: these two who were “older and wiser,” Simeon and Anna give you an experience of liberation in finding out that you don’t know it all.

 

Simeon and Anna are telling Mary and Joseph back then, (and you and I today) that God has more in store for humanity in Jesus Christ: more is to be revealed.

 

Last week on Christmas Eve, another widow, slightly older than Anna, whose name was Gertrude Holton was (with her last bit of energy) in her temple, right here. As wise as we know Gertrude is, we might wonder what her thoughts were as she listened to her granddaughter Ann sing, “O Holy Night.”

 

It was indeed a “Holy Night” as it was her last time after 86 years to come here in person to worship God and celebrate the birth of the Saviour of the world; the last time that she was to hear her granddaughter sing. (How do you sing for your grandmother for the last time? How do you sing for the last time to the one who gave you your first lessons?)

 

With the depth and poignancy of that moment, my guess is that Gertrude Holton knew some of the “more” that has yet to be revealed; more to be revealed about Ann, more to be revealed about God and this church.

 

The words that you and I have to remember from today are that, “there is more.”

 

With God there is always more and it is good!

 

Thanks be to God! AMEN            Rev. Alan Stewart