Sermon
31st December 2017
Text:
Luke 2:22-40 – Waiting for our Saviour
The
year ended in similar way to how it began.
In
January a driver used his car to drive through the streets of Melbourne killing
6 and injuring many more.
In
December a driver used his car to drive through the streets of Melbourne
injuring almost 20 people.
Throughout
the year there have been many highlights and many lowlights.
Some
of the highlights for me included our family wedding of our daughter Grace to
Chris – and the breaking of the 37 year drought for my beloved Tigers.
Included
among the lowlights - it was a year where we saw many high profile celebrities
and people of power fall from grace because of sexual abuse.
Big
names from Hollywood were led by Harvey Weinstein and Matt Lauer.
In
Australia our much loved Don Burke and also the Lord Mayor of Melbourne Robert
Doyle were accused of sexual harassment.
It
was a year where we continued to see violence in our streets – home invasions –
jewellery store heists – houses destroyed by wild parties – the violence of the
gang known as APEX and terrorist cells known as ISIS.
There
were earthquakes, floods, cyclones fires and diseases including the deadly flu
virus.
It
was a year of challenges for the church as it considered how it would respond
to the two pieces of legislation introduced of assisted dying, or euthanasia,
and same sex marriage.
It
was also a year that continued to point the spotlight on the abuse of children
in the church and other institutions.
You
wonder what 2018 will present.
As
we look at our past many wonder what is happening to our world.
Many
Christians believe that Christ’s return must be very close.
We
are becoming more advanced in our technology, medicine and knowledge but it
seems the old primitive nature of humankind has not advanced at all from when
Cain used violence to solve his problems with his brother Abel.
Our
world is no longer the world God created in the beginning which he declared
“Very Good”
It
is for this very reason that God entered into our world through his Son Jesus
Christ to show us the way out of it.
That’s
what St Paul declares in our 2nd reading today:
When
the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under
the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might
receive adoption as children.
God
has adopted us as his children so we are no longer heirs of this world but of
the world to come.
What
Paul is saying is that our future is not here but in the world to come.
But
as you know, an inheritance is not received by an heir until death comes.
And
so until our death we are still under the effects of this world and all its
ways.
And
that includes not just the human waywardness but also the waywardness of the
world with floods, fire, earthquakes, climate change and all the other signs
that our world is coming to an end rather than getting better.
Even
if this year were an amazing year of success and highlights, 2018 would still
be a mystery because none of us know what lies ahead.
As
Christians we rely on God’s goodness that even if the year ahead brings us
challenges that we find difficult, we cling to the promise made to Mary and
Joseph that their child would be called “Immanuel” God with us.
Joseph
and Mary also relied on God’s promise to them because they will hear and
experience things they never expected.
From
the very beginning things weren’t very clear for either of them.
Imagine
the physical exhaustion they felt, especially Mary – pregnant and travelling to
Bethlehem to register for the census.
Mary
was unwed – she was told she would give birth to the Son of God.
Joseph
was told the same thing and to trust God even though his first worldly
inclination was to divorce her.
Their
child was born in a poor and needy environment – is that really how God would
allow his own son to be born?
They
took the infant Jesus to the temple to offer the required sacrifice but were
too poor to offer a lamb as required so they offered a pair of doves or two
young pigeons.
They
must surely wonder how God is going to provide for them?
How
on earth are they going to provide for their child?
Mary
and Joseph are like so many families today struggling to find money for their
ever rising power bills – child care fees – even the bare necessities.
Again
we are reminded that God sent his Son into OUR world, OUR flesh, experiencing
OUR struggles.
As
they brought Jesus to the temple it’s interesting that Anna and Simeon both
recognised that this baby Jesus was no ordinary baby.
Why
did they recognise this special baby among all the other people at the temple
that day?
Because
they had been waiting for and expecting him to arrive:
For
Simeon we are told:
There
was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was
waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had
been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had
seen the Lord’s Messiah.
For
Anna we are told:
She
never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. She gave thanks to God and spoke about the
child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
Simeon
and Anna were guided by the Holy Spirit to recognize God’s gift to the world.
They
had eyes of faith and saw the blessing God was giving.
With
all the problems and uncertainties in the world, are people still looking to
Jesus with the same enthusiasm and expectation?
Or
are we fearful and lacking trust in God?
Are
we confident enough to trust in God that whatever happens in 2018 he is there
for us – Immanuel?
Or
will we continue to rely on our own strength.
The
birth of Jesus fulfilled many Old Testament prophecies as God is a God of
promises which are irrevocable.
And
that’s what we are to take from Anna and Simeon.
They
knew that God would fulfil his promise to them that they would see God’s
Saviour before they died.
Even
though they were aged they knew that God would fulfil his promise.
We
too sometimes have to wait and go through difficult times.
Sometimes
that wait will continue till we are in heaven.
But
Jesus promised as did the angel Gabriel – “I am with you always – till the end
of the age”.
And
it is after our encounter with Jesus today when we receive his body and blood
in Holy Communion to reassure us of God’s presence and promise that we sing
with Simeon:
Now,
Lord, You let Your servant go, in peace, according to Your word; For I have
seen Your saving love, which You have shown to all of us.
So
as you go into 2018 go with the promise of Jesus, Emmanuel – I am with you
always.