Day #2548

December 22, 2020

Tuesday’s Thoughts on Scripture comes from Luke 2:36-38: 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, 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. 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. (NRSV)

This is a great story about the infant Jesus. When the time was appropriate, Mary and Joseph take Jesus to the Temple to be presented and to make the required offering. This ritual/rite was important, but these parents had no idea what, or rather who, was also waiting for this moment. Simeon and Anna are there (Simeon’s story is in Luke 2:25-35) and have important things to say. Jesus is the fulfillment of who they have been waiting for. How did they know? What made it obvious? After all, Jesus is a child. Has the message from the shepherds, that was told to them by the angels, already reached the Temple? Or has God spoken to Simeon and Anna directly? 

When baptizing infants or young children, I often reflect that their parents do not know what is in store for their child. They have no idea how important their infant may be for the world, or at least for their corner of the world. Each person has value and a purpose. Each child has potential to change the world, even if it only means a small portion of it. Each infant has potential to be a blessing for many more people than just their parents. 

But for Jesus, his is a different story. The entire world will never be the same after his birth. He truly changed the world, even going forward from the past to us and beyond. Yes, we are recipients of this difference, this change, his birth made. That is a good reminder for Christmas Day and the Season that follows.  

Blessings. And prayers.