Dear Friends in Christ, grace and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Babies are not the only ones who change, or need to be changed.  I looked back at my picture from 13 years ago when I was first installed as the pastor here at Lake of the Isles. I was tall, strong, dark haired and handsome. But then something happened.  I walked past the mirror one morning, and thought, what’s my father doing there.  Who is that short, milquetoast, silver-haired, a little less handsome man?  The live streaming of worship services during Covid made the change even more dramatic. I have had to watch myself age in real-time.  I suddenly found myself resembling the older uncles in my family who had long since passed away, Caleb, Ralph, Art and Oscar. Yes, we all change, but, my friends, there is a loving God who does not change.

In most homes across Minnesota, the Christmas decorations have finally made it up the stairs to the attic to be stored away for another year, or at least they have made it to the landing where they are now waiting for the last push. That’s the way it is in our house where we every January debate when Christmas is officially over?  Of course, for those with small children, you know that Christmas is over when the original batteries included with your children’s presents have died.  There is no “official” date on which Christmas is actually over, but Candlemas, February 2nd is pretty close.

Unfortunately, in our New Year’s rush to return to a normal life, and to throw out everything that’s tied to the Old Year, there are two characters in St. Luke’s story of Jesus’ birth who are sadly overlooked.  They don’t even appear until the 40th day of Christmas and are never mentioned in any Christmas carols, but when Jesus was brought to the Temple in Jerusalem, these two old saints, Simeon and Anna, were the only ones who recognized him.  Far too often, people at Christmas only see Jesus as a baby lying in a manger and nothing more, and then they return to life’s normal patterns.  They don’t see the change. Simeon and Anna could see Jesus changing.

St. Luke begins the story of Jesus’ presentation with the gentle underscoring of Old Testament scriptures.  We read that it was out of remembrance and honor to God for his delivering the nation of Israel out of the hands of the Pharaoh, that Jewish parents were required to go to Jerusalem.  There they were to make an offering to the Lord, both for a safe childbirth and for the healthy birth of child.  Now if anyone could have been forgiven for failing in their duty and obligation to journey to the Temple, it would have Mary and Joseph. After all, they had already played their own important role in the story of God’s salvation, but Mary and Joseph went to the Temple to honor and worship God and fulfill the law of Moses.  There, they were met by Simeon.

According to Orthodox Christian tradition, the devout and righteous Simeon was one of the seventy scholars who travelled to Egypt in the 3^rd century BC in to translate the Holy Scriptures  from Hebrew into Greek for the great library in Alexandria. As a young man Simeon was responsible for translating the portion of the Prophet Isaiah which reads, “Behold, a virgin shall conceive in the womb, and shall bring forth a Son.”  He thought that word “virgin” was inaccurate, and wanted to correct the text to read instead to a “woman.” But at that very moment an angel appeared to him and held back his hand saying, “You shall see these words fulfilled. You shall not die until you behold the Messiah the Lord born of a pure and spotless Virgin.” That was an amazing promise for which Simeon would wait 200 years to see fulfilled. And along the way, he himself experienced great pain, sorrow and persecution.  He witnessed the Maccabean Revolt and the Siege of the Temple which gave his people the miracle of Hanukkah. He also saw the conquest of his nation by the Roman army.  Through all these sorrows, he set his hope for his people and nation on the consolation he had been given.  Before he would die, he would see the Savior of the world, the Messiah.  And then, one day, far longer than he ever expected it happened. The Holy Spirit, whispered into his ear, “Simeon, this is the one you have been waiting for.  This is the Messiah.” No sooner had the righteous, old sage Simeon taken the infant Jesus into his arms and uttered one of the most beautiful blessings in scripture, “Lord, now lettest us Thou Thy servant depart in peace,” than he offered a prophetic word of truth to the infant Jesus’ mother Mary, “A sword will pierce your own soul too.”

We don’t hear these words spoken at Christmas at Jesus’ birth. These are the words that teach us that the Savior didn’t come simply to dwell with us, but he came to change the world. He came to challenge us. He came to be a light to the world, and enlighten all wandering in the dark shadows of sin.  Simeon knew what this little Child that he held in his arms had been called to do. The God of Israel who does not change had been true to his promise. Simeon’s long wait had ended.

Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, knew about waiting too.  The nation of Israel had been waiting for 300 years for a Messiah. Anna was a prophetess, which was very rare in the Scripture.  She was not a fortune teller, but she was someone who spoke for God. She never left the temple where she worshiped night and day, and fasted and prayed. Anna was married for seven years before her husband died, and by the time Jesus was born, she had been a widow for more than 80 years, yet she never lost hope. The unchanging God of Israel had revealed himself in this tiny child.

Simeon and Anna’s responses to seeing Jesus, however, couldn’t be more different.  Simeon was prepared to die while Anna began to tell the good news to everyone in the Temple that the Messiah had finally appeared. Now, I don’t think that Simeon was giving up completely on this old world.  He must have been overwhelmed by finally seeing the Messiah.  Anna, on the other hand was so excited that she was ready to proclaim the hope of the Messiah to everyone she met.   Having seen Jesus, they could not return to a normal life.

Thirteen years when I began my ministry here at Lake of the Isles, there were still a number of elderly Simeons and Annas, Olgas and Luellas, Oscars and Ralphs in my life who provided words of consolation and comfort when needed.  Now I find myself as one of the silver haired elders.  I’m not quite to the vintage age of comedian George Burns, but I can appreciate the sentiment. “You know that you’re getting old when you stoop down to tie your shoes, and you wonder what else you can do while you’re down there.”  What are you and I called to do to nurture the next generation in their faith?  These are trying times. Families are not interested in your political convictions or the size of your stock portfolio. Parents and their children are searching for moral clarity, courageous hope and God’s unchanging direction. And You may be the only they can turn to.

Simeon and Anna appear only once in scripture, but they have notable qualities worth embracing. They may have changed over their decades of life, but their faith and hope were not  dimmed by age. Anna knew where to go in times of trial and waiting and was rewarded for her diligence. Her great faith led her to the Temple, and her fasting and prayer were honored. The same was true for Simeon who meditated on God’s word.

Regardless of your age, my friends, as parents, godparents, grandparents and friends, our unchanging God can use you as his servant.  It was no coincidence that Simeon and Anna were in the Temple that day when Mary and Joseph arrived with the infant Jesus.  Simeon was “guided by the Holy Spirit” to meet them.  It is no coincidence that the Spirit is guiding and encouraging you this day as well. Day after day you are being placed at the right time and the right place to offer a word of blessing to those you love.

My friends, do not be anxious, self-conscious, embarrassed or afraid of the task our unchanging God has given you.  Be of good courage. Never forget that Jesus is the light no darkness can overcome. The words you say and the acts of charity you perform, will leave those you love in this changing world with the hope that in Jesus Christ the unchanging son of God all will be well.  Amen.

May the peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  Amen.