Welcome to Jill Hamming, a friend of mine from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, and a regular participant on this web page. She will share her reflections on the readings from Luke 1-2.
SCRIPTURE: Luke 2:21-39
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Two devout seniors. The Holy Spirit made it plain to both Anna and Simeon that this child was Jesus, the Messiah.
Anna had been widowed for 84 years. We don’t know how many of them she had lived at the temple, a prophetess, worshipping, fasting and praying. Were there other women who did this? Was she considered odd? We don’t know, but to her was given the privilege of seeing baby Jesus, and knowing He was the Saviour. Here was the promise of God for redemption being fulfilled.
Likewise for Simeon, the Holy Spirit had told him he would see this day! He even knew that Jesus was come for all people, not just for Israel. (Simeon also saw how painful it would be for Mary, thirty some years later she would remember, perhaps find reassurance, knowing this was Gods’ plan.)
Some of us seem to be in the thick of things in God’s work; on the frontline, preaching, teaching, counseling, actively seeking the lost, risking our lives… But others are also in the forefront; worshipping, praying, interceding, not so noticed but as important, doing the task God has given us to do. We need both.
God needed a Mary and He needed an Anna. He needed a Joseph and a Simeon. Different jobs, all important!
PRAYER:
Thank-you God for the examples of Simeon and Anna, -heroes for us to follow. Holy Spirit, please show us our work and enable us to do it. Thank-you. And Jesus, thank-you for Christmas. Thank-you that You came. Amen.