we’re on week 3 in the urban skye advent guide.
Since Anna and Simeon are “post creche” figures, I never paid any attention to them. The Christmas eve gospel readings left them out too. But sure enough, there they are. A couple of old folks praising baby Jesus. That is easy to imagine–like bringing your progeny to a great-grandparent, of course they’re going to be happy.
This is, however, no ordinary blessing–which is why it lives in the sacred story. It occurs as part of Jesus’ circumcision and dedication to God. And these were the elders who were present and shone on that sacred occasion. The fact that Anna and Simeon were very old is important. It calls attention to the way they have lived their lives and what that means.
Throughout this advent season we have paid attention to how the first ones who recognize Jesus as Lord were misfits. That is true of Anna and Simeon also, but for different reasons than the others. These two were super devout–way beyond basic religiosity. It is helpful to know that Jews didn’t have monasteries and usually kept themselves involved with normal community life. There was a special vow you could take (the nazarite vow, from Numbers) to bring you closer to God, but it was usually for a limited period of time. The only ones I know of in ible history who were life-long nazarites (not related to nazarines) were Sampson and John the Baptist. One of the signs of the vow is to not cut the hair, which explains a lot about Sampson’s deal.
Anyhow, to live that way was exceptional, and to live as Anna did- IN the temple for 84 years, man, that’s kinda weird. One of the gifts that come with this devotion is prophesy. Their culture apparently knew how to nurture and support people who hear God talking to them. These days, you can’t do that sort of thing…Anna would be another homeless lady with a shopping cart and frayed mittens saying “God bless you” over a cup of coffee.
This kind of devotion gave Anna and Simeon a different set of expectations for their lives. They didn’t expect to see their fortunes grow, or get a Wii, or something normal like that. They expected no less than to see the fulfillment of God’s great covenantal promise within their own lifetimes. And they waited—then recognized it when he arrived–and blessed him.
Simeon had faith that this was coming and delivered a powerful prophesy. He then gave thanks that his life’s work had been completed. In the Bible it mentions that after Anna had delivered her blessing, she went and told everyone she saw what God had done. Can you imagine it–a woman who nobody had ever seen (outside of the temple) for four generations suddenly steps out and starts praising God and announcing the arrival of the Messiah? Truly exceptional.
My hope is to be mindful of their patience, their faithfulness, their focus–and especially their joy.
December 19th, 2007 at 7:05 am
84 years and all they got to show for it was a baby being born. I know it was the messiah and all, but how about a little something for the effort. Not even a t-shirt?? It’s hard to imagine such fortitude and perseverance considering the lives we live today, but maybe it’s still here…it just looks different. I look at Karl and Kathy and other people who are sold out for the cause in their own way and marvel. Super talented people who could be living more “normal” lives in the world, getting affirmed by worldly standards through money and publicity, but they have chosen a different route. They’ve chosen to love and care for the unlovely, the poor, the unwanted, the messy. Now, it’s not the same as 84 years in a temple, but it is doing some serious swimming upstream, and it’s probably looked at by a lot of people as a waste of time (not much different than how some people looked at Anna and Simeon). Many of these people are probably sitting next to you at the doctors, at McDonalds, or on the bus, but because they don’t look “successful” they won’t get the props they deserve (not that they’re looking for it). All they’re doing is living lives that emulate Jesus and His teachings. Imagine that. It’s never a bad idea to remember that Jesus is the reason for the season, but why, in this ever so worldly world, does the season have to be only once a year? Thanks Sage. jose