It's Christmas morning. Millions of my brothers and sisters are mindful, in a special way that the God of this universe, the Cosmic Conscious Core of all existence, all living and inorganic material, has revealed a Love that is at the very apex of human understanding: the sacrificial giving of an only child. Jesus, full of Grace and Truth, has come to dispel the darkness of sin and spiritual blindness. "No more let sins nor sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground. He comes to make His blessings flow far as the curse is found." (Isaac Watts) I've been inspired by the story of Simeon. Here's his story, recorded in Luke Chapter 2.
25 Now 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. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
He was "righteous and devout", longing for the "consolation" of his people. When Mary and Joseph came to the Temple to have Jesus circumcised, he was literally "inspired" [moved by the Spirit] to take the child in his arms. He supernaturally recognized that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah, God's offering of salvation, a light of revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Israel. God had promised that he would not die before seeing this amazing, holy, divine intervention. I try to imagine his face when he looked upon the infant, realizing the he was the One, the long-awaited [since Abraham] Savior of the world. Mary and Joseph must have been taken aback, shocked by this compassionate intrusion; but seeing the awe in Simeon's face, Mary allowed him to hold her child. Then listened intently as he reaffirmed the dawning truth first related to her by the angel Gabriel: that he was "destined to cause the rising and falling of many in Israel, and a sign that will be spoken against." Spoken against indeed! Hated and plotted against. Despised. Rejected. Mocked. Crucified! [A sword would indeed pierce her soul!] But also worshiped and adored by those who had the eyes to see and the ears to hear. He said he came to bring a sword to separate people from people: those who could see from those who could or would not. Even separating fathers from sons, mothers from daughters: believers from unbelievers. Bringing believers into a new family: the family of God; the Kingdom of God. "Who is my mother, sister and brother?" he asked. "He who knows and does the will of my Father [God]."
God, the only God of this universe, the Creator, brought forth in the universe this beautiful earth, filled it with life, conscious beings in His own image, then, in Love, set us free; departed from our direct conscious awareness, but lovingly left a fingerprint, bold, unmistakable, clear, accessible: His Holy Word. This Word tells the story of God and mankind; man's risings and fallings, the epic battle between good and evil, light and darkness. And how One would come to bring a great light: a King of kings and Lord of lords; consolation, healing, deliverance, salvation, forgiveness, hope, joy, peace, abundant and eternal [!] life. Harmonious unity that destroys the effects of evil. Jesus brings all this and more--more than can be received or related. Simeon recognized the baby in Mary's arms to be the fulfillment of that promise given in God's fingerprint. Later, His followers, also, would begin to see Him as Truth in the flesh. It seemed to dawn in their awareness, like it has with us, like the dawning of the sun, rising toward the full light of day. Culminating, in Simon Peter's case, with the bold, earth-shaking statement, "You are the Christ! The Son of the living God!" Praise God for this dawning! The angels were surely rejoicing! As they rejoice with every soul who comes to understand and accept Jesus as the Messiah. He reveals us to ourselves, and delivers us from the darkness that is in us. Christmas hymns are the brightest and most joyful of Christian hymns. "Joy to the world!" "Good Christian men rejoice, with heart and soul and voice." "Go tell it on the mountain!" "Gloria in Excelsis Deo!" "Joy has dawned upon the world." "Peace on the earth, good will to men, from heaven's all gracious King." "He is born, the divine Christ-Child; play the oboe and bagpipes merrily!" "Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!" "Glory to the newborn King!" It's all superficial though until it is internalized. We continue to wander in the darkness, even though this great Light has come to earth, until we bow in reverent submission, like the wise men, and offer the most important gift: our hearts. Then begins the true adventure for which we have been created: the adventure of being the Light in this world that He has ordained and empowers us to be. Then comes the joy of learning to Love with His Love. Then comes the great and final victory of Light dispelling darkness in our own souls. Then, and only then, do we discover the true meaning, as an inner felt experience, of freedom!
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, good will toward mankind! Peace! And Good Will! To all! Welcome baby Jesus! Be born anew in our hearts. Be born in us with a life that is ever new, like, as You said, "a fountain of living water welling up to eternal life." Awaken us to the Truth that sets us free, and keeps us free. Deliver us from the worries and cares of this world, from guilt and shame and fear. Empower us, through Your promised Spirit within us, to truly love each other. May Your Name be praised forever and ever!
