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The Presentation of Christ in the Temple
February 2, 2003
Christ Church, Covington
“The Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple” (Mal.
3:1).
The Temple in Jerusalem was not only the center of religious practice in
Jesus’ day: it was the dwelling place of God. So it is significant that
the child Jesus is brought to that Temple, on this feast of his
Presentation, and recognized as the Messiah. This is God’s house, and as
prophecy had long ago foretold, the Lord would come to make the Temple
(and Jerusalem) his dwelling. Simeon and Anna encounter God in the person
of Jesus Christ, in the place appointed for that meeting.
In fact, this is a story of encounter with God and response to him. Luke
emphasizes the presence of the Holy Spirit in what takes place; it is the
Spirit who reveals what is to happen and who guides the principal actors.
Simeon and Anna recognize the Messiah; they respond with blessing and
praise. “My eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the
presence of all peoples” (Lk. 2:30). They have been patient in fasting and
prayer over many years, but they know him when they see him.
For Luke, this encounter with God is not a “one off “ but is repeated over
and over again in the ministry of Jesus Christ. People keep encountering
God in Christ, and they keep encountering him in the work of the Church.
Simeon and Anna not only connect Jesus with God’s People in the past, but
they also stand for the Church of the future which will encounter God in
Christ again and again. When Luke describes the Church in Jerusalem after
Jesus’ resurrection as praying and sharing what they had, praising God and
spending much time in the Temple (Acts 2:3-47), he is describing and
repeating the pattern of Simeon and Anna.
It’s a pattern we are meant to repeat ourselves. We come together week by
week in the fellowship of the Church in order to encounter God. Not to
have our fancy tickled or to be simply edified, but to encounter God. Most
Sundays, I’m not sure I’m up for an encounter with God. Something less
intimidating would be more to my liking: a brief exchange of pleasantries,
a drive by, wave through, with God . I’ll grant you that encountering God
may be more than we are bargaining for, but nevertheless that’s what’s on
the schedule.
We understand that God does not live in buildings, but we have a very
concrete sense that Jesus Christ makes his dwelling place in our midst, in
the company of God’s People gathered for worship. Just as Anna and Simeon
encountered the Messiah in the Temple, so we encounter Jesus Christ every
Sunday, in the Scriptures read and in the Sacrament celebrated. We
encounter Jesus Christ as we encounter each other, the persons who have
been redeemed by him and who are members of his Body.
Simeon and Anna are our models, as they are meant to be. Not that the
encounter depends on us, because God is involved in it. Patience is
important; prayer and preparation are important. Openness is part of the
equation; what could be more surprising than encountering the Messiah in
the person of a child? Transformation is on the agenda as well, for God is
“like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap” (Mal. 3:2). Simeon says
that “the inner thoughts of many will be revealed” (Lk. 2:35), as many
rise and fall in Israel at the coming of the Messiah. Praise and blessing,
generous helpings of both, are the right response to the encounter, and
the sign that it has happened.
This is the place of encounter with God. Not that he will not be
encountered elsewhere, because he is encountered everywhere; but in the
sense that in the company of God’s People Jesus has promised to be
present. As we share in communion, gathered together at this altar, we
know that Jesus is the one who will be encountered, who shares himself
freely, who has invited us to be here and commanded us to do this in
remembrance of him.
The Rev’d John Bauerschmidt is Rector of Christ Church, Covington.
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