In the Fullness of Time


In today's lectionary selections, we read this phrase: "In the Fullness of Time" (Gal. 4:4) I used this phrase in my reflection -- extemporaneous message, rather than sermon. I'm not a Calvinist/Augustinian who believes that God foreordains our life choices -- that is, our lives are written beforehand. I am a believer in freewill, a perspective that is in line, I believe with the Jewish roots of our faith. That said, I do believe that God is present and active in the world -- including our lives. Thus, it is appropriate to speak of God bringing things to pass providentially. My being here in Michigan is, I believe, God's desire. Oh, that doesn't mean there are no hardships or difficulties. There is waiting, but also expectancy. In Galatians 4 Paul that Jesus came into the world in the fullness of time -- because of this we are reborn as children of God, and thus heirs of God of God's promises.
The Gospel text today, Luke 2:21-40 describes the presentation of Jesus in the Temple and the responses of two older people -- Simeon and Anna. Both are prophets of God who have waited expectantly for the revelation of God's purpose. Now, in this baby, Luke says, they found that promise fulfilled. Simeon offers a blessing on the family (with a warning) and Anna speaks the good news (the evangel).

So, I share with you that word from Luke as it's presented in The Message (which is the text I chose to read from today).

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Luke 2:21-40 (The Message)

Blessings
21When the eighth day arrived, the day of circumcision, the child was named Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived.

22-24Then when the days stipulated by Moses for purification were complete, they took him up to Jerusalem to offer him to God as commanded in God's Law: "Every male who opens the womb shall be a holy offering to God," and also to sacrifice the "pair of doves or two young pigeons" prescribed in God's Law.

25-32In Jerusalem at the time, there was a man, Simeon by name, a good man, a man who lived in the prayerful expectancy of help for Israel. And the Holy Spirit was on him. The Holy Spirit had shown him that he would see the Messiah of God before he died. Led by the Spirit, he entered the Temple. As the parents of the child Jesus brought him in to carry out the rituals of the Law, Simeon took him into his arms and blessed God:

God, you can now release your servant;
release me in peace as you promised.
With my own eyes I've seen your salvation;
it's now out in the open for everyone to see:
A God-revealing light to the non-Jewish nations,
and of glory for your people Israel.

33-35Jesus' father and mother were speechless with surprise at these words. Simeon went on to bless them, and said to Mary his mother,

This child marks both the failure and
the recovery of many in Israel,
A figure misunderstood and contradicted—
the pain of a sword-thrust through you—
But the rejection will force honesty,
as God reveals who they really are.

36-38Anna the prophetess was also there, a daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher. She was by now a very old woman. She had been married seven years and a widow for eighty-four. She never left the Temple area, worshiping night and day with her fastings and prayers. At the very time Simeon was praying, she showed up, broke into an anthem of praise to God, and talked about the child to all who were waiting expectantly for the freeing of Jerusalem.

39-40When they finished everything required by God in the Law, they returned to Galilee and their own town, Nazareth. There the child grew strong in body and wise in spirit. And the grace of God was on him.

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