Wonder Of Advent #34

See the Signs

Read: Luke 2:36-40

She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem.

Luke 2:38

SIMEON HAD SPOKEN words over Jesus that were both marvelous and mysterious; they pointed to salvation and glory but also to opposition and pain. They were confirmation to Joseph and Mary and other eyewitnesses that God’s work through this child would extend much further than Israel. But as Simeon was speaking eloquently about the mission of the Messiah, another remarkable voice joined the testimony.

The Gospel of Luke is filled with stories that pair a man and a woman—Gabriel’s visit to Zechariah and then to Mary (Luke 1), the shepherd who goes searching for his lost sheep and the woman who searches for her lost coin (Luke 15), and the persistent widow and the unjust judge (Luke 18), for example. These are clear signs that the Messiah’s Kingdom would not be a man’s world like rabbinic Judaism seemed to be. Here at the dedication of the child at the Temple, Simeon’s blessing is followed by the testimony of a prophetess named Anna. Like Simeon, she was waiting for the revelation of the Messiah. Unlike Simeon, she stayed at the Temple day and night. An old woman widowed at a young age, Anna spent her life worshiping, fasting, and praying. She lived for decades with her eyes open to what God was doing.

We talk a lot about remembering that Jesus is the reason for the season, but our vision should really be larger than that. God moves in every age, and our calling is to live expectantly. Our celebration of past events is genuinely worthwhile, but those who really step into his story are not just looking back. They are tuning their hearts to his voice, becoming sensitive to what he is doing in our day, recognizing the ebb and flow of the Spirit’s work, and living with eyes ever open.

Learn to live with expectation at all times. Keep watch for signs of the Spirit’s movements. God sometimes surprises unsuspecting souls with a calling; more often, he works through those who have set their souls on alert to notice his seasons of opportunity. Simeon and Anna recognized the Messiah because they had cultivated the eyes of their hearts. Cultivate your vision and tune your heart to his voice, and you will recognize him too.

Prayer

Holy Spirit, open my eyes to see and my ears to hear. Make me sensitive to your every move. Help me recognize your invitations to join you in your work—even today. Amen.

REFLECTION

How can we learn to recognize what God is doing? What are the hallmarks of his work?

Further reading: John 5:19; 12:49

Let us with childlike heart and mind

seek now the Son of God to find.

“CHILD JESUS CAME FROM HEAVEN TO EARTH,” HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN