After last Sunday’s crowds of Christmas Eve have disappeared, 

we are back to the faithful few! 

The bells, and whistles and candles have vanished, 

And those who remain are the patient old souls who wait and watch 

for God’s appearing.

Have you ever waited for something with great anticipation? 

Maybe it was a special event, a long-awaited vacation, 

or the arrival of a new family member. 

Waiting can be both exciting and challenging. 

We see this theme of waiting and expectation 

in our Gospel passage this morning.

It's a story that displays the faithfulness of two individuals, 

Simeon and Anna - devout believers who awaited the fulfillment of God's promises. 

Their unwavering trust and patient anticipation 

serve as an inspiration for us as we navigate our own spiritual journeys. 

—

Our story of Simeon and Anna takes place shortly after the birth of Jesus. 

Maryand Joseph have brought Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem, 

a day’s journey away from Bethlehem, 

to fulfill the Jewish law of presenting the firstborn son to the Lord and offering sacrifices for purification. 

Mary and Joseph are poor, so they only are able to present the two pigeons that are the minimum sacrifice. 

Yet, they are obedient parents of faith, 

obedient both to God and to the Laws of Moses.

———

However, before Mary and Joseph can present Jesus 

and do the official ceremony, 

we are introduced to Simeon. 

He was a righteous and devout man who was eagerly awaiting the consolation of Israel, 

or the coming of the Messiah. 

The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would see the Messiah, the Anointed One

before he died. 

Simeon's faith and expectation were rooted in the promises and prophecies of the Hebrew Scriptures.

God’s word meant a lot to him.

Simeon is presented as a trustworthy character, 

In that he’s a messenger who delivers a message 

that is honest and dependable.

We can trust him because he is filled with the Holy Spirit, 

who reveals to him what he needs to know, and leads him to the child.

This is no chance encounter, but something that is divinely ordained.

And Simeon is willing to be led, and has his eyes wide open 

to respond to the Spirit’s promptings.

As Simeon cradles Jesus in his arms, 

he praises God and declares that his eyes have seen God's salvation, 

which was prepared in the presence of all peoples (verse 30-31). 

Simeon recognizes that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah 

who would bring salvation not only to the Jewish people but to all nations.

————-

Next we encounter Anna, an octogenarian widow who perhaps lived a “relatively uneventful life” up until that moment.

She’s described as a prophet who had spent her life in the temple, 

fasting and praying, showing tireless dedication to God,

focussed on just one thing: God’s salvation.

Like Simeon, she too was eagerly waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem and the coming of the Messiah. 

When she saw Jesus, she gave thanks to God and began to spread the news of his arrival to all who were waiting for the redemption of Israel.

Along with the Shepherds, she was one of the first evangelists.

—-

One of the things I like about this passage is that it reminds us that it takes a village to raise a child. 

We need that cloud of witnesses, 

the wider company of persons that help out ,

Support the parents,

and recognize the gifts of children.

And really all children in our care are a gift to the world!

These elderly, wonderful people also have the courage to speak the truth of difficulties that children will encounter! 

They dare to say the hard and sometimes harsh truths which we need to hear.

These wise seniors remind us of the passed-on wisdom out there, 

we need to use it, take advantage of it, and share it!

==

Simeon and Anna represent faithful expectation 

and waiting for the coming of the Messiah. 

Their devotion to God and knowledge of the Scriptures allowed them to recognize and proclaim Jesus as the long-awaited Savior.

Just as Simeon and Anna waited with faithful expectation 

for the coming of the Messiah, 

we too are called to wait with faith and expectation for the coming of Christ. 

As we wait, we should be like Simeon and Anna, 

constantly seeking God and studying His Word. 

Like them, we should have faith that God will fulfill His promises 

and that God is always at work in our lives, even in the waiting.

Imagine a fragile candle in a dark room, flickering gently.

This image symbolizes Simeon's patient expectation and unwavering faith. Just as the candle illuminates the darkness, 

Simeon's faith shines through the uncertainties of his time, 

echoing the eternal hope we share in Christ.

Simeon's patient expectation and righteous life demonstrate his deep trust in God's promise of salvation.Like Simeon, we are called to maintain a faithful expectation of God's promises, trusting His timing and purpose 

even when circumstances seem uncertain.

Or perhaps:

Picture a blooming flower surrounded by withered plants. 

The vibrant colours and the delicate fragrance of the blooming flower represent Anna's persistent devotion, 

radiating hope and life amidst the hardships and challenges faced by those around her. 

Just as the flower's beauty stands out, 

Anna's faithfulness shines through, 

inspiring others to abound in worship and devotion to God.

Anna's steadfast devotion and unceasing prayers demonstrate her unwavering hope in God's faithfulness and thus:Anna serves as an inspiring model of how our persistent devotion can bear witness to God's work in our lives and in the lives of others.

But as we all know, waiting and watching for God is not easy.

Sometimes, God seems so distant and far away, 

and waiting can be annoying and frustrating. 

So often, as James Howell writes:

“We don’t like to wait: we want to move, fill the time, stay in control, 

rush to the next titillation- and in our inability to be still and know that God is God, we miss him,” 

Because “God’s not a possession you nab and cling to now. 

God’s like a lover at some distance. 

You are filled with longing- and the longing is sweet, 

delightful in anticipation, rippling with eagerness.”

Waiting for God is a Holy Task, not easy, but rewarding.

And so in a way we are Simeon and Anna; 

“we have seen God’s salvation in the assembled community in worship; services where there are only a handful of people, 

and services where the church is full, 

“we have held Jesus in our hands in the bread” at the Lord’s Table 

and we have been fed by readings, prayers, hymns and sermons.

As we can be inspired by the people of faith who have gone before us and exemplified the transformative power of encountering Jesus,

We too are called to witness to God's faithfulness and redemption (Luke 2:39-40),

By sharing our faith with friends and neighbours alike.

We should apply the example of Simeon and Anna to our daily lives. 

We should eagerly await the fulfillment of God's plans in our lives, 

trusting that His timing is right.

—

Simeon and Anna's unwavering faith teaches us the value of waiting 

with hope and trusting in God's promises. 

Their example reminds us that God's plans are worth waiting for, 

even when faced with uncertainty.

May we follow in their footsteps, trusting in God's faithfulness 

and praising Him in every season of life.

As we do so, may our lives bear witness to the redeeming power of Christ, pointing others to the hope and salvation found in Him.

---

Source: Feasting on the Word: William Herzog Jr.