Preached by the the Reverend Canon Kati L. Houts at the Sunshine Cathedral MCC on Sunday, December 31, 2006.
Colossians 2:9-12
9The full Expression of God lives in the A nointed One — the Christ — in all of ‘Who He Is’. 10This full Expression of God is given to you in the Anointed One, whose mastery extends over every power and authority. 11The Christ-anointing removes your ego-nature, just as circumcision removes flesh from the body. 12That’s what baptism is all about: being buried like Christ, and rising to new life because of your faith in the very power of God that raised Jesus from the dead.
Luke 2:25-35
25Simeon, a good and spiritual man who was waiting for God to rescue Israel, 26had received God’s promise that he would not die until he had seen the Anointed One, the Messiah. 27He felt compelled to go to the Temple where he encountered the parents of Jesus bringing their baby as required by the Law. 28Simeon took the child into his arms, saying: 29“Sovereign One, as you have promised your servant, now I can die in peace. 30With my own eyes I have seen your salvation, 31and soon all people will see what you have prepared: 32a light to illuminate all people and to bring honor to your people Israel.”
(33The child’s parents were amazed by all this!)
34Simeon continued, blessing them and saying to Mary: “This child of yours is destined to cause many in Israel to fall and others to rise. He will be misunderstood and contradicted, and some will turn their backs to him — 35your own heart will know pain as though stabbed by a sharp dagger — but many people will see themselves honestly as God is revealed to them.”
If there is light in the soul,
There will be beauty in the person.
If there is beauty in the person,
There will be harmony in the house.
If there is harmony in the house,
There will be order in the nation.
If there is order in the nation,
There will be peace in the world. [Chinese Proverb]
Here we are on New Year’s Eve about to celebrate the coming of another new year as well as an end to the past year’s accomplishments, challenges, changes, and experiences that may have brought some goodness in our lives or presented us with trials that were at times seemingly unbearable but with God’s help, we survived them.
The last page on our calendar is about to be turned. A new calendar will take its place. We stand at the apex of a new time. We are in the place of what was and what will be. This in between place is moist and fertile; a ripe and amazing place to stand. And, whether we want it to be or not, we are always visited when we stand at such places by important questions that knock on the door of our souls and demand that we respond. What worked in the age now past? What didn’t? What needs to be left behind? What
should be brought along? How do we discern between what is beneficial and what is not? Yes, we stand in the fertile place of our souls; ready to make decisions that will shape our journey in this life.
In our gospel reading, we find Simeon declaring Jesus as the salvation for all of humanity. He is the light that shines within us. Because of him, we can make the necessary decisions in our lives that will keep us on that illumined path that God has set before us. The hand of Christ is there to lift us up and help us to live the good life. As we stand at the beginning of a new year, let us be reminded that Jesus is right there with us, helping us to discern between what is beneficial and what is not. With him by our side, we will be able to shape our journey in this life with the promise of peace, joy, and love. Jesus is our hope of a favorable future under God’s direction.
Also, in the reading, Simeon says that Jesus will be the cause of many who will fall as well as the cause for many who will rise. It is the hand of Jesus which lifts a person out of the old life and into the new, out of that which keeps them out of relationship with God and into glory.
The wonders of hope, peace, joy and love are brought together in the coming of Christ. And yet his light is only available in the world if it is passed from each one of us to others. In this world, Jesus has no hands but our hands; no feet but out feet; no ears, eyes or mouth but ours. As we stand on the precipice of a new year, may we choose to share the light of Christ with all we meet. By doing so, we can help to bring light to another’s soul; enable them to see the beauty within themselves; help harmony to exist in people’s lives, which will allow order to dwell in the nation; and above all, share the peace of God with all the world. Happy New Year! Amen.
Loving God, as we enter into this new year, help us to make decisions which will lead us to your promise of an “abundant life”. As we open our hearts to you, may we also open our hearts to others — sharing your love, hope, joy, and peace. May this new year bring peace among nations, better governments for all countries, food, financial stability, homes, jobs, the safe return of all those who serve in the military and good health for people everywhere. We pray your will be done. Be with those who could not be with us here today because of illness, traveling or incarceration. We ask for your healing and blessings in our lives as we now affirm our love for you as together we say:
In this New Year we are revitalized by your love.
We begin this New Year by sharing your love with others.
We trust in your way to make the best of our lives.
We are a part of bringing peace to this world.
With your help, we can make a difference for this world.
And so it is. Amen.
Hope works in these ways: it looks for the good in people instead of harping on the worst; it discovers what can be done instead of grumbling about what cannot; it regards problems, large or small, as opportunities; it pushes ahead when it would be easy to quit; it “lights the candle” instead of cursing the darkness.” [Anonymous]
