The Presentation of the Child at the temple

Luke 2:21-39

"Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord"

The young couple approach the temple to offer a sacrifice to ransom their child. The law requires that each first born male is to be given for the service of God. The sacrifice of a pair of young pigeons or turtledoves ritualistically satisfies the debt.

As they approach the temple; a center of activity which mixes awe and wonder at the presence of the most high in the Holy of Holies, with a certain open-air bazaar earthiness as merchants ply their trade within the shadow of the walls, providing the various animals called for in the temple rituals. There is the noise of middle eastern barter ringing out as the business of man is contracted in order to proceed to the business of satisfying the requirements of holy law.

The heat thickens the air which is liberally peppered with clouds of dust kicked up by the traffic of many feet. An old man sits on a low chair in a shaded bit of wall by the entrance to the women's court. This is the open area within the first wall of the temple complex. His face is brown and lined with the years he has lived. He looks penetratingly at each face that crosses "his" entrance. His head nods, and his lips move as though he were in converse, but he poses his speech to no one in particular. His eyebrows arch and his animated hands show that he silently speaks on a subject of no little importance to him. He stops in mid-gesture, drops his head and covers his eyes. His head begins to shake from left to right in a slow arching movement. He breathes out a long, considered, sigh. He lifts his head, his hands outstretched, palms raised as in supplication. His tear-filled eyes meet the eyes of a young woman with a newborn child held close. Her husband is looking about him at the impressive architecture of the temple precinct. His expression is a mixture of awe and apprehension. The smell of roasted flesh permeates the air.

The old man, Simeon by name, rises slowly, painfully from the low stool. His eyes have not left Mary's. He wipes at his eyes with the back of his hand. The sadness and confusion that permeated his frame only moments ago, is disappearing in waves. He looks down at the child. His gaze lingers. His eyes flutter shut for a moment. He nods his head once, twice, and speaks in a hushed tone. "Adonai, now I can leave, in peace. You fulfilled your promise. You let these eyes see salvation. He will be for all, he will bring truth to Gentiles and Glory to your chosen people." He addressed Mary. "Your child will be a force that moves through Israel, men will rise or fall because of him. Not all will want to hear what he has to say. He will break your heart."

The nativity

Luke 2:8-14

The night is clear and cold. It is a cloudless night and the sky is brilliant with stars. The muted bleating of sheep lulls the sleepy shepherd Avram like a lullaby. His brother is asleep a short distance away, his cloak wrapped around him to keep out the chill. His head is bowed down, his forehead almost touching his knees which are pulled up close to his body to keep him warm.

Avram thinks to himself how nice it would be to close his eyes for just a moment. It is his turn to watch. He yawns a long langorous yawn. His eyes flutter shut; for just a moment. He feels himself starting to drift off to sleep and starts suddenly. He forces his eyes open and is sure that he is dreaming. There standing before him is a beautiful young man all dressed in brilliant garments. Are they white? Yellow? Rose? He can't tell. He sees the man as clearly as if it were day. But, it is the middle of the night. How can that be? He is sure that he has fallen asleep and makes the effort to wake himself. He squeezes his eyes tightly shut and then forces them wide open. The young man is still there. If he is not asleep, then he must have lost his senses. This frightens the young shepherd.

The shining youth holds out an open hand above the head of Avram and speaks. "Don't be afraid. Listen closely. I am a messenger sent to bring you good news of great joy."
The angel's voice calms Avram and replaces his fear with curiosity.
"Today, in the city of David, the one for whom you have waited patiently is born. He is the anointed one. He is Adonai."

The sheep stopped their bleating. The absence of that dependable sound seemed to startle Avram more than anything that had transpired so far that night. He listened. Nothing. He shook his head trying to clear whatever stoppage had temporarily deafened him. No, wait.....I can still hear the breeze dancing through the bushes. No, wait........it's not the breeze, it's....voices! Avram squints and cocks his head to one side attempting to will the sound into clearer focus.

The angel's eyes crinkle as a broad smile washes across his shining face. And in answer to Avram's unspoken prayer, to hear more clearly, he slowly begins to form with his lips the words that are being sung.

"Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."

Avram can hear it now. They sing it over and over. Such beautiful music unlike any heard by human ears!

Then, all at once, it is quiet once again.

The angel turns to Avram and says "You're having a tough time believing all of this. I understand. This will be a sign for you to know that I speak the truth. Go into the town and seek out the child who was born in a stable this night. You will find him. He will be wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. When you see all of this as I have described it, remember my words and know that they are true."

Then Avram was alone again, in the midst of a field filled with bleating sheep, and his snoring brother.

Another mystery.

Please explore. Take a walk in the field. Feel the thick wool of the sheep as they rub against your legs. They have a certain earthy smell. Look up at the sky. Do you see that star just over the rise that seems to stand out tonight? Is Avram's dog making sure that you behave around the flock? Talk to Avram. Look at how the experience has affected him. What does his voice sound like? Be there when he wakes his brother and recounts what has happened. Follow them into the town. Find yourself at the entrance to the stable, with all if it's smells and sounds. Does the prophecy of the angel register on the face of Avram's brother when they find the babe in swaddling clothes lying in a manger? Spend time at the place where the story of our salvation began.

Be Creative!

In meditation, God shares with us some measure of the joy of creation.

We take a framework, a mystery, to "center" ourselves within; and then we set out to discover the unknown aspects of something we claim to already know.

Be quiet. Be attentive. Be open.

To some extent, you may be attempting to "create" a scene based on the imagery of the mystery.

That's a good starting point.

Next, you need to be willing to take a chance to be led by the hand.

You are placing yourself in the presence of God.

He does not ignore those who approach Him with hunger to know him more perfectly.

But, He is not predictable.

Be prepared to be taken off on tangental flights of imagination.

Do not try to "control" the experience.

You may find encompassing depths in little details that arise for your consideration.

Empty yourself, so that you might be filled with His grace and light.

The Visitation

Luke 1: 39-45

"When I was a child, I thought as a child. Now, I am a woman and must think and act as a woman."

Mary is hurrying on her way to the hill town in Judah where her cousin Elizabeth and her cousin's husband Zechariah live.

"She can't be. She's old. She must be mistaken. It's simply impossible!" She stops herself. She looks down at her still flat tummy that just gave her "a little tickle".

Impossible.

Seems as if she is going to have to work on her definition of "impossible".

Her mother had gotten word that very day that Elizabeth, who was thought to be quite beyond the years of child-bearing, is with child.

Mary impulsively asked her mother for leave to go and visit her cousin. There is plenty to do around the house. There always is. But, this time, the resistance that Mary had expected from her mother is not there. Anns eyes are sparkling with the joy that is filling her heart after hearing the good news from her cousin.

"Yes, of course you may go, and please bring her our love and good wishes."

Mary puts together a hasty bundle for the trip.

She packs some flatbread sweetened with honey, a handful of dark olives from the earthen jar in the kitchen, a couple of dates and a small bit of sheeps milk cheese. She also brings a clay flask of water from the well, and a handfull of wildflowers that have been sitting on the window sill, patiently drying ever since she picked them in the field at the edge of town. Her mother adds a bit of newly woven cloth as a gift for the child who is to come. Mary scoops up her parcel, rises on tip-toe to give her mother a warm kiss on the cheek, and then she is out the door.

The evening is warm and dry. The road is kicking up a low-hanging cloud of dust with every hurried step she takes. The noises of the village are fading behind her, and the stillness of the road ahead begins to take precedence. In just a little while, all she can hear is her breath, her steps, a gentle breeze moving through the trees and scrub brush off to either side of the road, and the occasional bird being startled out of their complacent little roadside nesting places as she hurries by.

Impossible.

That's why she will be able to understand. What I've heard today is impossible. What has happened to me is impossible. What has happened to her is impossible. What the man said my child (my child!) will be is IMPOSSIBLE!
Things like this do not happen. But if they do not, then how do I explain any of this? If I don't talk to someone about this whole business, and soon, I know that I will burst!

I'm worried about how I'm going to tell Joseph. He's a good man, but how do I explain this to him without sounding like a lunatic! Or worse, someone with something to hide. Yes, of course I'm afraid! I did nothing wrong, but people in town will not want to understand any of this. They will make assumptions. They will talk in hushed tones when they think I cannot hear. From there it is only a matter of time before the momentum that a whispered half-truth gains as it moves from one ear to another will cause this impossible reality to crash into me head on and burst my quiet life into a thousand noisy pieces.

It is dark and still when Mary finally arrives. She is still some distance from her cousin's house. She calls out "Elizabeth! It's me Mary!"

There is no reply.

She calls out again "Elizab..."

The door opens and light spills out onto the street. The old familiar form of her cousin is traced in light from inside the house.

"Is that my Anna's little girl?"

Mary breaks into a run.

Elizabeth steps out into the street, her arms held out wide. She scoops up the child who buries her head in the folds of her robe.

"Mother told me that you are to have a child, and I had to come and see you."

Elizabeth steps back, holds the child at arms length, and with a smile that crinkles her eyes into a dozen little furrows says "Blessed are you!" She stops herself. The look on her face changes to one of amazement. "And, Blessed is your child!"

Mary's eyes open wide. She catches her breath and holds it.

"How is it that the mother of my lord should come to me? When I heard your voice, the child I carry leapt for joy!" Her eyes immediately filled with tears, and she once again, pressed Mary to her breast.

We've shared another "moment" along the way of the Joyful chaplet. Don't leave it where I dropped it. Explore the place. Feel the cool of the evening. Follow the two of them as they walk arm and arm into the house. See the smile on Zechariah's face as he sees Elizabeth enter with Mary. Hear the laughter, feel the warmth of the oil lamp on the stand that throws a dim glow about the room. See it's reflection in the glistening eyes of all in the room. Listen in on the conversation that ensues between the two women as they shoo Zechariah away while they indulge in some "girl talk".

God's greatness dazzles us with it's simplicity. A pair of women, chat the night away. Neither of them is fully aware of the magnitude of the time they are sharing. The future has taken root in the present.

The hand of God has set into motion His plan for the revelation of the kingdom.