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22 Then when the days stipulated by Moses for purification were complete, they took him up to Jerusalem to offer him to God 23 as commanded in God's Law: "Every male who opens the womb shall be a holy offering to God," 24 and also to sacrifice the "pair of doves or two young pigeons" prescribed in God's Law. 25 In 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. 26 The Holy Spirit had shown him that he would see the Messiah of God before he died. 27 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, 28 Simeon took him into his arms and blessed God: 29 God, you can now release your servant; release me in peace as you promised. 30 With my own eyes I've seen your salvation; 31 it's now out in the open for everyone to see: 32 A God-revealing light to the non-Jewish nations, and of glory for your people Israel. 33 Jesus' father and mother were speechless with surprise at these words. 34 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 - 35 the pain of a sword-thrust through you - But the rejection will force honesty, as God reveals who they really are. 36 Anna 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 37 and a widow for eighty-four. She never left the Temple area, worshiping night and day with her fastings and prayers. 38 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 When they finished everything required by God in the Law, they returned to Galilee and their own town, Nazareth. 40 There the child grew strong in body and wise in spirit. And the grace of God was on Him. (Luke 2:22-40 The Message)
Happy Belated Christmas Eve, ConCafe Family! I don't know how this message was left paused and not sent, but here's a later copy. Please read it as if you were actually reading it on that night! And may this day and night be truly special for you, dear Friend, as we make room in our hearts and lives for the arrival of God's precious gift to us! May He fill us with joy and hope; and may His presence in us fill all corners of our lives with light and glory! I share a Prayer Update through this that came from a dear reader: "This is the latest on my friend, Liz. She was transferred to a long term acture care facility in Cypress." She almost died in transport; but was stablized and underwent a bronchoscopy sometime today to see why her cough isn't improving. The procedure revealed Liz has a very severe infection around her throat and trach site. The doctor cleaned and scraped off what eh could and is changing her antibiotics. Pray that Liz being to show improvement within the next couple of days. "It just seems to be one thing after another, and we're tired; I can't even imagine how exhausted Mom must be." So, please join others in praying for Liz' health to improve soon. Thank you for your time and prayers!
Every church, no matter what brand it may be, has its special saints. You know who they are, though they may not. They're people whose very nature just blesses you, and many times they are not even remotely aware of their ability to bless. One dear lady in one of my churches was a nursing home resident. And everytime I went to see her I prayed as I struggle to think of what I would even talk about with her. God answered my prayers because I just had to listen to her and follow along; and before long I was saying a prayer with her thankful she had done all the blessing! This passage mentions two such saints in the big church; First Jerusalem, aka The Temple. The first is a gentleman named Simeon about whom we only know what this passage tells us; He was a righteous, Spirit-filled man, a person of prayer, who lived an expectant life awaiting the "consolation" or help of Israel. Was he a priest? We don't know. Was he an old man? We don't know. We get the idea that he was given ancient painters who painted him as we see in today's graphic above, but honestly, we have no idea of his age, though what he says in verse 29 and 30, we assume he's old and awaiting his departure/release from this earth. Simeon knew what the scriptures said about this coming baby and all He would do, and since he is led by the Holy Spirit, says the profound things that he says, "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 not out in the open for everyone to see: A God-revealing light to the non-Jewish nations, and of glory for your people Israel." Simeon then goes on and says these words to Mary, "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." His statement has proven true. Jesus' presence proved the failing of many people as well as the recovery of many. The failures have been those who sought to have Jesus murdered, as well as many who have rejected Him. Jesus has since then been both "misunderstood and contradicted." And His suffering and death did indeed "thrust a sword" into Mary as she surely, as a mother normally does, suffered the same pain as her children.
The other saint was Anna, whose office was that of prophetess. Of her, we known her family and a bit of her own personal life; she was very old; she had been married for only seven years and lived as a widow for eighty-four years. She was a woman devoted to God and God's Temple, for she never left the Temple; her passion was worshiping God day and night, praying and fasting; and she was also led by the Holy Spirit for when the child Jesus was brought into the Temple, Anna begins to sing an anthem of praise to God, and begins to share what she already knew about the Messiah child to all who were there along with her, expectantly awaiting the liberation of Jerusalem. This was a very special, long-awaited day, that many had anticipated but never saw, and these two saints, who both may have been on in years, saw God's promise happen during their lifetimes, and we know it was a God-thing.
Joseph and Mary fulfilled everything required by Church law and returned home; blessed, not stressed, fulfilled and faithful, ready to serve God in the important job of rearing the child right. The closing verse says they did a good job, for "There the child grew strong in body and wise in spirit. And the grace of God was on Him."
Nellie and I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Safe, Sacred, and Super New Year! I will be taking some time from writing this until after New Year's Day. I urge you to continue to read and study your Bibles, pray, and worship the Lord; seek mission opportunities to help others come to full knowledge of Jesus.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Pray for one another; pray for yourselves.
Receive my blessings of hope and wholeness,
Pastor Eradio Valverde
