December 28 “Comfort – Give Gladly” *Luke 2.22-40
Pastor Jacqueline Hines
Award winning musician Stevie Wonder wrote ‘Music is a world
within itself with a language we all understand. We can feel it all over. We
can feel it all over.‘
The sound of music is God’s source of healing and
empowerment, so today as we weave music through this sermon, in this the final
sermon of the “Comfort my people” series, you will be able to hear God
speaking.
When I visited Israel and walked where Jesus walked, a group
of elementary school children were passing by all dressed in their school
uniforms. They were traveling with armed
guards and they were singing a song in unison as we walked side by side in the
hills of Galilee. It was not only a beautiful sound but a sound that sprinkled
peace and happiness into the atmosphere.
Put yourself in the hills of first century Palestine when
Jesus was born. In the distance you can hear the sounds perhaps of workers
chanting energetically to make routine work more pleasant. [#1 Hebrew worker song]
Pioneers all work as one,
Work as one all pioneers.
Hechalutz lema'an avodah
avodah lema'an hechalutz
The second verse shared the hope of peace. [#2 Peace….]
Peace shall be for all the world,
All the world shall be for peace.
Hashalom lema'an ha'amin
Ha'amin lema'an hashalom
And the chorus was just for the fun of it. [ #3 zum gali…]
Zum, gali-gali-gali, Zum gali-gali,
Zum, gali-gali-gali, Zum gali-gali,
Mary and Joseph had prepared all their lives for having a
child. For 42 generations their families brought their babies to Temple and presented
them to God. Now we in the church are about the 100th generation still
bring our children to the holy place to be presented to God – to be blessed and
to be a blessing to others. For, God has a purpose and plan that righteousness
might prevail.
According to the law, the rules, the guidance of elders, and
the wisdom of God, Mary and Joseph also gave an offering when they presented
their firstborn. The brought a sacrifice.
One of the most memorable baptisms we have had at Bethel was when a couple gathered
a dozen box loads of food for the Spring City food pantry as a part of their baptism
celebration. We all gave gladly that day in ways that brought comfort and cheer
to our hearts. Every family has its own way of celebrating and sacrificing on
behalf of our children. We see it at Bethel every day.
For Mary and Joseph in the first century, a pair of young pigeons
or a pair of turtle-doves were the only birds permitted to be offered in
sacrifice. ( Leviticus
1:14 ; 5:7 ; 14:22 ; Leviticus 15:14 Leviticus 15:29 , etc.). We can
think of the turtle dove as meaningful for Mary and Joseph because these tasty
birds had a habit of pairing and mating for life. Faithfulness is a habit and
this habit in the animal kingdom represented purity and was considered a very
good offering for a sacrificial meal. The turtle dove was also a migratory bird
and, no doubt, brought a variety of seeds from a variety of places. So
everywhere they went, they brought new seeds and new opportunities for planting
and growth. ( Jeremiah
8:7 ; Jeremiah 2:11-12)
The unique cooing sound of the turtle-dove [ # 4 turtle-doves green] has its own quality and
ability to keep our attention, to touch the soul and to comfort hearts. In the
same way, each of our voices comes with its own sound, rhythm, and blessed
purpose.
Mercifully as always, the rules for Mary and Joseph were that
if you could not get your hands on a turtle dove, a regular pigeon was considered
acceptable, [#5 blue pigeons ] because they were not as hard to
come. This mercy was especially for those in a season of transition, challenge,
when resources were low and uncertainty high.
God knows each of our circumstances. Even on a day when we
have very little, we still have blessings to count and we do well to enter into
God’s courts with at least thanksgiving and into God’s gates with a reason to
praise. We will always have something to give, something that
straightens something out and builds something up for the good of all. Something
that brings comfort as only God can provide.
When we focus on God and less on ourselves and our
circumstances, we can even give gladly. Comedian Bob Hope’s thoughts can be
appreciated here. He said, “Laughter is an instant vacation. Giving is a
two-week cruise with pay.”
[ #6 Barb
and Ron Moore - Thank you, Lord]
From the biblical perspective, giving is a lifestyle. As
humans we are wired to give, and under the best of circumstances, we give
gladly, for God loves a cheerful giver.
We give gladly when we remember, this life is not about us.
It is about living lives that help the world to see Christ in us.
[ #7 El Shaddai
- Lori Corbett]
Every day we see God acting in spectacularly precise ways. The
Spirit moves with an exactness and eagerness that you totally appreciate once
you have experienced it. The Spirit spoke to Simeon, letting him know he would
live long enough to see the promised savior born. God spoke words of assurance to comfort Simeon.
We talk to ourselves all the time; that should make it easy to appreciate the
fact that God can speak to us, too. God’s word was good news to a man who scriptures
say was a devout and righteous man and the Spirit rested on him [ #8… Luke 2. 25 Simeon….was
righteous and devout, …. and the Holy Spirit rested on him.]
Simeon was a seasoned citizen. He had done all he could to
pass the mantle on to the next generation; now that he saw God’s promises
fulfilled with the birth of the savior, he could leave the young people in God’s
hands, just as the older generation does today.
Anna was another senior citizen who waited for God to bless
God’s people, especially the generation coming behind her. She believed God had
many ways of saving, and Jesus was the most important of all. Verse 37 tells us
that she never left the temple but worshipped there with fasting and prayer
night and day.
[ #9 Luke 2. 37 She never left the temple but
worshipped there with fasting and prayer night and day. ] We have people at Bethel who never seem to
leave this sacred space. They are always here serving and believing, even
fasting and praying.
Throughout the scriptures the Holy Spirit is called the comforter,
bringing truth and guidance that enables us to do God’s will. God’s will brings peace where there is no peace.
Anna knew that peace and she knew it was a peace that could dwell in every
heart that wanted it.
[ #10 Peace on earth – Elaine O’Conner and Jessica
Bennett]
As the new year dawns, we can get excited about how and when
and where and to whom the Holy Spirit will speak and how the Spirit will move in
us and around us. We can get excited about the precious truths that will emerge
for our comfort. We can cheer in anticipation of the places God will lead us,
the new faces, and fresh ideas about giving and living this life in
righteousness.
One of the most common New Year’s songs [ #11 "auld lang syne" is "times gone
by." ] is "auld lang syne" translated
"times gone by." It prompts us to make the transition into the new
year with a melody in our heart.
[#12 Allen Collins selections on the chimes]
The New Year brings thoughts of times gone by so that we will
reflect and remember, so that we will be inspired to live our lives well. As
the year 2015 ticks away, should old acquaintances be forgotten, may it not be
God that we forget. Rather let us together take as the songs says the “cup of
kindness, yet.” [#13 cup of kindness] May we give our all and may we give gladly.
May we give until something is straightened out and something wonderful is
built up in our life. [# 14 wise men traveling to the manger. ] Amen.
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