The Nunc Dimittis
Children's sermon
Object:
none
Good morning! How many of you go to school? (Let them
answer.) I remember when I was going to school at your age and as
the months passed and it got closer and closer to the day we
would be dismissed for summer vacation, I would get more and more
anxious for the day to come. When the last day of school finally
arrived, I couldn't wait for that final bell to ring and I could
begin my summer vacation. Do any of you feel that way when the
last day of school arrives? (Let them answer.)
The Gospel tells us about a man who felt like that about
seeing Jesus. This man's name was Simeon, and he had been waiting
many years to see Jesus. God had told him that he would see the
Messiah before he died, and he had been waiting and waiting. When
Joseph and Mary brought the baby Jesus into the temple for a
ceremony, Simeon knew that Jesus was the Messiah, the one that
God had promised would come and save all people. He took the baby
in his arms and said, "Master, now you are dismissing your
servant in peace." By that he meant that he was now ready to die
because the day he had been waiting for was here. God had
promised that he would see Jesus and now he had seen him and
could die in peace. (If your church uses the Nunc Dimittis in a
liturgy, you can explain that this is the Scripture that has
given us these words.)
Yesterday was Christmas. We celebrated the birth of Jesus
and we, like Simeon, are very happy that Jesus has been born and
that he is part of our lives too. You are not old and ready to
die like Simeon, but are you happy that Jesus was born? (Let them
answer.) Yes, of course we are all very happy. Let's tell God how
happy we are.
Dear Father in Heaven: We are all, like Simeon, very happy that
You sent Jesus into the world to save all of us from our sins.
Because of him, we can all depart this world in peace whenever
You call us to be with You in Heaven. Amen.
