Seeing God Face To Face
Stories
Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit
Series IV, Cycle B
Object:
Seeing God Face To Face
Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, "Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation." (vv. 25-30)
In Guidepost magazine, Henry Carter tells of being a minister at a home for emotionally disturbed children. On Christmas Eve, he was working on his Christmas sermon when the news came of a crisis. Most of the children had gone home for the holiday, but a few still remained. The children who remained generally had a negative reaction to the others being gone. This time it was Tommy who was struggling. He had crawled under a bed and refused to come out.
Standing by the bed, Henry tried to coax Tommy out by talking about the brightly colored tree at the church and the packages waiting for him underneath it. Tommy didn't respond at all.
Henry then dropped to his knees and lifted the bedspread to look underneath the bed. He could see Tommy now. He could pull Tommy out, but that wouldn't keep him out. Henry told Tommy about the special dinner that night, and the stocking with his name on it.
Tommy still said nothing. Left with little alternative, Henry got on his stomach and wriggled under the bed. The bed springs snagged his suit, and his cheek was pressed against the floor. Then Henry told Tommy about the wreath in the church, the candles in the windows, and the song the children would sing at the service. Tommy remained unimpressed, and Henry had run out of ideas. They both laid underneath the bed in silence.
Henry then said, "You know, Tommy, it's kind of uncomfortable here. Why don't we get out and stand up?"
And they did. Then Henry realized he had just written his Christmas sermon. Like Henry, God had called us from above. He pleaded with us to return his love, and when we wouldn't listen, God leaned a little closer and looked under the bed by sending prophets, priests, and lawgivers.
But it wasn't until Christmas that God stooped to earth, slid under the bed so to speak, and came to us face to face.
In the scripture, Simeon looked upon the Christ Child and knew God had come to him face to face. The Messiah had come to the Jew and the non-Jew alike, so he prayed, "Lord, now I can die in peace! As you promised me, I have seen the Savior you have given to all people."
Before leaving the Christmas season behind, you, too, are invited to look into the face of the Christ Child again and experience the same peace as Simeon.
Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, "Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation." (vv. 25-30)
In Guidepost magazine, Henry Carter tells of being a minister at a home for emotionally disturbed children. On Christmas Eve, he was working on his Christmas sermon when the news came of a crisis. Most of the children had gone home for the holiday, but a few still remained. The children who remained generally had a negative reaction to the others being gone. This time it was Tommy who was struggling. He had crawled under a bed and refused to come out.
Standing by the bed, Henry tried to coax Tommy out by talking about the brightly colored tree at the church and the packages waiting for him underneath it. Tommy didn't respond at all.
Henry then dropped to his knees and lifted the bedspread to look underneath the bed. He could see Tommy now. He could pull Tommy out, but that wouldn't keep him out. Henry told Tommy about the special dinner that night, and the stocking with his name on it.
Tommy still said nothing. Left with little alternative, Henry got on his stomach and wriggled under the bed. The bed springs snagged his suit, and his cheek was pressed against the floor. Then Henry told Tommy about the wreath in the church, the candles in the windows, and the song the children would sing at the service. Tommy remained unimpressed, and Henry had run out of ideas. They both laid underneath the bed in silence.
Henry then said, "You know, Tommy, it's kind of uncomfortable here. Why don't we get out and stand up?"
And they did. Then Henry realized he had just written his Christmas sermon. Like Henry, God had called us from above. He pleaded with us to return his love, and when we wouldn't listen, God leaned a little closer and looked under the bed by sending prophets, priests, and lawgivers.
But it wasn't until Christmas that God stooped to earth, slid under the bed so to speak, and came to us face to face.
In the scripture, Simeon looked upon the Christ Child and knew God had come to him face to face. The Messiah had come to the Jew and the non-Jew alike, so he prayed, "Lord, now I can die in peace! As you promised me, I have seen the Savior you have given to all people."
Before leaving the Christmas season behind, you, too, are invited to look into the face of the Christ Child again and experience the same peace as Simeon.
