Dec. 25 - With arms outstretched
Contributed by
Shirley H. Showalter, president of Goshen College on Tuesday December 24
Scripture
Luke 2:22-40 - When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord," and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons."
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, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel."
And the child's father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, "This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed and a sword will pierce your own soul too."
There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.
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Devotion
The image of advent as a time when the everlasting arms embrace us brought to my mind all those I love who have lost someone they loved in the last year. Because Christmas and New Year are so closely linked in time, Advent thoughts can turn naturally to a review of the past, even as we welcome the babe of Bethlehem anew.
All of us know the joy, the relief, of being held when we can no longer hold our own pain or anger. Sometimes we fight the arms of others, afraid to give in to love. But the message of Christmas is always the same: "Fear not!"
The arms that embrace us in Advent are the arms of the One who embraces us through the gift of the Son. On this Christmas day, let us give in to love and rest in the arms of God, as Jesus rested in his mother's arms. Let us give over our griefs to the babe whose sacrifice absorbs our pain and our tears.
Now is the time, with God's arms wrapped firmly about us, to ask forgiveness of any we have wronged and to grant it to those who have wronged us. Now is the time to take courage to speak what the Prince of Peace would have us speak. Now is the time to know without a shadow of a doubt that nothing æ no terror, no pain, no loss can ever separate us from the One who loved us first and best.
Thank you for walking with us through the Advent season. Goshen College's daily devotion series will begin again on Ash Wednesday and continue during Lent.
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