Waiting on the Lord

Luke 2:22-40:

When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord, and to offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord. Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying: “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.” The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted –and you yourself a sword will pierce– so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem. When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of 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.

Blog:

The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple is one of the Joyful Mysteries of God (along with the Annunciation, Visitation, Nativity, and Finding of Jesus in the Temple).  It is a sobering reminder to us all that God tells us to “Be still and know that I’m God” (Psalm 46:10).  In the digital age, instant gratification has moved front-and-center for many.  We have moved a bit away from a “be patient” to an “a-la-carte” society where the appetite for “instant” has permeated such places as food, books, magazines, internet, news, sports, videos, music, social posts, Family, Friends, consumer goods, etc.  The frantic pace of the digital world is enough to make most of us dizzy…  Now, imagine Simeon and Anna waiting in the Temple for the Promised Messiah possibly for most of their adult years (and they were both very old when they met Jesus).  You see, sometimes we expect God to show-up “instantly” and attend to our needs when we have them.  If that works with the internet, then why wouldn’t it work with God?  But, as we all know, that’s not how it works with God.  We must wait on the Lord and, while we want His response(s) to our Prayers and pleas in our time, His response(s) will come in His time.  Everything that He does for and/or through us is for our Good (even if we can’t see or understand that).  Prayers can seem to go on “unanswered” indefinitely, but the Truth is that God answers each and every one of our Prayers in His Ways (not ours’) giving us what we really need most.  Prayer is one of our Five Stones that (like David did with Goliath) we use in our sling to fight the devil.  We are simply Called to “Ask” (Pray) and then leave the rest up to Him.  It’s the only way that we’ll ever truly find Rest in this crazy, digital world that we’re Walking in.