Godly Waiting: A Sermon by Deacon Terry

​The Presentation of Jesus at the Temple is a significant event in the early life of Jesus Christ, as Fr. Harvey just read. This event is celebrated in Christian tradition as a moment of dedication and prophecy, highlighting the fulfillment of Jewish law and the recognition of Jesus as the Messiah.

According to the Law of Moses, a woman who had given birth to a son was considered ceremonially unclean for seven days, and the child was to be circumcised on the eighth day. Following this, the mother was to undergo a purification process for thirty-three days, after which she was to present her firstborn son to the Lord and offer a sacrifice.
So, here we are today, in the temple.

The presentation of Jesus at the Temple reinforces Joseph and Mary’s adherence to following Jewish law. The requirement to present the firstborn male and offer a sacrifice is rooted in Exodus, where God spared the firstborn of Israel during the Passover. This act of dedication served as a reminder of God's deliverance of the Jewish people and a symbol of consecration to the Lord.

During the presentation, two prophetic figures, Simeon and Anna, recognize Jesus as the Messiah.
And they are who I’d like to focus on today, because there is much we can learn from Simeon and Anna.
Simeon, is described as a righteous and devout man, he had been promised by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before seeing the Lord's Christ.
Upon seeing Jesus, Simeon takes Him in his arms and praises God, saying "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation”.
I did some googling and found that Simeon was 280 years old when he saw Jesus. As we just read, Simeon was awaiting the arrival of the Christ his whole life. That’s a long time to wait.

Anna, a prophetess and widow, also recognizes Jesus as the Redeemer. She gives thanks to God and speaks about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
Anna was a widow and she was 84 years old.
Again – that’s a long wait.
  As we dig into the inspiring story of Simeon and Anna, two devoted prophets who very patiently awaited the arrival of the Christ in the temple, we uncover some profound lessons that resonate with our lives today.
 
Their unwavering dedication to our Lord serves as a guiding light, illuminating the true essence of Godly waiting with Godly patience and Godly anticipation.
In the bustling temple, Simeon and Anna exemplified the art of waiting, demonstrating that it is far from a passive state of inactivity.
Rather, their waiting was a testament to their faith and commitment, as they continued to serve God and engage with their community.
While they longed for the fulfillment of God's promise, they did not allow their waiting to overshadow their present responsibilities.
Instead, they embraced their roles as prophets, offering guidance and solace to those who sought their wisdom and waited on the Lord.
I reflect on times in my own life of which I had to wait, and while waiting, I still needed to function.
Awaiting Santa Claus, Awaiting graduation, Awaiting our marriage, awaiting the birth of our children and grandchildren, awaiting the marriages of our children, awaiting ordination, awaiting the deaths of our parents.
Waiting – I’m sure you can all relate.
Waiting is a huge part of our lives – some, so exciting and some, not so.
Waiting creates excitement and it also creates anxiety and stress.
So much of waiting is out of our control – and we don’t like that if we are awaiting some sort of prognosis.
But we do like it, when it’s perceived something good is coming our way.
But we wait – we wait in expectation, we wait for what we are told will happen and we wait for what we want to happen.
We also wait for what God plans to happen.
Each can be different.
How do you wait?
Through the example of Simeon and Anna, we learn that Godly waiting is not about idleness, but an opportunity for growth and service.
It compels us to examine our own lives and ask ourselves, are we utilizing our waiting periods to strengthen our relationship with God and contribute to the betterment of others?
 
What are we doing while we are waiting?
Are we trusting in God or are we trying to control the waiting?
Have we ever given thought that waiting maybe God’s way of opening the doorway for us to listen to what he may have to say to us?
Maybe there is a reason we are to wait.
Maybe it’s an opportunity to listen and to speak to God.
Are we using our waiting time to serve or hide?
Just as Simeon and Anna continued to live purposefully while anticipating the Christ, we too are called to action during our own seasons of waiting.
Moreover, Simeon and Anna's unwavering faith reminds us that waiting is not a futile exercise, but a profound act of trust in God's timing.
They understood that God's promises are never in vain, and patiently endured the passing of time with steadfast hope.
Their perseverance serves as a beacon of encouragement, reminding us that even in the midst of uncertainty, our faith in God's plans should remain unshakable.
Easier said than done.
I remember waiting when my father was in his final days and hours. Each day I would visit him in the hospital, waiting. I can recall my constant prayers to God and I can also recall God’s presence, comforting me, my family and my father. As difficult as it was for all of us, for me, waiting, was God comforting us, loving us as a family assuring us that all will be well with God. It was a time of stress and comfort – that waiting was out of my control, it was all about God.
In our own lives, we encounter countless situations that require us to wait – for answers, for healing, for breakthroughs.
Yet, it is in these moments that we have the opportunity to grow closer to God, to deepen our trust, and to discover the strength within us.
Just as Simeon and Anna's waiting created indescribable joy of encountering Christ, our seasons of waiting hold the promise of divine revelation and fulfillment for us also.
So, let us heed the lessons from Simeon and Anna, embracing their dedication, patience, and anticipation.
May we remember that waiting is not a place to stand still, but a chance to wholeheartedly serve God and others.
Use your time of waiting on God to listen for God, for what he is saying to you.
Speak to God from your heart, because he is listening.
Hopefully our waitings will not take as long as Simeon’s or Anna’s.
But in our waiting we hear God in our lives and when we do, we act upon it.
 
AMEN