Grace Blogspot

We are all, as human beings, tempted by many of the things we hunger for . . . . material possessions, power, influence . . . . Jesus is depicted in the genealogy as fully human and fully God.  Wrestling with the same temptations that we face.  As we move through this season and read further into the ministry of Jesus we are challenged by temptation as well.  What cravings are focussing our lives on ourselves as opposed to God?  What shortcomings do we need to confess?  How do we have confidence that Christ is with us when times are tough?  Do we trust God?

This is the only account in the gospels of Jesus as a boy. He stays in the temple . . . asking questions, curiously. What does he need to know? We then change scenes to hear of John’s preaching and baptism . . . to change our ways. What questions does Jesus ask of us today? During this season of Lent, are we turning from our ways and towards God?

Simeon was waiting for the Messiah. His song of response to holding the baby Jesus is one of hope and joy! Even our new hymnals have more than one version of the Nunc Dimittis. At the end of a service and particularly at funerals we sing the words, ‘O Lord, now let your servant depart in heavenly peace.’ These verses make me wonder . . . do we expect to encounter Christ? In fact, we encounter Christ every Sunday in holy communion at the very least. The next question then is do we respond with the joy and song of Simeon and Anna, infecting all those we meet with God’s grace and life?