First Sunday after Christmas: Gospel, Luke 2:22-40                

Luke 2:22-40

Joseph and Mary loved their Lord. That may seem a strange thing to point to since the babe they carried into the temple in Luke chapter 2 was their Lord, their Maker, indeed the Creator of the universe. Isn’t that just boggling to the mind? But I am referring to their devotion to the Triune God whom they worshiped, no doubt, many times before in that great compound before their Son arrived. Today’s task was the presentation of their newborn Son. Circumcised into the people of God some three weeks earlier, this was the expression of the firstborn being given to the Lord. If you would have asked Jesus regarding the most important moments of his life, I believe he certainly would have pointed to this work of his faithful parents as one of those. Joseph and Mary loved their Lord.

Joseph and Mary weren’t the only faithful with eyes upon their Child that day. Both Simeon and Anna’s stories are brought to bear on this great day of presentation. And their words and actions centered on Jesus bring to the heart real joy and perhaps even to the eye, a tear. Simeon and Anna loved their Lord.

Lord, fill us with that same sense of devotion, joy and wonder that filled the hearts of those closest to the little Messiah on that great day. Amen!

Merry Christmas!

NOTE: The author and his dear wife are taking a few days away from normal toil. There will be no devotions for the coming week. They will commence again on Tuesday January 9, 2024. Enjoy the fullness of Christmas and Blessed Epiphany to you all.