27 December 2009
Psalm 93, 96; 1 Sam. 1:1-28; Col. 1:9-20; Luke 2:22-40

The birth of Samuel brings a new era in God’s relations with His people. The story of his birth, the story of his mother’s travails, is a beautiful one. The adjectives that describe Hannah prior to the birth tell of a woman whose life is complete misery to her and the annual trips to the festivals of celebration only serve to remind her that she has nothing to celebrate in spite of the love of her husband. The one thing she wants, however, is a child. It is quite possible that there is another wife because of Hannah’s barrenness and yet her husband loves her dearly. Can you imagine a priest accusing you of drunkenness based on watching you pray and how that accusation would be devastating, especially in this circumstance? Hannah, however, walks away from the encounter cheered. It is even more amazing that she gives this child to that same priest, but what she says is that she has lent him to the Lord. This one will be the Lord’s own, not Eli’s.

The buzz about Jesus begins. Simeon and Anna, two elderly prophets who hang around the temple in Jerusalem, speak words of truth about Jesus. Simeon’s prophecy is part of the Anglican liturgical heritage in Morning Prayer, his hymn of praise to God for fulfilling His promise to allow Him to see the Messiah. I wonder if he knew how incredible this One was. He saw all that would happen to Jesus, telling Mary, “a sword will pierce your own soul too.” Mary had much to ponder in her heart when she left Jerusalem and there is no doubt she remembered those words verbatim and tumbled them over and over in her heart and mind through the years, what did they mean?

Paul begins with a wonderful prayer for the Colossians and that prayer then leads him to incredible doxology (praise) for Jesus. Paul speaks of Jesus as the firstborn, before all things, the beginning, the firstborn from the dead. In all things Christ has pre-eminence, before creation and before re-creation. Everything finds its beginning in Him. The purpose and meaning of all things is in Him and all things find fulfillment in Him. Pondering the meaning of Jesus’ incarnation and death can and should consume our thoughts and always it should lead where it leads Paul here, praise.

Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength!
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
bring an offering, and come into his courts!
Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness;
tremble before him, all the earth!