In this post Christmas period we go through a whole series of emotional changes that are part of the life of Christ. It is only in the Matthean gospel that we have the issues of flight and recognition of Christ by foreigners. In the Lukan account we go through the normal Hebraic requirements for a birth to be registered or acknowledged with the presentation, which we read about this Sunday. In the presentation narrative we find two characters of note, Simeon and Anna. It is really on the former that most of the focus falls but it is in the latter that we find the celebratory joy that the Christ child brings. If Anna denotes the joy of Christ's presence than Simeon represents the dark and sorrow that comes with the Christ child.
Both of these are expressions of Christ's presence in the world. We are more familiar with expressing or at least trying to express the hope and joy that is expressed by Anna. Essentially we could say that this is what this season is all about. Giving joy and expressing wonder at God's presence in our lives. Indeed this is what is promoted over the whole of the season and is expressed as we give presents to each other, celebrate with our families and enjoy the general feeling of freedom and life. Yet, within the joy and the celebration we can glimpse some of the darkness that is present as Christ becomes incarnate. This is most particularly seen this year in the light of the COVID 19 lockdowns that have occurred not only here in Australia but also in the UK and elsewhere.
The COVID situation has ensured that the world's injustices are highlighted above everything else which is not something that should be a celebratory event. We have been given stark evidence of the role that injustice plays in the way we work in the world. Our understanding of a just and peaceful world has perhaps been more lacerated this last year than in any other. It is not just the irresponsibility of terrorism and violence that has disrupted our yearly world view to suggest that peace is not being striven for. Rather it is the corrupt undertakings of those with power and the real time consequences that has heightened our awareness of our unjust world. Simeon points to Mary's broken heart, a clear reference to the cruel injustice that ends Christ's life, but it also should highlight for us our broken hearts at the cruel injustices that take place on a daily basis not only here in Australia but around the world.
Just think for a minute, with regards those still suffering the after effects of the 2020 fires without receiving the promised relief from gathered funds; or do we even have to think to closely about the American distribution of vaccine to politicians and the rich first rather than those on the front lines. We can go on and on citing evidence upon evidence of the unjustness of societies throughout the world without even blinking an eye or thinking about our responsibility. What can we do? We are only at the bottom end of society but who votes the politicians into places of power without thought and going only on what our past generations or our historical thinking leads us to. We behave when it comes to politics as if we have no brains and no thoughts of our own but follow as tradition dictates.
If we are true to our calling as Christians, then we should be vocal about how our leaders lead so that we move towards the joy that Anna sees rather than the injustices and weeping that Simeon sees. Simeon has seen it all and has seen the joy and the peace that comes with God's presence but is knowledgeable about the misery that is also present. While we are celebrating our joys and our freedoms we must also look towards how we can create an atmosphere that leads to peace, that leads to community and leads to dialogue. It is in listening that we hear God's voice subtly urging us towards a just and peaceful world rather than the brash power hungering noise of the world around us that asks us to ignore the injustice and the poverty and the homelessness and the ignorance that this brings. Only when we recognise the joy and the sorrow that is embedded in the incarnation will we truly work towards the just society that embeds the Christ child in everything that we do.
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