An Episcopal Priest's Sermons, Prayers, and Reflections on Life, Becoming Human, and Discovering Our Divinity
“Now you are dismissing your servant in peace.” That’s what Simeon says in this evening’s gospel (Luke 2:22-40) after he took the child Jesus in him arms. Simeon’s experience of receiving and holding Jesus was one of being set free,…
Read More Let’s Wait And See – A Sermon On Luke 2:22-40
Many year ago, at the suggestion of my priest, I did some work with a counselor. During one of our meetings the conversation lulled and he asked me a question. “Mike, do you have a secret?” Tears filled my eyes. I had butterflies in my stomach. And my heart was pounding. I nodded, whispered yes, and waited for what I knew would be his next question.
What good is it to us if Simeon receives into his arms the child Jesus and we do not? What good is it to us if Simeon’s eyes see salvation and our eyes do not? What good is it to us if Simeon is free to go in peace if we are not?
Forty days after Christmas the infant Jesus was presented in the temple of Jerusalem and placed in the arms of the old man Simeon (Luke 2:22-40) who declared: Lord, you now have set your servant free to go in peace…
Read More Blessing Candles on the Feast of the Presentation (Candlemas)
The Book of Occasional Services, one of the liturgical books in the Episcopal Church, offers several blessings specific to seasons and feast days. It does not, however, offer a blessing specific to the Feast of the Presentation, a major feast…
Read More A Blessing Specific to the Feast of the Presentation
I recently heard a man say, “I feel as if I have dropped into my own life and it fits.” It made me smile. It was such a great description. I think we all want to be able to say…
Read More A Life that Fits – A Sermon on Luke 2:22-40 for the Feast of the Presentation
In a previous post I wrote about blessing candles on the Feast of the Presentation of our Lord in the Temple. But what about a blessing specific to the feast itself? The Book of Occasional Services offers several blessings specific…
Read More A Blessing for the Feast of the Presentation
The Feast of the Presentation, celebrated on February 2, is one of the major feasts in the church year. It is sometimes known as Candlemas or the Feast of the Purification. This feast is celebrated forty days after Christmas and…
Read More A Blessing of Candles for the Feast of the Presentation
Let me tell you a little bit about Simeon, some things you may not know, some things that might surprise you. Simeon is often identified as one of the seventy Hebrew scholars who translated the Old Testament from Hebrew to Greek,…
Read More Blindness and Seeing, A Sermon on Luke 2:22-40
The collect and readings for the Feast of the Presentation may be found here. The story of Jesus' presentation in the temple is found in Luke 2:22-40. ----- They met in the temple, Mary and Joseph, Anna, Simeon, Jesus. How…
Read More Longing – A Reflection on the Feast of the Presentation, Luke 2:22-40
Interrupting the Silence 