Simeon & Anna
Readings: Luke 2. 22-40
I was reading recently that here in Wales, and in England, we’re an aging population with the number of people aged over 85 set to double over the next 25 years. And the UK has started to wrestle with some of the questions that northern Europe and Canada have been wrestling with for some time, what does it mean to be older? What does that mean for society, for individuals, for family life.
And interestingly there seem to be two approaches, either that those who are older simply don’t add value, they’re not contributing economically so we either need to get them back into work somehow or find more people to get into work to balance them out. Or there’s the approach that those who are older are a drain on the system, that they’re a drain on people, on institutions and the wider country. It’s one of the arguments made for assisted dying, that people don’t want to be burdened, or fear becoming a burden.
I’ve heard language like some of this from people in congregations I’ve served over the years, ‘I don’t want to be a burden to you, you have better things to do’, or apologies that they aren’t more useful or asking if I wouldn’t prefer a church with lots of young people instead.
But as Christians we take a different approach to aging. For us this isn’t a matter of balancing economics as though we’re all just cogs in a machine. Nor is it a case that we only have value should we be contributing in some way, indeed we reject any idea that if you’re taking out more than you’re putting in because of age or infirmity or illness that you should be seen as a problem. For Christians the dignity of human life is inherent, built in. We believe that each of us, from the newborn baby to the centenarian are made in God’s image, and that’s enough to give us value.
And on this feast of Candlemas we’re faced with almost that exact contrast, a newborn baby, the infant Jesus, the light of God shining out in the world for all to see. And two much older people, well into retirement, perhaps you may identify a bit more with them this morning, perhaps you feel less like a bright shining light, and more like embers, at least in body and energy. And I want to focus specifically on the latter, on Simeon and Anna, and how they might give us a vision for what it means, what it might look like, to be a Christian who has reached a great age.
The first thing we’re told about both of them is their faithfulness. Simeon is described as righteous and devout, that he’s awaiting the consolation of Israel, for God to bring hope and a future for his people. Anna likewise is described as constantly in prayer, constantly in worship. These are both people who are fully dedicated to God. They aren’t perfect, only the infant they rejoice over is, they may have had many bumps along the way, and yet here we find them faithfully serving God.
And we shouldn’t take that faithfulness for granted, at this point in Israel’s history it seems like God isn’t up to much, that he might have abandoned them.
And so on the one hand you have people who are determined to ensure God see’s, who are determined to make a statement to God about how good they are, the Pharisees who have added so many extra rules and regulations, and encourage others to keep them. This idea that God hasn’t helped them yet has pushed them to feel they have to pull themselves up by their bootstraps to demonstrate their worthiness.
And on the flip side you have some people who have decided that since God won’t act, since he won’t drive out the Romans, it’s up to them to do it instead, inciting violence and rebellions in an attempt to overthrow the regime, and get back to the good old days.
Either of those sound familiar in our day and age? Some who are determined that if they just try a bit harder God will do something for them, or those who have decided God isn’t interested so it’s down to them to act, to save the church, the nation, the world.
And yet here are Simeon and Anna, faithfully keeping on, trusting in God, trusting that he will act, that God’s timing in all things is perfect. Day by day Simeon has renewed his hope that God will come, and Anna has prayed and worshipped, trusting in the one who saves. Their lives are a picture of faithfulness, of constancy, of devotion to God.
And what happens?
They see Jesus, and they realise what has happened. Out of all those who encounter the infant Christ it is only they who recognise who he is for themselves and don’t have to be told. The shepherds need an announcement, the Magi read it in the stars, but Simeon and then Anna, drawn there by the Spirit, simply recognise who this is, what God has done. Their faithfulness has given them eyes to see, their trust in God has given them an openness to what he might do.
For those of us who are older, and for those of us who are not that old, could that be our story, of faithfulness and devotion, of day by day seeking after God, of trusting in him. Not of perfection, but of each day starting anew to faithfully follow and serve the Lord. Perhaps that is you, you’ve spent many years following Jesus and know his faithfulness and his goodness to you, you’ve seen those things in your own life. Such things are an encouragement to the rest of us.
I’m sure that when Simeon prays that wonderful Canticle to God ‘Now Lord you can let your servant depart in peace, die in peace, for I have seen with my own eyes your salvation’, that that an encouragement to both Mary and Joseph. It wasn’t just them in this, that there were others too. And in their faith both Simeon and Anna are able to encourage Mary and Joseph and others, all are amazed at what they say.
So in your age you are an encouragement to the rest of us simply by showing up, by existing, a picture of God’s faithfulness to you, a reminder for the rest of us of God’s goodness and loving kindness. And an encouragement to the rest of us when we fall on hard times. I’m not here wishing that you’re all a couple of decades younger. I rejoice that we have so many older Saints here, if everyone was my age where would be the wisdom of those who have followed God longer, where would be those who have already gone through what people in my generation are going through and can encourage us to keep trusting God in it. It doesn’t mean you have all the answers, don’t panic, but you do show us God’s faithfulness.
And as well as a picture of what your presence is to the rest of us, Simeon and Anna also give us a picture of another way we can serve God in our old age. They pray, and they witness. Simeon and Anna are faithfully praying that God would act, that he would intervene. And once they see with their own eyes what God has done, they both, Anna in particular, share with anyone who will listen that God’s salvation has come.
You know, as you get older, you may not have the energy to run a kids club, you may no longer have the skills to do practical things around the building, your eyesight may be fading such that you can’t read at the front of church any longer. But you can pray. You can pray for those who are doing things in the service as we prepare to start, simply sat where you are. You can pray that God would provide resources for us to care for this place and its witness. You can pray that when we do run outreach events, kids clubs and the like, that people would show up, that they would meet Jesus there.
And in doing so you’ve not got the consolation prize, you’re doing the most important thing out of any of us. We can be as busy as we like, but if we aren’t offering whatever it is up to God, it’s empty effort. If God doesn’t show up, nothing we do is of any worth. In praying that God would act, that he would intervene, that he would be at work in what we do, you’re contributing far more than any of us.
And secondly you can witness. Anyone can share Jesus with someone else, he’s part of your life. And in your witness you can be a witness both to those within the church, as I mentioned before, of God’s goodness and faithfulness to you. But you can also be a witness to those who do not yet know Jesus, sharing him by your words and in your actions. Sharing the wonderful truth of God come to us as an infant child, come to save and rescue us from sin and death, come to bring us home.
So my brothers and sisters, this Candlemas, as the light of Christ shines forth, be encouraged. Christ is drawing to himself a people, even as an infant, of both young and those of a very great age, gathered around him are both shepherds and magi, each with a role to play. We need one another. Your worth and value is not in what the world says, in whether you are seen to contribute or drain, you value is that you are fearfully and wonderfully made in God’s image, created to reflect him to the world. And in your simple presence here, whether at church or simply on this earth, you are an encouragement to the rest of us. And yet God in his goodness doesn’t relegate you to the sidelines, instead he has given you a key role, to pray day by day for his church, for this world. And to witness to all who will listen to the mercies and grace of the one who has saved you.
This morning you may feel like in your body you are embers, more than a roaring fire, or those days may still be to come for you, and yet Jesus won’t even extinguish a smouldering wick, so I want to pray as I finish, in words based on a prayer in the old 1662 prayer book.
Look graciously upon us, O Lord, and on those who are not able to be with us through age or illness; and the more we outwardly weaken and decay, strengthen us, we pray, strengthen us so much the more continually with your grace and Holy Spirit our inner selves that we may rejoice to give you praise. Amen.