‘Tis the Season . . . for the Pious

Okay, so far we’ve looked at some members of the Christmas creche (shepherds, wisemen) and some not there (Caesar, Herod). Another pair that at least Mary and Joseph would say should not be ignored are the two venerables, Simeon and Anna. That’s because of their identifying the Christ having never seen the child before.

Each of these were known in Jerusalem as relics, Simeon often in the temple, and Anna basically homeless but for the temple.

Tradition dictated that the newborn be circumcised, christened and consecrated. With Bethlehem so near the capital, it would be in the Jerusalem temple itself. Interesting, these coincidences.

You must understand that this was not the highest period of Israel’s “light to the nations” history. The priests were Sadducees, liberals, basically unbelievers in anything “supernatural.” The Pharisees were over-religious, legalistic and joyless. The Zealot class was negative and only talked politics. The Herodians stayed on the “safe side” of the sociopath on the throne. For everybody, being under pegan Rome was a gall. Then there were the sellout publicans, collecting taxes for the Romans and pocketing a take for themselves.

Besides all the conniving within, there was a general prejudice against all non-Jews as “unclean” and “unchosen” which limited perspective on about everything . . . including God.

To use a line uttered by Lara to Yuri in Dr. Zhivago, “This is a terrible time to be alive.”

But in the middle of all this we have the righteous and devout Simeon and the constantly worshipping, fasting, praying, temple-dwelling Anna.

It’s difficult to imagine such types today. Personally I have a hard time fasting between breakfast and lunch. And praying for five minutes is a feat. Seems so unrewarding.

These two were rewarded, however. It had been revealed to Simeon he would not die until he’d seen the Lord’s Christ. Then, this day, he recognized him . . . in the form of a newborn. And so did Anna.

How did it happen? I assure you there were no halos.

Somehow their eyes were opened. And what everybody else saw as something plain, they saw–and proclaimed: “The Lord’s salvation, the glory of Israel, a light to the Gentiles.” The parents just marveled.

This was given to Anna and Simeon in apparent reward for their piety.

Piety.

I remember reading a speech by Aleksandr Solzenitsyn where he said, “In its past, Russia did know a time when the social ideal was not fame, or riches, or material success, but a pious way of life.”*

I underlined that and wondered if it were not also so in our own country.

But I ask myself: Is it still possible . . . in our busy times? Why would we do it? Where’s the reward?

Unless our eyes, too, might be opened.

__________________
Luke 2:21-38
* to the Templeton Foundation
Next: The Angels