An Encounter Between Generations

Snowdrops

Sunday 3rd February 2013

A motley group of British retirees adventurously going off to a retirement home in India; a home full of former musicians who use their marvellous talents in an annual fundraising concert. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel last year, and Quartet this year have been two of the most popular recent films, with veteran actors and musicians playing characters who are full of humour, intelligence and talent. And now 66 year-old David Bowie has brought out a new single to rave reviews. 

Are our attitudes to older people changing a bit? I hope so. For too long they have been side-lined and discounted, their gifts and experience undervalued. Now perhaps, as our working life lengthens, we may be returning to a proper appreciation of all that older people have to offer.

Our bible reading for today is about an encounter between generations, two very devout godly people – Simeon and Anna.  They are present when Mary and Joseph go to the Temple – forty days after Jesus’ birth - to give thanks for him.

For Simeon and Anna, who had spent their lives praying for the One who would save their people, the meeting is the culmination of their hopes and dreams. It makes their day. 

So when Simeon encounters Jesus he says to God. ‘Now I can die in peace’. His life is fulfilled. Anna, 84 years old and has known great sorrow and hardship. She is a widow, having lost her husband after just 7 years of marriage. Then she too sees Jesus and recognises him as the Hope of all she has been patiently and faithfully waiting for.  In the future, other people would meet Jesus and recognise him as Saviour, but these two old people are among the first. And the wisdom of their years enables them to see in this Child a person of destiny – and to share their wisdom and insight with Mary and Joseph to help prepare them for the future.

Jesus Christ is the answer to our prayers however old we are. It is never too late for us to know his promise. I pray that whatever your age, your encounter with Jesus Christ will make you feel, like Simeon and Anna, that your life has been worth living.

Candlemas

The 2^nd of February is the Church Festival called Candlemas. It got its name from the fact that this was the day when all the candles for the coming year were blessed in the church.  It’s difficult to imagine in a world where our night skies are lit up with light pollution from millions of watts of electric lights burning in our towns and cities, but in times gone by, candles were the perfect light for reading, or working or just seeing one’s way after dark. 

For Christians, candles are of course a reminder of something even more important. Before Jesus came it was as though everyone on earth was living in darkness all the time. They couldn’t really see the true reality of life; they struggled to see the true meaning of life and where it was leading. But Jesus came as the light of the world and clarified the purpose and meaning of life. The candles at Candlemas remind us that we are not on our own, but that we have a constant guide to help us through our dark times.

Groundhog Day

Do you ever feel your life just isn’t progressing? Are you stuck in the same old routines, making the same mistakes – and never learning from them? The main character in the film Groundhog Day has to relive that day over and over again until he starts behaving better. It’s a good idea, but fortunately we don’t have to do that.  Jesus came to forgive us for our mistakes and failures, and show us how to live better by following him.

In America yesterday, they celebrated Groundhog Day - not the film but the legend about the coming of spring. Acording to tradition, if it is cloudy when a groundhog emerges from its burrow, then spring will come early; if it is sunny, the groundhog will supposedly see its shadow and retreat into its burrow, and the winter weather will continue for six more weeks. We can only hope that the poor animal didn’t see the sun yesterday!

Here in York, the snow has just about gone, and though there are floods around my home, there are also snowdrops and aconites, and I feel that spring is definitely on the way.  And I hope that in your lives God’s promise of new beginnings and eternal joy will bring you the best kind of springtime of all.

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