(Audio)
How can we fulfill the purposes of our lives? We live as we are meant to when we live in a way that is pleasing to God. This is what it means to "offer due sacrifice". It means giving God his due. And what is due to God? Everything! Since all creation, including our very selves, is from him there is nothing that is not his due.
We often fail at offering all that we are to God. We tend to hold things back out of fear. We lack the trust we'd need to really be all in for God. To destroy this fear is exactly why Jesus himself took on flesh and blood. This secret is hidden in the mystery of the Presentation that we celebrate today.
Since the children share in blood and flesh,
Jesus likewise shared in them,
that through death he might destroy the one
who has the power of death, that is, the Devil,
and free those who through fear of death
had been subject to slavery all their life.
The LORD whom we seek comes to the temple this morning. He is the messenger of the covenant telling us our long slavery to fear is at an end. He shares in our flesh and blood and purifies it so that our sacrifices to God may be made without fear, entirely acceptable, nothing held back.
We try to overcome death with worldly power, with science and politics. On the one hand we hope we can cure it. On the other we hope we can at least delay it. But the solution that God provides, that one that leads beyond fear, is one we would never have guessed.
he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:
"Now, Master, you may let your servant go
in peace, according to your word,
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples:
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and glory for your people Israel."
A child is the one who can make those who seek God rise and those who oppose him fall. He reveals our hearts because he gives us that which we truly desire. Even as his flesh is circumsized and first pours out his precious blood for us his human weakness is already at work revealing a greater strength in which he himself trusts and with which he wants to clothe us as well.
therefore, he had to become like his brothers and sisters
in every way,
that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest before God
to expiate the sins of the people.
This child is the king of glory! Let us open that wide the gates of our hearts to Christ!
No comments:
Post a Comment