What Are You Waiting For?
“What are you waiting for?” – January 14th, 2024 (Luke 2)
When we say, “Happy New Year,” we mark the end of the old year (whether with gratitude or good riddance, depending on how the year went for us) and celebrate the beginning of the new one (often accompanied by resolutions and hope). Advent, the season in which we celebrate the Nativity of Jesus Christ, also marks both an end and a beginning. We celebrated Christmas a few weeks ago, so, in that sense, Advent is coming to a close. Advent also marks the beginning of the liturgical year in the Christian calendar, which is fixed according to the flow of salvation history. Early in Advent we looked at the first part of Luke chapter 2. Today, in our final sermon in this Advent series, we will read from the middle of the second chapter of Luke.
Luke 2:21-22 (NRSV) – “21 After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 22 When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.”
At eight days of age, infant Jesus, along with his parents, Mary and Joseph, traveled to Jerusalem, to the Temple, to do what was required of them by the law of Moses, summed up as, “to present him to the Lord.” The Greek word translated “to present” here means to be present, to show up. We may not fully understand all the details of what was required under the old covenant, but the important thing to note is the location of the holy family on this particular day – in the Temple at Jerusalem. That’s where the law required the family to be, and that’s where they were present, where they showed up. Little did they know who else would show up or what would happen next!
Luke 2:25-34a (NRSV) – “25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, 29 ‘Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.’ 33 And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them …”
Let’s unpack this a little. Firstly, who was this man? The text tells us that Simeon was righteous and devout, that the Holy Spirit rested on him, and the Holy Spirit had guided him into the Temple that day.
What was Simeon waiting for? He was looking forward to the consolation of Israel, which is to say he was waiting for God to fulfill his promise in Isaiah 40:1-2, to comfort his people and end his people’s time of alienation and suffering through the advent of the Messiah and the pouring out of the Holy Spirit. Amazingly, the Holy Spirit had revealed to Simeon that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah, and now here he was!
How did Simeon respond? Simeon was present; he showed up. He praised God. He saw God’s salvation in Jesus. He blessed the holy family.
Luke 2:36-38 (NRSV) – “36 There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.”
Who was this woman? The text tells us that she was a Jewish prophet, she was of a great age, and she lived a life of worship, fasting, and prayer in the Temple.
What was Anna waiting for? Anna, like Simeon, was waiting for the redemption of God’s people.
How did Anna respond? Anna was present; she showed up. She praised God. She spoke about Jesus to all who were seeking God.
What are we waiting for? Like Simeon and Anna, we, too, are waiting for the Lord. Nineteenth century Dutch theologian Herman Bavinck offers this succinct and helpful biblical metanarrative, “God the Father has reconciled his created but fallen world through the death of his Son, and renews it into a Kingdom of God by his Spirit.” We are waiting, but we are waiting differently from Simeon and Anna. We are no longer waiting for Messiah to arrive because Messiah, Christ, Jesus, has already come. We are not waiting for the Kingdom of God to begin because Jesus has inaugurated the Kingdom of God. We live in the already-but-not-yet-fully-arrived Kingdom of God. We are waiting for the fulfillment of all things, when God will set everything right, as he originally intended. But we’re not twiddling our thumbs waiting. Jesus has told us what to do while we wait. He instructed his followers in Matthew 28:19-20a (NRSV), what is often referred to as “The Great Commission,” “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.”
We are to wait as an emissary waits for a message to deliver, as a courier waits for a package to transport, or as a server waits for a meal or drink request to fill. This kind of waiting is an active waiting, a ready-to-be-called-on kind of waiting, a lifestyle of waiting, a willingness-to-turn-on-a-dime kind of waiting. We are sent ones who show up and attend to the voice of God as we go and become present in the lives of neighbors and nations. God has sent us, followers of Jesus, the body of Christ, the church, to make visible, the Kingdom of God on the earth.
It’s important to realize is that Jesus sends not just you or me, but us. When Jesus gave the Great Commission, he gave it to his followers (plural). It can feel pretty heavy if we think we have to do all of it on our own. “We are in this together” is not just a nice motivational phrase – it’s the reality of the Kingdom of God. We are the body of Christ, we are the church. We become present, we show up, we go, we listen to God, and we are ready to pivot as we receive more clarity, new light, specific direction. And just like the holy family, little do we know who else will show up or what will happen next!
Let’s also consider what we are not waiting for. Have you ever walked outside on a scorching Atlanta summer day and stared at a long, paved road? Sometimes on days like that, we can see a mirage that reminds us of the imaginary oases that have tricked thirsty souls in deserts. Just as a mirage gives the appearance of something that isn’t actually there, it’s an illusion that there is such a thing as perfect timing, perfect circumstances, or perfect relationships.
We might think, “God has really put this thing on my heart, but I’m going to wait until my schedule settles down to do something about it.” We are not slaves to our schedules; we are each granted the same 24 hours each day. What we get to do with each of our days is to choose how to invest our time. Perfect timing is for myths and movies. Certainly, we can hold everything before the Lord in prayer and seek wisdom from God, Scripture, and wise counselors. But how often do we allow ourselves to get swept away with the tyranny of the urgent or even enslave ourselves in good things that might not be the best things? When it comes to how I spend my time, what changes would need to happen, what would I need to let go of, in order to allow the Lord to direct my steps?
We may believe that as soon as this or that thing in my life or in the world changes, then I’ll be able to abide in Jesus more, to live from a place of rest, to experience more joy, to corral wayward thoughts, to consistently sleep in peace. We may live as though the party is just around the corner. We may focus so much on tomorrow and the promises of heaven that we miss what God is doing today right here on earth. While it is true that a day is coming when God will transform, heal, and put the world right again, it is also true that God wants us to be transformed, healed, and put-right people who join him in doing these things. God wants us to flourish with our arms outstretched both to embrace God and to embrace a world in need. God wants us to find our home in him and become part of the good news for the world around us. We are not in control of our circumstances; we can only control how we respond to the circumstances in which we find ourselves. In the middle of any kind of circumstances, what habit would help me to lean towards God’s highest and best for me, that place of abiding, rest, joy, and peace in Jesus?
We may decide, “I’d really like to talk to this person more about that important thing, but I don’t want to rock the boat too much, so I’ll wait until they bring it up.” My therapist tells me that the one thing he finds himself telling his clients again and again is, “They can’t read your mind.” Of course, we all know this – technically – but how often do we act as though others can or even should know what we’re thinking? How often do we avoid saying what needs to be said because we’re afraid of hurting someone else’s feelings? We have much to learn from how Jesus talked to people. I’m guessing he would have broken many of the written and unwritten rules of etiquette and diplomacy. We’re not called to be nice; we’re called to be authentic and to love. Relationships built on authenticity and love are ones in which we choose to will the good of the other at all times, which might include not only the parts we like (communal caring, delightful discourse, and amiable adventures), but also the parts that can be harder to do well (challenging conversations, wisdom warnings, and loving limits). In which relationship do I need the courage of Christ to be able to make the changes that need to happen so that that relationship can grow from a place of authenticity and love?
Waiting for perfect timing, perfect circumstances, or perfect relationships is an exercise in futility, because they simply don’t exist. Utopia, a word coined by 16th century author Thomas More to describe a community that possesses highly desirable or near-perfect qualities for its members, comes from two Latin roots and literally means “no place.” Utopia does not exist. The real world consists of mountains and valleys, rough and smooth places, seasons of plenty and seasons of lack. Life itself is a mysterious mixture of both light and darkness. We know that this is true by experience, though we may not understand why God allows them. Yet in the valleys, rough places, seasons of lack, and darkness, God whispers assurance to our anxious souls. Psalm 139:7-12 (The Message) – “Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit? to be out of your sight? If I climb to the sky, you’re there! If I go underground, you’re there! If I flew on morning’s wings to the far western horizon, you’d find me in a minute—you’re already there waiting! Then I said to myself, ‘Oh, he even sees me in the dark! At night I’m immersed in the light!’ It’s a fact: darkness isn’t dark to you; night and day, darkness and light, they’re all the same to you.”
In every season of life, as we travel and travail through every type of terrain, through it all, God is present, God is here. To point out something fairly obvious that we sometimes forget, God is here in time as well as in place. God’s timing is not a fixed point on a clock. I have come to believe that God’s timing is best understood by God’s name, “I am.” Wherever you are, God is. Whenever you are, God is. Jesus is present with you right here, right now. Jesus is for you and will never leave you nor forsake you. Don’t wait for some magic moment to arrive before you say something, do something, start something. Magic moments belong in fairy stories. We are called here and now to life, real and flourishing life.
So, how can we in a practical way manifest the Kingdom of God on earth here and now? Here are four possibilities for us to ponder (there are others). As I read through these, spot what stands out to you, pay attention to any strong desire to get involved in a particular way, notice ideas that suddenly pop into your head.
1. We make God’s Kingdom visible when we participate in healing (physical, emotional, and social), doing justice, and delivering those held captive by evil. We do small things with great love.
2. We make God’s Kingdom visible when we pray. To pray in Jesus’ name means to ask the future kingdom to break into the present world. To pray for others is to be present with them and cry out for God’s mercy.
3. We make God’s Kingdom visible when we proclaim the Good News of Jesus to others. We have conversations along the way, we offer well-placed questions, we invite others to consider the claims of Christ, and we help people to find their place in God’s story.
4. We make God’s kingdom visible when we become present in present in the presence of God, wherever and whenever we are. We humbly dispense the compassion of Christ as we allow our whole selves to show up. We bring our bodies, hearts, our minds, our quirks, our questions, our gifts, our graces, our strengths, our weaknesses, all that we are, into the present place and time. We present ourselves to God with Isaiah’s prayer, “Here am I; send me!”
We participate, pray, proclaim, and become present not to build up our own church or kingdoms; egos, experiences, or earnings; results, resumes, or reputations. We plant seeds and God makes them grow! God is inviting you and me to participate in the Kingdom of God right here, right now. None of us will do this perfectly. We need each other and help each other along the way. We remember who God is and we remind ourselves and one another who we are. We do all these things as we focus on and follow Jesus, in the power of the Holy Spirit, and for the greater glory of God, and that changes the world!
What are you waiting for?
