NUCC
January 1, 2006
Christmas 1
Isaiah 61:10-62:3
Luke 2:22-40
William Sloane Coffin, Jr., former chaplain at
A few years ago he was the featured speaker at the annual fall retreat for Wisconsin UCC clergy at Moon Beach Camp. This was quite a coup, getting such a famous man at our little gathering. Fortunately for us he was at the time a scholar in residence at
Anyway, as he spoke I couldn’t help but note that his quotable lines bore a certain resemblance to those of Jesse Jackson, the Civil Rights activist, community organizer, and Baptist preacher. Both men seemed to be fond of rhyming and coming up with memorable, quotable phrases. And you could classify both men as political, if not religious, liberals.
During the question and answer period after one of Coffin’s presentations I noted the similarity between him and Jackson. Apparently he didn’t care for the comparison. To this he rather indignantly replied: “Jesse Jackson couldn’t organize a five-car funeral.” Add this to the list of “Coffinisms”!
On this Sunday when we remember how another elder statesman in the world of faith, Simeon, and an elder stateswoman, Anna, held the baby Jesus when he was presented at the
“The Word of God hits the world with the force of a hint.”
On this first Sunday of 2006 we remember back to a year when a great Tsunami hit the coast of several Asian countries and a great hurricane hit the
Who would have thunk it? Well, Simeon thunk it. And Anna thunk it. But most other people did not see the great potential in this little baby brought by poor parents who could only afford two pigeons as their offering. When this child got back to
What did Simeon see, really? This was a normal baby he held in his arms. Not the wonder worker of miracles we read about in the books that didn’t make it into the Bible. What did Simeon see? He must has seen the hint of greatness. He must have seen the seed of a savior. All he had in his arms was a little child, powerless and speechless. Yet like the shepherds and the Magi, Simeon felt he beheld the salvation of the world.
Today we come to this church looking for hints ----- hints of holiness. We could have been sleeping today. After all isn’t that what one does on New Year’s Day? But we have this holy habit of coming to worship because we believe that through praying the prayers, reading the scriptures, eating the bread, and drinking the wine we will catch a glimpse of God. We will find a hint of holiness. For some of us there may be a shaking of the foundations, but for many of us there will simply be this hint of God’s glory yet to unfold.
What hints of holiness to you see today? What potential for greatness do you see in the babe of
What is it that Simeon said?
“Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,
according to your word;
For my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the presence of all people,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and glory to your people
