Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword shall pierce your soul also)…Luke 2:34-35
Comforting Father,
As this year draws to a close,
I know many who, like me,
look forward to a new year,
hoping that it will soften the harsh edges
of last year’s grief,
looking forward to new joys.
May it be so.
And yet, as we consider the words of Simeon
to Mary and Joseph,
we see that the call of a Christian
is to know the abiding joy of our salvation
even as we suffer piercing swords in our souls.
Jesus was born to die.
We are called to be reborn to die—
to our consuming agendas,
to our self-salvation strategies,
to our demand for certainty and control.
Like Mary and Joseph,
we are always richly blessed
by our Savior.
Like Mary and Joseph,
we will at times endure piercing pain
as we follow our Savior.
May we embrace our calling
with hearts of hope,
knowing that our Savior
“endured the cross”
“for the joy set before him” (Hebrews 12:2)
the joy of making us your beloved children.
In the name of our Suffering Savior, Jesus,
we pray. Amen.
Read Luke 2:33-35.
