There is one phrase in this entire continuing story of Jesus’ birth and childhood that says everything: "a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons." When Jesus is presented at the temple, his very devoted and holy parents offer a sacrifice of two turtledoves and two young pigeons as his offering to the Lord. This offering gives us a fuller picture of faith as we move from the holidays.
I will tell you what I mean. You see, the holidays are supposed to be full of cheer and joy. They are supposed to be times of abundance, giving, and gratitude. In our society, the holidays are expected to be a big, positive, celebration with family and friends. And, when they are not, then we go away disappointed and depressed.
But, this continuing Christmas story that Luke tells puts it all into perspective for us. Jesus’ parents, Mary and Joseph, gave two turtledoves and two young pigeons as his offering to the Lord. In other words, they were poor. They weren’t rich enough to give an abundant offering to the Lord such as a lamb. They had to use the welfare-like prescription in the ancient law that allowed them to use a more humble animal for sacrifice.
The first Christmas was not one of abundance, but one of births in small animal sheds and paltry sacrifices. Jesus was not born into perfection, he was born into reality.
And, reality is full of both. Reality is full of both angelic chorus and scraping by just to get your next meal. It is full of dancing and singing with children and loneliness in the hospital bed. It is full of accomplishments and days of failure. Jesus, God with us, was born into our reality. He was not born into the realm of paintings where the scene of his birth is perfect, as is the glowing world around.
Even the baby Jesus himself gets a dose of reality in this scene at the temple. As his poor family walks around the temple, they are shocked by the righteous man, Simeon, who grabs Jesus and pronounces with joy that he had finally, in his old age, seen the salvation of the Lord. Simeon prays to God:
“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 peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel” (Luke 2:29-32).
Jesus, from this poor family, is honored with the highest distinction possible in ancient Israel: Messiah. And, he is blessed for the life that will come. Simeon also blesses Jesus’ parents, but gives Mary the oddest sort of blessing, and this is where reality starts to sink in. Listen carefully to what he says: "This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too" (Luke 2:34-35). Reality.
Jesus life is destined for greatness, but swords will also pierce.
Reality.
Yes, this life is about the blessings and joy that come out of nowhere, like the day early on in our marriage that Randele and I were looking at our bills, wondering how we were possibly going to make it through the holidays with some food, much less presents for each other. And, just as we opened the mail, we found an unexpected letter. We opened it, and in it was a check. Someone had thought of us, and wanted to give us a gift. They had no idea we were struggling. It was just a random act of love that came at just the right time.
We felt blessed that very moment. But, as life tends to do, we also experienced some harsh reality. The reality was that there would be more days of struggle coming without checks randomly showing up in the mail. Reality.
This life is full of ups and downs. This life is full of greatness for us and our children and swords that pierce our souls. This is life. It is not the fake perfection of family holidays, but the reality where we experience some joy, but also the days that follow where people get sick, forgiveness unfortunately needs to be granted, and people we love are hurt. Jesus was born, not into the fake, idealized stuff, but into the reality.
Jesus does grow to be great in wisdom and understanding. He does grow to be the long anticipated Messiah. But, no one in an idealized, angel filled stable realizes that being Messiah means something different than one might think. Yes, it means hoards of followers like a rock star. But, it also means death on a cross, alone. It means taking on the sins of a broken world onto an already broken and bloodied body. Jesus is born into our reality, and it is in reality where he is found.
So, Jesus is present with us through the power of the Holy Spirit when we celebrate another birthday, and when we find out about the cancer.
He is there when you celebrate the new child, and when you fear for their lives as they wander away.
He is there when you are filled with faith, giving of your time and money to help others, and he is there in the times when you think only of yourself and cause total destruction.
He is there bearing both blessing in the good times and grace and forgiveness in the times of struggle.
He is there beaming with joy during times of greatness, and offering peace in the darkest moments.
Jesus was placed in a manger, presented to the Lord in the temple with lowly doves and pigeons, and lived the life of a real, struggling person.
But, it is in those real lives, our real lives, that he still resides through the Spirit. The Spirit of Jesus Christ is with you still. Even if the celebrating is a thing of the past and a harsh reality has settled in. Even then, he is there. Especially then, he is there.
Simeon also has his highs and his lows. He holds the very salvation of the world in his hands. What a beautiful scene. A true high. But, he also prays that he might now go to die. A true low. Yet, in the reality of his situation he prays a simple thing. He prays simply that he may “go in peace.”
Peace.
This is what I pray for you. Peace throughout the highs and throughout the lows. Peace during times of greatness and times of trial. I pray for peace for you as you face your reality. I pray for you the peace of Jesus, the peace that surpasses all understanding. I pray for you the peace that calms in the face of the storm. I pray for you the peace that sustains though it all.
I pray that you might live, filled with Christ’s Spirit of peace, until the last day of your life, and beyond.
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