Devotion 12.28.15

I loved the graphic that came out late Saturday night that showed northern and western Texas with blizzard, snow, thunderstorm, and tornado warnings all in the same graphic on the same night.  It was raining on my patio at that moment with wind driving it into the windows hurricane style (living on the coast for 40 years, I can call it as it is without credentials in meteorology).  That gave way to freezing rain and then sleet.  And that was all within 10 minutes.

Texans like to say, "If you don't like the weather in Texas, wait a minute."  Of course, it is said regionally as well, but it is true in general throughout the continental US.  I've enjoyed a beautiful day in Minnesota and then been ushered into the basement as lightning, hail, and rain drive straight down that same day. I was in Kansas one day to see sun, wind, rain, snow, and then dust (yes, dust) within about four hours of time.  It is a phenomenon known as "weather."  It's called "uncertainty."

I once heard a professor from the University of Houston speak at a gathering who said that the genius of the weather caster is in  how they do their craft.  They don't "predict" which implies certainty.  They "forecast," which means they play the odds.  Our weather is given to us in percentages which means you can be completely wrong and look brilliant.

In our Gospel lesson Sunday, we are given the message of Simeon who was at the temple when Jesus came to be presented in accordance with the law (explained in the Old Testament lesson on Sunday as well).  Upon seeing Jesus presented in the temple to be consecrated in accordance with the law, Simeon takes him in his arms and speaks a familiar passage, "Lord, as you have promised, now you dismiss your servant in peace, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentile, and for glory to your people Israel." (Luke 2:29 - 32, also known as the "Nunc Dimittis" - now dismiss - which was the dismissal hymn at communion in Lutheran services past).  Simeon had prayed to wait to see the Christ before he departed from this life, and he was granted that prayer.  His hymn is a hymn of thanksgiving and praise and acknowledges the certainty of who Christ is.

Christ is the certainty in our life.  Simeon's hymn was not a forecast, but it was a prophetic message as to Christ and who he is then and now, a light for revelation to the Gentile and for the glory of God's chosen people, Israel.  Christ is here for all of us to turn to in our time of need and as we grow in faith.

We lift a hymn of praise to God for sending his Son, our certainty, to us.

Hope Men's Ministry