Christ, Come Pierce Our Souls...

Luke 2:22 And 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 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
    according to your word;
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation
31     that 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 his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him.34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

Joseph and Mary had already been through a lot: the angelic visits, the scorn of public opinion, the journey, the manger, the shepherds, and now another trip to Jerusalem. Now, here they are, doing what all good Jewish couples did, going to the temple for the purification of the mother and presentation of the firstborn son, and they draw this unsuspected attention: references to their son with terms like salvation, revelation, glory.  But wait, there's more: opposition, piercing, deep thoughts.  This is no romance novel being written or revealed. it is a much deeper read.  We must not just skim and then put it down, dusting it off year after year.  We must involve ourselves in the story, let it reveal what is in our hearts, even allow it to pierce our souls, and change our lives. It is that monumental of a work.  This week after Advent is not the end of the story. It is only the beginning of what happens next. Let's not rush on unchanged.