How lovely is your dwelling place,

O LORD of hosts!

My soul longs, indeed it faints

for the courts of the LORD;

my heart and my flesh sing for joy

to the living God. (Psalm 84:1)

Last week I spoke of the Living God in our midst. I hope you know in your heart the deep satisfaction of resting in the Lord. Augustine said that our hearts are restless until they rest in God. I hope you yearn in your heart for the peace that passes all understanding and if you do, I pray you will light that lamp for others to see. Today’s Gospel tells of the faith of two elderly individuals at the Presentation of the Lord:

“Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,

LORD, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word.

For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

To be a light to lighten the Gentiles, and to be the glory of thy people Israel” (Luke 2:25-32).

Simeon yearned for this prophetic moment when he would recognize the redemptive work of God. My prayer for each of you is that you yearn for an experience of the Living God and walk in faith all the days of your life until you depart in peace. The true strength of church is the faith of its members. This is what undergirds all evangelism, mission work and outreach. We should all invite our friends, neighbors and family to visit St. John’s and welcome, get to know, and involve our newcomers in the life and ministry of St. John’s. We give of our time by witnessing our faith to each other and especially to our children. God also calls us to usher in the kingdom of God through transformative mission and outreach. God unites us together with the poor, the oppressed, the sick, the hungry, and the disenfranchised. God calls us to passionate worship that brings the life changing presence of God to others.

Let me end with the twelfth century writing from Guerric of Igny:

“Behold then, the candle alight in Simeon's hands. You must light your own candles by enkindling them at his, those lamps which the Lord commanded you to bear in your hands. So come to him and be enlightened that you do not so much bear lamps as become them, shining within yourself and radiating light to your neighbors. May there be a lamp in your heart, in your hand, and in your mouth: let the lamp in your heart shine for yourself, the lamp in your hand and mouth shine for your neighbors. The lamp in your heart is a reverence for God inspired by faith; the lamp in your hand is the example of a good life; and the lamp in your mouth are the words of consolation you speak.”

In Christ’s love,

Fr. Duncan