Resolutions
Well we are down to the last day of 2017… and so our mind goes to a review of how the year has gone… and to the famous lists of resolutions for the new year that usually fall to the wayside after about one month… or maybe one week.
On Facebook, Ellen shared an article called “50 Healthy Resolutions That Aren’t Losing Weight” and of course my curiosity was peaked… because that is the one resolution that I make each and every year. I read through them, and some are very good... but that lead to a question. What are resolutions anyway? What does that word even mean? So, I went to the dictionary and found several definitions that caught my attention.
The act of resolving or determining upon an action, course of action, method, procedure, etc.
A resolve; a decision or determination: to make a firm resolution to do something.
The mental state or quality of being resolved or resolute; firmness of purpose.
Then that took me to another definition that I wanted to be sure about. What does it mean to be resolute (resuelto)? It is an adjective that describes a person who is: firmly resolved or determined; set in purpose or opinion; characterized by firmness and determination, as the temper, spirit, actions, etc.
A story about resolute people
That lead me then, to our reading for today. This story about Mary and Joseph taking Jesus to be presented at the temple is, to me, a story about resolute people. These are people that are definitely resolved or determined to do certain things. They are set on a specific purpose to do something they feel God has called them to do.
First, there are Joseph and Mary. We see them as examples of people who are obedient to the law from Moses. They follow the Torah and take Jesus to the temple to be presented to the Lord. This should not surprise us. We have seen them obeying God’s purposes from the beginning of the Gospel. They name their son Jesus. Luke takes care in presenting the couple as obedient to God’s revelation and as people who are faithful to God’s purposes. So we could say that they are presented as resolute. They have understood their places in God’s plans and they follow God’s will for their lives and for their baby.
Then there is Simeon. We is described as righteous and devout. He eagerly anticipates the restoration of Israel. The Holy Spirit is with him, and it is revealed that he won't die before he sees the Christ. He could also be construed as resolute. I can imagine him going to the temple, praying, waiting… waiting patiently for the time where his eyes will see the Messiah. Waiting requires resolution and intentionality. People don't usually like waiting. But he waits! And when he sees the Christ, his first words are telling: “Now, master, let your servant go in peace according to your word, because my eyes have seen your salvation.” This request can have two meanings according to the biblical erudition. It can mean “let me die” or “release me from this vigil”. This vigil speaks about a resolute man that has his eyes open to God’s revelation. The Holy Spirit has guided him to this moment, and now the moment has arrived. His vigil has been fulfilled… and his message has been given.
And last but not least, there is Anna. Anna is described as a prophet, as very old, and as a widow. It is also stated that she NEVER left the temple but worshipped God with fasting and prayer night and day. Prophets are messengers that are also in a vigil… listening for God’s words so that they can share them with God’s people. And Anna is presented here as a prophet, and is not in an stereotypical woman's role. Note that Simeon is the one that takes the baby in his arms… Anna does not. Simeon is the one that has the conversation with the parents… Anna does not. Anna is a prophet… therefore she approaches the couple and begins to praise God and to speak about Jesus to everyone who was waiting, like Simeon, for the redemption of Jerusalem. She is resolute. She is determined to share the news of God’s salvation through this child to anyone that wants to hear, and so she does, fulfilling her role as God's messenger.
We see a desire to be faithful to God in all of these people. We see them as people who want to follow God’s purposes and to be obedient, in different ways to God’s revelation. They are resolute to be the people that God wants them to be and to live in a way that gives honor and glory to God.
A surprise
You would think that after all this raucous, Jesus would be known across the land. But William R. Herzog notes that the passage ends on a surprising note. The family returns home. God seems to put a pause on the revelation. He says “for the moment, people will return to the ordinary circumstances of their lives”. But that is not true, is it? There is a gift with this ending. God does not put a pause. Herzog states that people will be able to live a new expectancy and confidence in the fulfillment of God’s purposes. God has given people the confidence to continue being firmly resolved or determined. They can be firm and determined, because they have seen God’s purpose.
The surprise for us today is that once again, we have witness the fullfilment of God’s purpose. A child has been born. We are in the midst of the twelve days of Christmas, twelve days that should go beyond the two turtle doves and serve as a time to reinforce our resolution for the rest of the year.
This Christmas time should be a time to be resolute… to be resolute in listening for God’s daily revelations in our lives, to be resolute to obey God’s revelations and to be faithful to God’s purposes. It is also a time to strengthen our voices and to be resolute in our sharing the good news with others, like Anna did… like Simeon did.
Number 44
In that article that I mentioned before, resolution number 44 is “Pick a theme for the year”. The explanation? “If you’re starting to feel like this whole 'resolution' thing isn’t for you, try sticking to a theme instead. Instead of picking a goal, pick a word you want to abide by for 2018. It could be “brave” or “confident” or “compassionate.” Whatever you want to start doing ― or being ― more of.
A resolve; a decision or determination: to make a firm resolution to do something.
The mental state or quality of being resolved or resolute; firmness of purpose.
Then that took me to another definition that I wanted to be sure about. What does it mean to be resolute (resuelto)? It is an adjective that describes a person who is: firmly resolved or determined; set in purpose or opinion; characterized by firmness and determination, as the temper, spirit, actions, etc.
A story about resolute people
That lead me then, to our reading for today. This story about Mary and Joseph taking Jesus to be presented at the temple is, to me, a story about resolute people. These are people that are definitely resolved or determined to do certain things. They are set on a specific purpose to do something they feel God has called them to do.
First, there are Joseph and Mary. We see them as examples of people who are obedient to the law from Moses. They follow the Torah and take Jesus to the temple to be presented to the Lord. This should not surprise us. We have seen them obeying God’s purposes from the beginning of the Gospel. They name their son Jesus. Luke takes care in presenting the couple as obedient to God’s revelation and as people who are faithful to God’s purposes. So we could say that they are presented as resolute. They have understood their places in God’s plans and they follow God’s will for their lives and for their baby.
Then there is Simeon. We is described as righteous and devout. He eagerly anticipates the restoration of Israel. The Holy Spirit is with him, and it is revealed that he won't die before he sees the Christ. He could also be construed as resolute. I can imagine him going to the temple, praying, waiting… waiting patiently for the time where his eyes will see the Messiah. Waiting requires resolution and intentionality. People don't usually like waiting. But he waits! And when he sees the Christ, his first words are telling: “Now, master, let your servant go in peace according to your word, because my eyes have seen your salvation.” This request can have two meanings according to the biblical erudition. It can mean “let me die” or “release me from this vigil”. This vigil speaks about a resolute man that has his eyes open to God’s revelation. The Holy Spirit has guided him to this moment, and now the moment has arrived. His vigil has been fulfilled… and his message has been given.
And last but not least, there is Anna. Anna is described as a prophet, as very old, and as a widow. It is also stated that she NEVER left the temple but worshipped God with fasting and prayer night and day. Prophets are messengers that are also in a vigil… listening for God’s words so that they can share them with God’s people. And Anna is presented here as a prophet, and is not in an stereotypical woman's role. Note that Simeon is the one that takes the baby in his arms… Anna does not. Simeon is the one that has the conversation with the parents… Anna does not. Anna is a prophet… therefore she approaches the couple and begins to praise God and to speak about Jesus to everyone who was waiting, like Simeon, for the redemption of Jerusalem. She is resolute. She is determined to share the news of God’s salvation through this child to anyone that wants to hear, and so she does, fulfilling her role as God's messenger.
We see a desire to be faithful to God in all of these people. We see them as people who want to follow God’s purposes and to be obedient, in different ways to God’s revelation. They are resolute to be the people that God wants them to be and to live in a way that gives honor and glory to God.
A surprise
You would think that after all this raucous, Jesus would be known across the land. But William R. Herzog notes that the passage ends on a surprising note. The family returns home. God seems to put a pause on the revelation. He says “for the moment, people will return to the ordinary circumstances of their lives”. But that is not true, is it? There is a gift with this ending. God does not put a pause. Herzog states that people will be able to live a new expectancy and confidence in the fulfillment of God’s purposes. God has given people the confidence to continue being firmly resolved or determined. They can be firm and determined, because they have seen God’s purpose.
The surprise for us today is that once again, we have witness the fullfilment of God’s purpose. A child has been born. We are in the midst of the twelve days of Christmas, twelve days that should go beyond the two turtle doves and serve as a time to reinforce our resolution for the rest of the year.
This Christmas time should be a time to be resolute… to be resolute in listening for God’s daily revelations in our lives, to be resolute to obey God’s revelations and to be faithful to God’s purposes. It is also a time to strengthen our voices and to be resolute in our sharing the good news with others, like Anna did… like Simeon did.
Number 44
In that article that I mentioned before, resolution number 44 is “Pick a theme for the year”. The explanation? “If you’re starting to feel like this whole 'resolution' thing isn’t for you, try sticking to a theme instead. Instead of picking a goal, pick a word you want to abide by for 2018. It could be “brave” or “confident” or “compassionate.” Whatever you want to start doing ― or being ― more of.
So… I have a proposition for you… Pick “resolute” as your word for 2018. I feel like this last year there have been too much antonyms for this word… contrary adjectives like “afraid”, “complacent” “irresolute” “submissive” “surrender” or “cautious”. Let us abide to this word “resolute”… trying to follow the examples of Mary, Joseph, Simeon and Anna. After all, none of them got to be resolute depending on their own strengths and abilities, but were able to be resolute because they were able to live a new expectancy and confidence in the fulfillment of God’s purposes. We have heard the stories of fulfillment once again… let us be resolute in our faithfulness to God’s will for our lives. And be resolute in raising your voice of proclamation: our eyes have seen salvation.
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