Sermon for the Sunday after Christmas, AD 2024

God has sent His Son to dwell with us in the flesh, according to His ancient promises. Through the righteous prophet Simeon, he declares all those promises fulfilled – for this child is our peace, our salvation, our light, and our glory! Christ and His Church will suffer and be opposed, and yet through this very suffering all our hopes are met in the person of Jesus. So we take up Simeon’s song when we receive the Holy Supper, that having seen and tasted the Lord’s salvation in the flesh of Christ, we too may rejoice to depart this life in peace! Readings for this Sunday: 2 Samuel 7:1-16 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/... Galatians 4:1-7 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/... Luke 2:33-40 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 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 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.