There's an old Turkish Proverb that claims patience is, "the key to Paradise." That's what we see in our Scripture reading this morning, isn't it? We get a glimpse of how patient hope and faithfulness pay off for two persevering souls.

I love this story of Simeon and Anna. We only find it here, in the Gospel of Luke, as the birth story unfolds to include the Jewish rite of circumcision on the eighth day of Jesus' life. Moving from Bethlehem to Jerusalem we see Joseph and Mary performing the proper, faithful actions of their tradition. Bringing a pair of pigeons and turtle doves to the temple -- a sacrifice allowed only by the poor who couldn't afford to offer a sheep -- we're given witness to a beautiful, prophetic scene. Like the homage paid by the shepherds and wise men, the words and actions of these characters help to build the understanding that this young child is no ordinary babe. Jesus is being hailed as the One who will save the world and while this may seem obvious or even cliché to us as we begin to wrap up another Christmas season, to Simeon and Anna this was an incredible, life changing event.

Looking at the way the author of Luke helps this scene unfold, we can appreciate why this was such a great moment for this man and woman, and why their patience was a lesson that needed to be learned by the early Lucan community.

First there's the blessed Simeon, a man not described as self-righteous and proud as other temple priests are so often depicted, but rather as devout, the Holy Spirit resting upon him. Luke has him enter the temple that day seemingly by chance, "guided," as he writes, "by the Spirit." Whether he could have been off taking care of some other important business or simply sleeping late, we can imagine Simeon arrives to the sacred space to read, to pray, to serve those who come seeking counsel and the rites of the Jewish tradition. He is there, that day, being a faithful servant of God.

And then there's Anna, another devout, humble soul. While to some she may appear to be a religious fanatic we can appreciate that she's one devoted to loving and serving God as well. Praying and fasting each day she, too, is waiting for redemption, salvation, an outward and visible sign of God's renewing presence in the world. And so there she was that fateful day, awe struck and mindful of what was taking place before her very eyes. She praises God, as Luke writes, speaking about the child "to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem."

Anna and Simeon. They are devout. They are old. They are waiting for their Messiah and Lord. Trusting the Spirit's assurance that they'll live to see such an arrival they continue offering their lives to God's service. Day in and day out, they plod along prayerfully, patiently, continuing to persevere in their lifetime's resolution to be faithful disciples.

Thinking about these two from the vantage point of the early Lucan community we can see their experience reflects that of many others. For in these verses the author of Luke is taking on a double assignment. First, and most obviously, there's the task of making a clear proclamation about God's arrival to the world in the Christ child there in Jerusalem by devout Jews. But then, and perhaps just as importantly, there's the underlying message of assurance and encouragement. The characters' patience and perseverance is so critical to this scene as they've each grown older anticipating the arrival of their Savior. Through all those years of waiting Simeon and Anna never gave up. They held on to their faith in God's goodness and promise. And from this story of them hanging on, others were able to persevere as well.

Written nearly fifty or sixty years after Christ's death and resurrection Luke's texts were ones that always urged the devout forward, helping to buoy them up at a time when they were wondering if they'd been hoaxed into a false sense of security and belief. It's that common plea we hear behind so many of our gospel writings, as impatience takes root and despair begins to prevail. Beginning to get restless and doubtful people were asking the leaders of their community: Where's Jesus? You said he'd be coming back a second time. You said it would happen any minute now. If he doesn't show up soon I'm out of here!

That's the kind of demands those leaders were up against. Facing the threats of desertion and even sabotage, these second and third generation apostles were challenged to keep their communities at peace, their worries as much about inner turmoil as conflict with the outer world. There, near the close of the first century, men and women like Luke were seeking ways to keep the convictions of Christ's disciples' strong and sure.

And so we get this story. Like the rest of Luke's gospel, these words reflect his belief that the end may not be coming soon. Instead of being a champion of the immanent return of Christ like the authors of Matthew and Mark, this writer was convinced that the opposite might be true. The Church, he felt -- the Church universal with a capital "C" --was part and parcel of God's unfolding dominion in his theology. Seeing the coming of God's realm from this light, the Church's life and leadership, its compassion and service were vital components of the eternal process. Through stories like the one Luke is saying: Look, God's realm is not just going to explode into being, like some spontaneous act of combustion, We have to be patient. We need to participate. We must persevere for as long as we live -- just like Simeon and Anna.

Patience: "the key to Paradise." Like Paul's encouragement to the Colossians that they may "be prepared to endure everything with patience" (Col 1: 1), we see from Luke's gospel that the unfolding of God's realm is a process that we're all called to be a part of. As much as the story of Simeon and Anna applies to the first days of Christ's life and to the first generations of Christendom, we can see how his theology speaks to us as we celebrate the two thousandth anniversary of Jesus' birth. This educated and eloquent writer is reminding us even today to take note of the discipline and devotion of these humble souls. To the men and women disappointed the world didn't end at midnight on Friday we can hear him saying, It's still unfolding. You're still apart of God's plan.  Live faithfully.  Live fully.  God is waiting to be revealed through your life as a community, as individuals.

Learning such a lesson from our Scriptures reminds us of the many ways we need help along our journey of faith. Given the example of Anna's and Simeon's devotion we remember that we require role models, teachers, guides. From the characters of the nativity to the many interactions we witness through Christ's ministry, through the example and teachings of Christ himself, we get such a host of truths to live by in our Scriptures. Then there's the more recent living proof of those like Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King, Jr., Kip Teirnan. From the ancestors of our tradition to hardworking witnesses in our very time, the resolve to be faithful grows when its inspired by the devotion of others.

Marian Wright Edelman talks about the need for such guidance in her latest book titled Lanterns: A Memoir of Mentors. Opening the preface with a prayer she writes,

And goes on later to say, "It is my great joy to share some of the great lives and spirits of mentors who have enriched, informed, and helped shape our times and national life." Looking back on her development she remembers the impact that community elders and family members had on her formation as a woman, a mother, an advocate for the poor and the young. She shares the inspiration she received from people like William Sloan Coffin, Jr., Malcolm X, Mae Bertha Carter, Robert Kennedy. Stressing all the while our need to seek out and value the influence of role models in our lives, Edelman, in her forthright and poetic style, reminds us that we are shaped by those around us. Like the author of Luke's gospel she knows the importance of cherishing and handing on the inspirational stories in our lives.

Ending this book the way she formed her other widely known treasure, The Measure of Our Success, Edelman offers what she calls "Twenty-Five More Lessons for Life." Culling through this list of head-on advice and challenge I found two that seem especially pertinent to our reflection today. The first is a reminder that we all need to find our way toward unique faithfulness, just as Simeon and Anna did in our gospels. In Lesson 13 she writes:

God has a job for all of us to do. Open up the envelope of your soul and try to discern the Creator's orders inside. The Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard wrote that each of us comes to earth with sealed orders from God. Struggle to find your orders and carry them out. Nobody can do it for you.

Holding on to our Christmas story we know that this is true. From Mary to Joseph, to those shepherds and wise men, to the passage before us this morning, there are such a host of ways each character plays into the Christian drama. How is it that we are continuing the story? What do you and I need to be doing to uniquely offer our gifts to the love and service of God so that the legacy, the life can continue?

These questions lead us to Edelman's next teaching for the day, Lesson 20: "Be a good ancestor." She continues:

Stand for something bigger than yourself. Add value to the Earth during your sojourn. Give something back. Every minute you drink from wells you did not dig, are sheltered by builders you will never know, are protected by police and soldiers and neighbors and caretakers whose names are in no record books... What will your obituary say? What will your legacy in life be?

Opening up the envelope and discerning God's orders. Being a good ancestor. These are two points Simeon and Anna seem to have down as we meet them in our Scriptures faithful and strong. By examples like theirs and through words like Edelman's we remember that there's a higher calling for our lives than just meeting the demands of the day before us. In a world that seems to tell us at every turn that there's really nothing we can do to make a difference, that the problems of poverty and oppression, pain and despair are too great for us to meddle with, our faith tells us to take a stand, that we can make a difference. Whether we choose a New Year's Resolution to seek God's grace more fully in our lives or if we decide to make a lifetime's resolution to devote ourselves to the cause of Christ -- a mission of love and service and mercy and joy -- we can trust that God's Spirit will lead us on, giving us the strength and determination we need to see that resolve through.

Patience. Prayerful resolve. Determined perseverance. Beginning a new century together we may continue growing in the love Christ brought to the world through his birth, his death, his resurrection. Waiting for the realm of God to break through we remember with Luke that it's here, waiting to evolve through us, offering us hope, extending peace, asking that we share our faithful joy with others. With Simeon and Anna we can proclaim, "O God, [our] eyes have seen your salvation" and with them -- by the power of the Holy Spirit -- we may lead the way to a more loving and merciful world. That's a resolution to hold on to for a lifetime. Let us pray.

O God, we want to be your servants. We wish to hold your light for all to see, that your life in Christ may offer others hope and peace and joy. Help us, we pray, to carry the lantern of our faith with strength, that we may continue to see the coming of your realm here in our day. Amen.

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 upon 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, "Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel."

And the child's father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, "This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed -- and a sword will pierce your own soul too." There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phannuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.