Christmas 1 Nunc dimittis

Christmas 1 Dec. 31, 2017 Nunc dimittis

“Simeon took the baby Jesus in his arms and praised God, saying,”

In peace and joy I now depart as God is willing,

And faith fills all my mind and heart, calming, stilling,
God the Lord has promised me that death is but a slumber.

Christ Jesus makes the way for me, my gracious Savior,

With eyes of faith and trust I see God’s great favor.
When this life comes to an end my hope is God’s embracing.

The Lord is health and saving light for every nation,

Dispelling shadows of the night with salvation:
Israel’s praise and hope’s delight, my treasure, joy, and glory.

That’s hymn 440 in the red Evangelical Lutheran Worship hymnal. It is an English translation of Martin Luther’s German metrical version of the Simeon’s song of praise. Luther wrote both text and tune for the February 2, 1524 feast of the Purification. It was published in 1524 and included in a 1542 set of chants for funerals.

The traditional Prayer Book version has:  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.

Psalm 119 verse 164 says, “Seven times a day do I praise you, because of your righteous judgments.” The early church continued and adapted the customs of Jewish daily prayer. As an Augustinian monk Luther learned the medieval pattern of corporate prayer 7 times a day. Simeon’s canticle was sung at the Compline service just before bed.

Many parish churches were served by monks In those churches the 4 major services were combined into two - morning and evening. The  Magnificat from Vespers and  Nunc dimittis from Compline are sung in Evening Prayer. The Nunc dimittis is also part of the extensive concluding prayers of the Eastern Orthodox liturgy. And when some Reformation northern German Lutherans began to chant the Nunc dimittis as a post-communion devotion it went viral.  The Nunc dimittis is a popular part of many Lutheran liturgies.  

We read that “Simeon was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him.” As children of Adam and Eve, we are not by nature either righteous or devout. But God works in and through us to fit us for his love and service in this world and the world to come. Thanks be to God who imputes his righteousness to us and who draws by his love and beauty into devotion to his love and beauty. 

Simeon looked for the consolation of Israel. The consolation of Israel has come in the birth of Jesus Christ. The sin of the world has been defeated on the cross. Jesus’ resurrection offers new life to all who will believe.

What do we look for today?  What do we hope for today? Many of us spent some time this Christmas with family. We look and hope for the continued blessing of our family relationships, for their good health and ours, for reasonable prosperity for all. As a Christian I look and hope for continued growth in God’s love and service, and for opportunities to show God’s love in service. As a citizen I look for fuller expression of the declaration of the Pledge of Allegiance, “one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

As we prepare for the new year, I invite you to consider, “What do I look for? What do I hope for?” Ask God to show you his particular will for your particular situation. And when God does show you what to look for and hope for, then ask for the truth and power of the Holy Spirit to do God’s will in your life and in our community.  

Simeon prayed, “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word.” We will all eventually depart this life. God grant we also may depart in peace, trusting in God’s word Jesus.

Simeon concluded, “for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel.” The God who made us loves us; he so loved the world that he sent his only begotten Son, that “whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Whosover – all people, rich and poor, English speakers and Spanish speakers, whosoever. May God give us grace and opportunity to share the good news of the gospel this day and this year.

This morning in Holy Communion we see the salvation secured to us in Jesus’ death and resurrection, as we obey his command to “do this in remembrance of me.”  

So with Simeon and Christians in every age since,

In peace and joy I now depart as God is willing,

And faith fills all my mind and heart, calming, stilling,
God the Lord has promised me that death is but a slumber.

 Christ Jesus makes the way for me, my gracious Savior,

With eyes of faith and trust I see God’s great favor.
When this life comes to an end my hope is God’s embracing.
 
The Lord is health and saving light for every nation,
Dispelling shadows of the night with salvation:
Israel’s praise and hope’s delight, my treasure, joy, and glory.