Reflection for December 31
Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
I used to teach writing to young people and often relied upon a tip from one of my teachers about grading: before writing anything on a student’s paper, start with a positive comment, then point out some places for improvement, and finish by circling back to the initial compliment. Besides being helpful to a young teacher, this construct is useful in many situations---including, in a sense, in this gospel.
The passage begins with how Mary and Joseph did what was expected of Jewish families by bringing the child to the Temple “according to the law of Moses...as it is written in the law...to offer sacrifice...in accordance with the dictate in the law.” All of that in one sentence! The passage ends in a similar way, as the family makes its way back to Nazareth to raise Jesus having “fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord.” The Law structures the beginning and the end here, but it is in the middle where the Spirit lives.
Simeon and Anna are the middle. Simeon is led to the Temple this day “in the Spirit” and, recognizing the fulfillment of God’s promise to him, proclaims mysterious and amazing words of revelation upon the child. Anna has no concerns outside of prayer and fasting and was led by the Spirit “at that very time” to speak “about the child to all.” It is in this middle where amazement and mystery and revelation and light and blessings happen. It is in this middle where expectation and law and construct and dictates are absent.
Structure reassures me. I’m a rule-follower at heart, although it hurts a bit to admit it. When I learn something new, I research it and read about it and watch tutorials and envy those who learn by doing. As today is December 31, we traditionally take time to make resolutions of all kinds---eating better, exercising more, complaining less. But what I resolve to remember in this coming year is to get into that middle more---that middle that is unbound and amazing and fresh. The Law is safe and the Law is good, but it is in the middle where the Spirit lives.
Terry Kamradt