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First Sunday after Christmas – December 31^st, 2023 Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church, Block, Kansas Rev. Joshua Woelmer Text: Luke 2:22–40 “Now Let Me Depart” Theme: God allows you to live like you were dying: in peace and joy that is found in Him alone. Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father, and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. “Live Like You Were Dying” by Tim McGraw is one of my favorite country songs. It did come out when I was in my teens, so it made quite the impression on me. But setting my sentimentality aside, I’ve always been impressed with its lyrics. It doesn’t talk about going down to the beach, partying, picking up chicks, or any number of the things songs today are about. It’s about appreciating life in the face of death. It’s about takin a second look at your life and making changes to value those around you. All of that is good. What Would You Do If You Knew You Were Dying? Would you follow the lyrics of the song? Would you go skydiving or Rocky Mountain climbing? Would you go 2.7 seconds (or less) on a bull named Fumanchu? Would you love deeper, speak sweeter, and give forgiveness you’d been denying? Maybe the last three sound more appealing than the first three. Part of the charm of the song is how it reminds each of us that we will one day die. We ought to see our life in view of what really matters. Forgiving people, spending time with family—all of those things are way more important than running the rat race to earn more money. But what if you really did know when you would die? Would that change your life at all? There are actually a few biblical examples that might be helpful to look at briefly. The first one is a man named King Hezekiah. God sends Isaiah to him to tell him that he needs to set his house in order because he will die of his sickness. He pleads with God to give him more years of life. So, God grants him his wish. He gives him fifteen more years of life. As a sign of this, God reverses a shadow in a stairway by ten steps. Here’s the question: how would you spend those fifteen years? Would you be eternally grateful to God for every single one of them? Or would you squander them, because they’re more than you expected to have? Guess which one Hezekiah chose? Yes, the latter. In fact, he did the worst thing imaginable. When Babylonian envoys came to Hezekiah, he showed them his treasure house and everything in it. Isaiah tells Hezekiah that because of this, the Babylonians will conquer Jerusalem and take his descendants captive. What is Hezekiah’s response? Well, at least there will be peace in my days. Not at all a good way to think about the end of one’s life. A contrary, good example of someone awaiting death is someone we have in our Gospel lesson for today. Simeon is a man who had been living in Jerusalem. He is described as “righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel” (25). And, “it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ” (26). Imagine that! He knows that he will not die until he sees the Messiah. For Christians, this might be sometime like God telling one of you that you will personally see Jesus coming again on the Last Day. Simeon does not act like Hezekiah. He does not waste his days. Quite the opposite: it seems like he was constantly looking for the baby to show up in the temple. Why? Because that’s what a Jewish baby Messiah needed to do. There’s a portion of Leviticus 12 that says that if a woman has a boy as her first child, he must be redeemed by a lamb or by a pair of turtledoves AND that this sacrifice serves to purify the mother from her ritual uncleanness as well. I can almost imagine an elderly man just waiting with excitement to see baby after baby come into the temple to be dedicated. Which one would it be? Is today the day? Imagine an elderly man who’s as giddy as a little child on Christmas morning. It’s a funny image to be sure, but I think it’s accurate. What happens when Mary and Joseph bring Jesus into the temple? The Spirit leads Simeon to recognize who this baby is. He “[takes] him up in his arms and blessed God” (28). Then he speaks these words: “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel” (29–32). Simeon expresses a hope that has been fulfilled: he has seen his Savior. He knows that he’s going to die soon, but it doesn’t matter. He’s happy. We must not forget Anna as well—that eighty-four year old widow who never left the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. She too gave thanks to God and told many others of the redemption of Jerusalem. What if these words were on our lips? We are not like Hezekiah or Simeon in that we do not know when we will die. Nonetheless, they teach us how to order our lives knowing that we will one day die. It might be easy for us to focus on the things of this world. We might have dreams of visiting a foreign country before we die. People create “bucket lists” of things they want to do before they die. It is true that retirement can be an opportunity to cross some of these things off. Simeon teaches us to value what really matters. Above all else, God wants you to desire Him. Simeon desired the coming of his Messiah in human form. We should desire to receive our Savior where he comes to us. He comes to us by his Word and Sacrament. Guess where we get to sing Simeon’s words? After the Lord’s Supper. His words are on our lips after receiving our Lord. It’s true we don’t see him with our eyes. But we do receive his body and blood onto our lips and into our soul. We partake of God’s Divinity. I know it might not be a German thing to do, but you’re allowed to go away from Communion with a smile on your face. You can, with Simeon, say, “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, … for my eyes have seen your salvation” (29–30). And maybe, just maybe, this knowledge changes your interactions with others. In fact, I would encourage you to consider your new life, not only in the face of death, but in the face of a greater life that God has given you. I wouldn’t suggest going skydiving or Rocky Mountain climbing or going any seconds on a bull named Fumanchu. Maybe you can love deeper, speak sweeter, and give forgiveness that you’ve been denying. Why? Because God has done those things for you. He died for you, that you now may live like you were dying. Now may the peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Amen. Return to Top \| Return to Sermons \| Home \| Email Church Office

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First Sunday after Christmas – December 31^st, 2023

Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church, Block, Kansas

Rev. Joshua Woelmer

Text: Luke 2:22–40

“Now Let Me Depart”

Theme: God allows you to live like you were dying: in peace and joy that is found in Him alone.

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father, and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

“Live Like You Were Dying” by Tim McGraw is one of my favorite country songs. It did come out when I was in my teens, so it made quite the impression on me. But setting my sentimentality aside, I’ve always been impressed with its lyrics. It doesn’t talk about going down to the beach, partying, picking up chicks, or any number of the things songs today are about. It’s about appreciating life in the face of death. It’s about takin a second look at your life and making changes to value those around you. All of that is good.

What Would You Do If You Knew You Were Dying? Would you follow the lyrics of the song? Would you go skydiving or Rocky Mountain climbing? Would you go 2.7 seconds (or less) on a bull named Fumanchu? Would you love deeper, speak sweeter, and give forgiveness you’d been denying? Maybe the last three sound more appealing than the first three.

Part of the charm of the song is how it reminds each of us that we will one day die. We ought to see our life in view of what really matters. Forgiving people, spending time with family—all of those things are way more important than running the rat race to earn more money.

But what if you really did know when you would die? Would that change your life at all? There are actually a few biblical examples that might be helpful to look at briefly.

The first one is a man named King Hezekiah. God sends Isaiah to him to tell him that he needs to set his house in order because he will die of his sickness. He pleads with God to give him more years of life. So, God grants him his wish. He gives him fifteen more years of life. As a sign of this, God reverses a shadow in a stairway by ten steps.

Here’s the question: how would you spend those fifteen years? Would you be eternally grateful to God for every single one of them? Or would you squander them, because they’re more than you expected to have? Guess which one Hezekiah chose? Yes, the latter. In fact, he did the worst thing imaginable. When Babylonian envoys came to Hezekiah, he showed them his treasure house and everything in it. Isaiah tells Hezekiah that because of this, the Babylonians will conquer Jerusalem and take his descendants captive. What is Hezekiah’s response? Well, at least there will be peace in my days. Not at all a good way to think about the end of one’s life.

A contrary, good example of someone awaiting death is someone we have in our Gospel lesson for today. Simeon is a man who had been living in Jerusalem. He is described as “righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel” (25). And, “it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ” (26). Imagine that! He knows that he will not die until he sees the Messiah.

For Christians, this might be sometime like God telling one of you that you will personally see Jesus coming again on the Last Day. Simeon does not act like Hezekiah. He does not waste his days. Quite the opposite: it seems like he was constantly looking for the baby to show up in the temple. Why? Because that’s what a Jewish baby Messiah needed to do.

There’s a portion of Leviticus 12 that says that if a woman has a boy as her first child, he must be redeemed by a lamb or by a pair of turtledoves AND that this sacrifice serves to purify the mother from her ritual uncleanness as well.

I can almost imagine an elderly man just waiting with excitement to see baby after baby come into the temple to be dedicated. Which one would it be? Is today the day? Imagine an elderly man who’s as giddy as a little child on Christmas morning. It’s a funny image to be sure, but I think it’s accurate. What happens when Mary and Joseph bring Jesus into the temple? The Spirit leads Simeon to recognize who this baby is. He “[takes] him up in his arms and blessed God” (28).

Then he speaks these words:

“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
    according to your word;
for my eyes have seen your salvation
    that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
    and for glory to your people Israel” (29–32).

Simeon expresses a hope that has been fulfilled: he has seen his Savior. He knows that he’s going to die soon, but it doesn’t matter. He’s happy. We must not forget Anna as well—that eighty-four year old widow who never left the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. She too gave thanks to God and told many others of the redemption of Jerusalem.

What if these words were on our lips? We are not like Hezekiah or Simeon in that we do not know when we will die. Nonetheless, they teach us how to order our lives knowing that we will one day die. It might be easy for us to focus on the things of this world. We might have dreams of visiting a foreign country before we die. People create “bucket lists” of things they want to do before they die. It is true that retirement can be an opportunity to cross some of these things off.

Simeon teaches us to value what really matters. Above all else, God wants you to desire Him. Simeon desired the coming of his Messiah in human form. We should desire to receive our Savior where he comes to us. He comes to us by his Word and Sacrament. Guess where we get to sing Simeon’s words? After the Lord’s Supper.

His words are on our lips after receiving our Lord. It’s true we don’t see him with our eyes. But we do receive his body and blood onto our lips and into our soul. We partake of God’s Divinity. I know it might not be a German thing to do, but you’re allowed to go away from Communion with a smile on your face. You can, with Simeon, say, “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, … for my eyes have seen your salvation” (29–30). And maybe, just maybe, this knowledge changes your interactions with others. In fact, I would encourage you to consider your new life, not only in the face of death, but in the face of a greater life that God has given you.

I wouldn’t suggest going skydiving or Rocky Mountain climbing or going any seconds on a bull named Fumanchu. Maybe you can love deeper, speak sweeter, and give forgiveness that you’ve been denying. Why? Because God has done those things for you. He died for you, that you now may live like you were dying.

Now may the peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Amen.

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