THE GREATEST JOY OF ALL
The greatest joy of all
Is the PRESENCE of God
In his person
And living in our hearts-
Minds-and souls
TODAY we read about how
Joseph and Mary
Presented our Lord Jesus-
In the Temple at birth
And how he was presented
To Simeon and Anna
“Now Lord you
Have kept your PROMISE
And you
May let your servant
Go in peace
With my own eyes
I have seen your salvation
Which you have prepared
In the PRESENCE of all peoples:
A LIGHT to reveal
Your will-to the gentiles
And bring GLORY
To your people” Luke 2:25-32
The Lord is EVERYTHING-and-
He always keeps his promises
As he did with Simeon
The GREATEST JOY of all
Is the PRESENCE of the Lord
“The precepts
Of the Lord are right
GIVING JOY-to the heart
The commands of the Lord
Are radiant
Giving LIGHT to the eyes” Psalm 19:8
“Deceit is in the hearts
Of those who plot evil
But those who promote peace
Have JOY” Proverbs 12:20
Maybe-you are like me-
And were BAPTIZED as a baby-and
REAFFIRMED your vows
As an adult
Or maybe-you weren't baptized
Until you became an adult
You/me-WE-are still filled with JOY
There was also a prophet-
Named Anna-in addition to Simeon
“She was very old-she had lived
With her husband seven years
After her marriage
And then-was a widow
Until she was 84
She never left the TEMPLE
But worshiped night and day
Fasting and praying
Coming up to them
At that very moment
She gave thanks to God
And spoke about the child
To all-who were looking forward
To the Redemption of Israel” Luke 2:36-38
Jesus' light-stayed lit-ALL the way
Through the end of his life
And through the RESURRECTION
For all of eternity
Some of our lights-need relit-
And we NEED to be reborn-
Or born again-
As we travel through this journey
We call life
Today- we CELEBRATE-
The PRESENTATION of the Lord
And of course- the PRESENCE of God-
In our hearts
THE GREATEST JOY OF ALL
Robert P. Wallman
1-31-16
and 5-08-2022
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