This Sunday we will celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. Forty days after December 25, the church remembers the Holy Family bringing Jesus to the temple, pursuant to Mosaic law.

At the first sight of Jesus in the temple, old man Simeon declares, "My eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples." The prophetess Anna, likewise, begins praising God as she beholds the Messiah.

Both Simeon and Anna lived lives of expectancy. Painfully aware of the darkness and cold silence surrounding them, they clung to God's promise of rescue. While all of Israel heard that help was on the way, it was Simeon and Anna who lived as if that message were true. In hope they showed up to the temple, day in and day out, waiting. In faith, they saw the object of their faith, Jesus the Messiah.

Reading the account of Simeon and Anna in Luke 2, I find myself asking, do I show up? I work at the church, so in one sense I guess the answer is yes. But do I show up with expectancy, as if I will actually encounter Jesus in his word preached and sacraments received? The same promise spoken to Simeon and Anna calls out to each of us today: we, like Simeon and Anna, can meet Jesus. We can know him and be known by him.

Do we live as if that's true? Do we come to church expecting God to fulfill his promises? We should, because He does. Jesus is still alive: healing, blessing, speaking, surprising. Jesus was present in the worship of Simeon and Anna, and he will be present in our worship on Sunday. Come, let us adore him!