Well, y’all, Christmas is over.   Officially.   And before you start to think that I’ve finally lost my mind, lemme tell ya what I mean.  Today, 2 February, is the 40^th day of the liturgical Christmas/Epiphany season, and marks the presentation of Jesus in the temple in Jerusalem and the purification of Mary.  Way back then, and in many instances still today,   40 days after giving birth to a son is when a mother was blessed and gave thanks for safely making it through childbirth. This was called “purification.”  It was less about a mother being somehow impure and more about giving thanks and giving time for recovery from birth.

Today is the day that Jesus was presented in the temple. According to the law of Moses, presenting the firstborn male as an offering to God was done for all livestock animals. This was to remember and give thanks to God for delivering Israel from slavery in Egypt. The final plague in Egypt was the death of the firstborn, but the Israelites were saved at that first Passover with the sacrifice of a lamb. A firstborn son is dedicated to God and redeemed at the temple 40 days after birth with an offering.

Now, at the temple lived a priest who was very, very old.  His name was Simeon and he was very, very faithful to God, and God had told Simeon that he would not die before he had been able to meet the Savior.  Well, lo and behold, when Mary and Joseph got to the temple, Simeon KNEW that Jesus was the Savior he had been waiting a very, very long time to meet.  The Gospel according to St Luke tell us that Simeon took the baby into his arms and blessed God, saying: 

 “Now, Master, you may let your servant go 
        in peace, according to your word,
    for my eyes have seen your salvation,
        which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples:
    a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
        and glory for your people Israel.”

Well, you can imagine that Mary and Joseph were kinda tripped out, especially when Simeon continued to Mary:

“Behold, this child is destined
for the fall and rise of many in Israel,
and to be a sign that will be contradicted
-and you yourself a sword will pierce-
so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

Great story, huh?  But, you ask, “What in the world does this have to do with us today?”  Well, as is my custom, I’m gonna tell ya.  We all of us know that that baby that Simeon was very, very excited about grew up and, indeed, became the “light for revelation to the Gentiles,” and whilst he was at it, he gave us some very, very specific instructions.  He told us, no, commanded us, to go into the world and preach the gospel.  And reckon wonder how do we do that?  Jesus told us how to do that, too.  He told us, no, commanded us, to love.  Period.  He even said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)   

Now, you’ll notice that the scripture says, by this everyone will know that you are my DISCIPLES.  Today, there are SO SO SO many folks who claim to be “Christian,” but are nowhere near to being a “disciple.”   What’s the difference, you may ask?  My friend, Rainbow Joseph, explained it best when he wrote:

“You were called by Christ to be a disciple, not a Christian.  A disciple is an apprentice. A disciple learns from a teacher how to be like the teacher. A disciple learns by doing. A disciple practices the skill that is learned, over and over, improving a little more each day.  Jesus THE Christ has called you to be a christ to those around in your own personal Israel.  If you are not the Christ to those around you, then you do not serve THE Christ and you have learned nothing.  If you are not the Christ to those around you, then you are not a disciple, and if not a disciple, you are certainly not a Christian.”

Period.  Hands down.  Those who claim to be Christians, and who are not disciples, do a disservice to the gospel message by watering down his message to one of religious platitudes. We like to generalize the words of Jesus and transform his life into a one-size-fits-all model that can apply to all of humanity.  He intentionally, purposefully, and passionately addressed very specific causes. He radically addressed the diverse and complicated conflicts of the time and shattered the status quo.  Are we, as Christians, not called to do the same?  By addressing racism, immigration, gender equality, and a litany of other issues, we are following in the steps of Jesus.  By remembering that there is not one person on this planet that God does not love, that Jesus did not die for, and acting with that love that Jesus talks about, we are disciples.  By working for the change that would better the entire world, and each individual, we are disciples.  By asking for mercy, working toward that mercy, by loving those who are oppressed, by loving those who are hard to love, those who are opposed to everything that we (not necessarily Jesus) want, we are disciples.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)  

Amen.