Larry Devich
Monday, March 05, 2007
Tired and busy
Whew, I'm starting to really drag now... it's been a very long two weeks, I have not had a day off since last Monday and most days have been 12 hours long. I think I'll probably survive, barely :-)
Serenity had a very busy weekend, Saturday she spent the day with Sheridan, going to the Farmers Market, watching movies and then to Tea at the Palace Hotel. In the evening we went to the Chinese New Year's Parade and then to dinner at Carrows in Dublin. Sunday she went to church in the morning and then to a birthday party in the afternoon, she got a bit sunburned there because she wore a sleeveless dress and no sunscreen. We have to remember to put on sunscreen if she's going to be playing outdoors from now I think.
The weather has finally turned from bitter cold to comfortably warm! Woo Hoo!
Tonight Mike is coming into the city to go to his Kung Fu class and will drop Serenity off here at work on his way. I'll take her home on BART. ¶ 3/05/2007 07:20:00 AM 0 Comments
Serenity had a very busy weekend, Saturday she spent the day with Sheridan, going to the Farmers Market, watching movies and then to Tea at the Palace Hotel. In the evening we went to the Chinese New Year's Parade and then to dinner at Carrows in Dublin. Sunday she went to church in the morning and then to a birthday party in the afternoon, she got a bit sunburned there because she wore a sleeveless dress and no sunscreen. We have to remember to put on sunscreen if she's going to be playing outdoors from now I think.
The weather has finally turned from bitter cold to comfortably warm! Woo Hoo!
Tonight Mike is coming into the city to go to his Kung Fu class and will drop Serenity off here at work on his way. I'll take her home on BART. ¶ 3/05/2007 07:20:00 AM 0 Comments
Monday Lent 2 - Suddenly...
Read: Luke 2:21-38
Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were
completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord.
(Lk. 2:22)
Eight days after Jesus is born, His parents keep the Law and circumcise Him.
Or, rather, the Infant Immanuel keeps the Law for you, shedding His blood as
your Redeemer.
Forty days after He's born, His parents obey the Law again and take Him to
Jerusalem—to the temple—in order to present Him to the Lord. The poor
couple arrives on the temple grounds to offer the poor man's sacrifice—a pair of
turtledoves instead of a lamb, as the Law prescribes (Lev. 12:2-8).
Now, did you catch the fulfillment of prophecy there? Just like Malachi
prophesied (Mal. 3:1), the Lord Himself has come suddenly to His temple. It's a
magnificent day, awaited for centuries!—and nobody really notices. Once
again, the Lord's arrival in mercy isn't glorious. It looks like a poor couple with
a little baby, and the bustling business of the temple doesn't miss a beat.
A couple of people notice, one of them a man named Simeon. Told by the
Holy Spirit that he would see the Savior before he died, he's been waiting, and
today's the day. Whether or not Simeon is expecting an infant, he isn't going by
appearances. Therefore, he cradles the Baby in his arms and says, "Lord, now
lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy Word; for mine
eyes have seen the salvation which Thou hast prepared before the face of
all people, a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people
Israel." (Lk. 2:29-32). I've pondered before where Simeon looks as he says
these things. Is he gazing up toward heaven? Does he turn toward the Holy of
Holies and the throne of God in the temple? The Bible doesn't say, but there's
another possibility: he's talking to the Child. Simeon isn't just praying about the
Baby; in reality, he's praying to the Baby—because there He is. No matter
appearances, the helpless Infant in His hands is the Lord of life who numbers his
days , provides for all of his needs and gives him eternal life. And while the
world doesn't even notice Him, He's holding the world together.
So there He is, and Simeon knows it to be true by faith; and he also knows
that the pattern will continue: the Savior will continue to go about His work of
saving, and the world will want nothing to do with Him. In fact, prophesies
Simeon, the work of Jesus will be spoken against as He brings about the rise and
fall of many in Israel. Before His final triumph, Mary's heart will be pierced,
too.
It remains the same for you and me: the Lord is present with His people in
His Word and Sacraments, those humble means of grace by which He gives
eternal life. Until His return in glory, the world will rush on by; but for those
who believe in Him, He gives grace and truth and life. ¶ 3/05/2007 07:18:00 AM 0 Comments
Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were
completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord.
(Lk. 2:22)
Eight days after Jesus is born, His parents keep the Law and circumcise Him.
Or, rather, the Infant Immanuel keeps the Law for you, shedding His blood as
your Redeemer.
Forty days after He's born, His parents obey the Law again and take Him to
Jerusalem—to the temple—in order to present Him to the Lord. The poor
couple arrives on the temple grounds to offer the poor man's sacrifice—a pair of
turtledoves instead of a lamb, as the Law prescribes (Lev. 12:2-8).
Now, did you catch the fulfillment of prophecy there? Just like Malachi
prophesied (Mal. 3:1), the Lord Himself has come suddenly to His temple. It's a
magnificent day, awaited for centuries!—and nobody really notices. Once
again, the Lord's arrival in mercy isn't glorious. It looks like a poor couple with
a little baby, and the bustling business of the temple doesn't miss a beat.
A couple of people notice, one of them a man named Simeon. Told by the
Holy Spirit that he would see the Savior before he died, he's been waiting, and
today's the day. Whether or not Simeon is expecting an infant, he isn't going by
appearances. Therefore, he cradles the Baby in his arms and says, "Lord, now
lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy Word; for mine
eyes have seen the salvation which Thou hast prepared before the face of
all people, a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people
Israel." (Lk. 2:29-32). I've pondered before where Simeon looks as he says
these things. Is he gazing up toward heaven? Does he turn toward the Holy of
Holies and the throne of God in the temple? The Bible doesn't say, but there's
another possibility: he's talking to the Child. Simeon isn't just praying about the
Baby; in reality, he's praying to the Baby—because there He is. No matter
appearances, the helpless Infant in His hands is the Lord of life who numbers his
days , provides for all of his needs and gives him eternal life. And while the
world doesn't even notice Him, He's holding the world together.
So there He is, and Simeon knows it to be true by faith; and he also knows
that the pattern will continue: the Savior will continue to go about His work of
saving, and the world will want nothing to do with Him. In fact, prophesies
Simeon, the work of Jesus will be spoken against as He brings about the rise and
fall of many in Israel. Before His final triumph, Mary's heart will be pierced,
too.
It remains the same for you and me: the Lord is present with His people in
His Word and Sacraments, those humble means of grace by which He gives
eternal life. Until His return in glory, the world will rush on by; but for those
who believe in Him, He gives grace and truth and life. ¶ 3/05/2007 07:18:00 AM 0 Comments
