YOUR BEST INCLUDES YOUR WORST
“Ascribe to the Lord the honor due his Name; bring offering and come into his courts.” - Psalm 96:8
February 2nd, culturally known in the States as Groundhog Day, is also an important observance in the Christian tradition. Forty days removed from the birth of Jesus, the church marks this day as The Presentation of Our Lord. As a faithful family in the Jewish tradition, Mary and Joseph brought their infant son to the temple to “present” him to God. This occasion was mandated by the Torah, and fulfilled the purification ritual required after childbirth.
As the account unfolds in Luke, a righteous and devout man named Simeon held Jesus in his arms, receiving the offering on behalf of God. Simeon’s life was forever changed, as he proclaimed, “my eyes have now seen salvation.” So too was the life of the prophet Anna, as she had been fasting and praying in that temple for many years, awaiting an encounter with the holy.
This offering of Jesus by Mary and Joseph, who was clearly cherished in their hearts, was the most precious gift they had to give to God. Yes, they also offered a pair of turtledoves and two young pigeons, but Jesus was the real treasure being given. Jesus represented the best of who they were; the apple of their eyes. In this ritual, Mary and Joseph were signaling their intent to offer their all to God – even their firstborn son (which, in those times, was the one meant to carry on their lineage).
I am always moved by this sacred story and how it impacted those holy witnesses of Simeon and Anna. But this year my heart is drawn to Mary and Joseph, and in particular, what it means to give the best, or all, of who you are to God.
I grew up in the “dress in Sunday’s best” generation, where my family and others in the church would always don the spiffiest outfits from the wardrobe on Sunday. I can still remember as a child getting dirty in the yard before church one morning, and how my mom quickly corrected that behavior. For, bringing the dirt or stain-covered slacks into the church was just unacceptable on many levels.
As I have grown older, this idea of presenting the best of who you are has evolved. Best has grown beyond clean, tidy, and pure. Best encompasses more than “suitable for an Olan Mills family photograph” at all times. Best is no longer just the sunny side of my heart and soul.
In fact, best must also include the shady side.
To offer the best is truly to offer all of who we are. That includes offering the scars, imperfections, and insecurities. It also means confessing the longings, sins, and impure desires to God. As well as the dirt, fears, and mistakes, those done and those left undone.
It is so much easier to only present the side of us that give us pride. But, the transformative encounter with God must also include presenting the side of us reveals our shame and discomfort. In doing so, healing and wholeness can begin to take place.
To offer the best of who we are also includes our worst. To offer all of who we are means just that – all – sun and shade.
So, as Jesus is presented at the temple this week, you are encouraged to reflect on all of what you have to offer to God. Then – to do so.
Back
February 2nd, culturally known in the States as Groundhog Day, is also an important observance in the Christian tradition. Forty days removed from the birth of Jesus, the church marks this day as The Presentation of Our Lord. As a faithful family in the Jewish tradition, Mary and Joseph brought their infant son to the temple to “present” him to God. This occasion was mandated by the Torah, and fulfilled the purification ritual required after childbirth.
As the account unfolds in Luke, a righteous and devout man named Simeon held Jesus in his arms, receiving the offering on behalf of God. Simeon’s life was forever changed, as he proclaimed, “my eyes have now seen salvation.” So too was the life of the prophet Anna, as she had been fasting and praying in that temple for many years, awaiting an encounter with the holy.
This offering of Jesus by Mary and Joseph, who was clearly cherished in their hearts, was the most precious gift they had to give to God. Yes, they also offered a pair of turtledoves and two young pigeons, but Jesus was the real treasure being given. Jesus represented the best of who they were; the apple of their eyes. In this ritual, Mary and Joseph were signaling their intent to offer their all to God – even their firstborn son (which, in those times, was the one meant to carry on their lineage).
I am always moved by this sacred story and how it impacted those holy witnesses of Simeon and Anna. But this year my heart is drawn to Mary and Joseph, and in particular, what it means to give the best, or all, of who you are to God.
I grew up in the “dress in Sunday’s best” generation, where my family and others in the church would always don the spiffiest outfits from the wardrobe on Sunday. I can still remember as a child getting dirty in the yard before church one morning, and how my mom quickly corrected that behavior. For, bringing the dirt or stain-covered slacks into the church was just unacceptable on many levels.
As I have grown older, this idea of presenting the best of who you are has evolved. Best has grown beyond clean, tidy, and pure. Best encompasses more than “suitable for an Olan Mills family photograph” at all times. Best is no longer just the sunny side of my heart and soul.
In fact, best must also include the shady side.
To offer the best is truly to offer all of who we are. That includes offering the scars, imperfections, and insecurities. It also means confessing the longings, sins, and impure desires to God. As well as the dirt, fears, and mistakes, those done and those left undone.
It is so much easier to only present the side of us that give us pride. But, the transformative encounter with God must also include presenting the side of us reveals our shame and discomfort. In doing so, healing and wholeness can begin to take place.
To offer the best of who we are also includes our worst. To offer all of who we are means just that – all – sun and shade.
So, as Jesus is presented at the temple this week, you are encouraged to reflect on all of what you have to offer to God. Then – to do so.
Berkeley Preparatory School
Founded in 1960, Berkeley is an independent, Episcopal, college-preparatory day school located in Tampa, FL, for boys and girls in grades Pre-Kindergarten through 12. Approximately 1,400 students gather here from the greater Tampa Bay area to form ONE Berkeley.