The Sage Agers In The Christmas Story

The mission of The Sage Forum is to encourage, equip, and empower women over 40 to mature in faith and grow in wisdom. We send out a newsletter at the beginning of each month focusing on a different theme relevant to women in the second half of life. In January, we’ll be talking about music, which plays a powerful role in our lives as we age.

The Sage Forum Extra! is a short mid-month reflection meant to offer you a word of encouragement. Today’s Extra! is penned by Sage Forum contributor Judy Allen.

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Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” —Luke 2:28-32

The scene of Jesus’s birth is etched in my mind like a creche: Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus, shepherds, angels, magi, sheep, maybe a donkey or two, and a bright star overhead. It’s a beautiful scene, condensing the reality of the Christmas story onto one stage. But there were other people involved in the miracle of Jesus’s birth, and several of the prophetic voices belonged to people in the second half of life.

In Luke’s gospel, we read of Elizabeth, Zechariah, Simeon, and Anna who were important supporting characters in the drama of the birth of Jesus. These portraits in Luke’s gospel remind us that while Mary and Jospeh were coming to terms with God’s unique call on their lives, God had given prophetic expectations to faithful older people who had lived long lives, had struggled with failure, loss, and disappointment, and came to believe more fervently in the coming Messiah.

Zechariah was visited by an angel announcing that his wife, Elizabeth, who was well past childbearing age, would have a child. While she was carrying John, Mary came to visit her, and when Mary announced her presence, the baby leapt in Elizabeth’s womb and they both prophesied joyfully. Wouldn’t you love to know what these two women, one very young and the other very old, discussed?

After Jesus’s birth, Mary and Joseph took him to the Jerusalem temple to consecrate him, and Simeon and Anna both met Jesus. Simeon, who had been promised he would see the Messiah before he died, praised God, saying, “For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people…” (Luke 2:30-31). Anna, who was eighty-four years old and had been at the temple fasting and praying for decades, “spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem” (Luke 2:38).

There is tremendous joy in these moments. Elizabeth, Zechariah, Simeon, and Anna had been waiting a long time, may have questioned their faith, struggled through doubt, but ultimately remained faithful. Perhaps Luke documented these extended scenes surrounding the birth of Jesus to remind us of God’s faithfulness and the value of waiting for what he has promised.

For those of us in the second half of life, remember that when all the action seems to be happening in and around younger people that God has an important purpose for each one of us during every season of life. Wait for it. Expect it. Embrace it. Enjoy it. And thank God for every opportunity to participate in his drama.

Prayer: Father, thank you for these beautiful people who had faith to wait for the fulfillment of your promises and for including their stories in Scripture. We ask that you empower us to remain faithful to our unique purposes. Thank you for sending your Son and for allowing these faithful men and women to meet him. Amen.

Reflect on the role you have to play right now, at this stage of your life, in the lives of those around you. How does your experience position you today to share God’s story in ways you never could have when you were younger?

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