Link: What Simeon Didn’t See, Feast of the Presentation 2014

Summary of what I was saying and why:
I have always loved the Nunc Dimitis. I learned it as part of Compline and thus still think of it with the Latin heading the BCP79 uses. In large part because of that I didn’t think I could preach on it–I tend to find texts I love harder to preach than strange or new texts. I was internally lamenting this and thinking about how hard it would be to explain to people what Simeon was reacting to…after all, what had Simeon seen?

Theology: Christology
Jesus Count: medium
Good News: We all see glimpses of God.

What did I change on my feet?
The conclusion. (What else?)
What didn’t work/what did I miss?
I got the Nunc Dimitis better at the later service but the conclusion was better at the early service. I still like this sermon and the concept, but I’m not sure I’d preach it again. I think it needs a fairly massive rewrite.
What did work?
What didn’t Simeon see, what don’t we see…

Other sermons I liked:

Priest Giroux lights candles.

Priest Lightcap considers the power of temples.

Priest Richardson reminds us that the presentation
is about faith, family, and community.

(Here’s the list of people I usually listen to. Am I missing someone?)
The Anglican Church of Canada uses the Roman Ordinary Time numbering system instead of numbering the Propers. Because all of this is new to me, I’m now indicating both numbering systems.