GodReflection: Talking with God.
Normally, I don’t think ‘spontaneous’ when I read this story. Sure, it was on God’s agenda for more millennia than I can count. The Divine Architect wasn’t caught by surprise. Yes, countless Holy detail was behind the climatic forty days of events. However, a rich texture of spontaneity colors the activities as they culminate in spontaneous prayer.
Luke chapter two relates this piece of history that changed the world and affects my life in my here and now. After a complete investigation, Luke the physician describes a portion of the impromptu activity provoked by a new law to raise taxes. Suddenly, the carpenter Joseph finds he must take off from his normal work and travel one hundred miles to comply with a new government regulation.
Big changes in his life over the past few months have caused spontaneous decisions he could never explain to the satisfaction of family, friends, or his religious community. He married his bride-to-be as a pregnant virgin.
Mary prepares to go with Joseph on a trip that will take most of the month. The timing could not be worse. She is near the end of her pregnancy. Did she ask to go with him? Did Joseph request her presence? Was she too required by law to make the trip? Was a government deadline in place that would not allow the registration to wait until after the child was born?
Most likely a caravan for safe travel was scheduled around the availability of the leaders and the necessary number of people to justify a secure trip. Thus, Joseph could only travel by reservation. Both had met angels who announced God’s design for their future. Whatever the circumstances, I suspect they set out toward Bethlehem fueled by trust in their God and commitment to each other.
Joseph and Mary arrived at their destination. Jesus, exhausted from being bounced around, ready to breathe on his own, looks forward to some warm milk and a bed of his own to get some rest and is ready to make his untimely exit—in God’s perfect timing—to enter into our world. The impromptu selection of a barn cave will have to do. “Hey, we can even use the feed trough as a cradle.”
Then comes the story of the spontaneous appearance of an angel among shepherds as they stood guard to protect their sheep through the dark hours of the night. 
“Don’t be afraid! Look! I bring good news to you—wonderful, joyous news for all people. Your savior is born today in David’s city. He is Christ the Lord. This is a sign for you: you will find a newborn baby wrapped snugly and lying in a manger.” Once again, the spontaneity. Suddenly, a great assembly of heavenly forces was with the angel praising God. They said, Glory to God in heaven and on earth peace among those whom he favors.”
Immediately, inspired and intrigued, we can feel the spontaneity flow from their adrenalin. “Let’s go right now to Bethlehem and see what’s happened. Let’s confirm what the Lord has revealed to us.” They went quickly and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger.
Upon their arrival, spontaneously the shepherds share with Joseph and Mary the angelic message they heard in their sheep pasture. As the shepherds depart for home what they have witnessed isn’t something they can hold inside—they can’t help but tell everyone they encounter about their Angel field visitors and the king-savior born in a Bethlehem barn. Effortlessly glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, the news spreads like yeast that penetrates a bowl of flour dough. Everything happened just as they had been told.
Eight days pass. When eight days had passed, Jesus’ parents circumcised him and gave him the name Jesus. This was the name given to him by the angel before he was conceived.
At some point after his circumcision and naming, the family arrives in Jerusalem on special God-business. It is a must-stop as they complete the first seven miles of the trip back to their home in Nazareth. It is now forty days after Jesus’s birth.
With their new baby in her arms, Mary and Joseph visit the Temple. In obedient trust to God’s command found in Leviticus 12, Mary having just given 
birth, comes before the Holy to allow God to declare her clean, righteous, and pure as she begins the task of raising her new son. I suspect she has a sense this event was even more special since the baby in her care was the son of God.
The time came for their ritual cleansing, in accordance with the Law from Moses, they brought Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. (It’s written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male will be dedicated to the Lord.”) They offered a sacrifice in keeping with what’s stated in the Law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.
The stage is now set for one of the most beautiful and striking spontaneous prayers from all Holy Scripture. As they enter the Temple grounds, they have a 
surprise encounter with a man named Simeon. Scripture tells us He was righteous and devout. He eagerly anticipated the restoration of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. The Holy Spirit revealed to him that he wouldn’t die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ . . . Simeon took Jesus in his arms and praised God.
Listen to his spontaneous prayer. It is a prayer of request.
“Now, master, let your servant go in peace according to your word, because my eyes have seen your salvation. You prepared this salvation in the presence of all peoples. It’s a light for revelation to the Gentiles and a glory for your people Israel.”
Joseph and Mary’s reaction is also spontaneous. They were amazed by Simon’s prayer over their new baby. It is no wonder we come across the phrase “Mary ponders these things in her heart” as she watches her little boy grow.
In a sense, old Simeon’s prayer spoken with baby Jesus in his arms initiates the eternal importance of the little one’s ministry. Thirty-three years later Jesus closes his walk on earth when in last-minute spontaneity he blesses his apostles and each one of us with essentially the same request, spoken by Simeon, to continue with Jesus in his work.
“I’ve received all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything that I’ve commanded you. Look, I myself will be with you every day until the end of this present age.”
Let’s continue with him in his work then we too can pray, let your servant go in peace according to your word, because my eyes have seen your salvation. You prepared this salvation in the presence of all peoples.
We participate and watch as that same light flow through us to all nations. And we can only give glory to Father, Son, and Spirit for their invitation to participate. Yes, with that, we can breathe our last and go in peace, don’t you think?
Stay tuned.
Dr. Gary J. Sorrells
A GodReflection, Spontaneous Prayer.
God Reflection 
Excellent, dear Gary!
LikeLike