In the newspaper last week, there was a comic strip that depicted “The World’s Funniest Bears.”  The bears were named in rank order as Yogi, Winnie, Fozzie, Paddington, and Chicago.  In fairness to Chicago Bears fans, the Chicago Bears are a class of bear quite different from the others on the list.  The cartoonist’s judgment that the Chicago Bears are among the world’s funniest is probably a reflection of the fact that, despite the team’s best efforts and considerable expenditures, they’ve been in last place in their division for three consecutive years. 

If the Chicago Bears truly are to be considered among the world’s funniest bears, there are many details about the team that must be examined.  There have been numerous changes to the coaching staff and player roster in recent years.  The team has been able to draft some very talented young players, and they’ve spent quite a bit of money in the process.  The most important consideration, however, is one’s expectations for the team.  If you are a diehard Bears’ fan, you remain convinced that the Bears will start winning at any moment.  If you’re not a fan, you probably expect them to continue to embarrass themselves at great expense. 

The very detailed story in today’s Gospel is somewhat like the story of the Chicago Bears insofar as the meaning of the story depends on the loyalties of the reader. 

There is quite a lot going on in Luke’s narrative of Jesus’ presentation in the Temple.  Joseph and Mary traveled from Nazareth in Galilee to Jerusalem to fulfill the requirements of the Law of Moses regarding Jesus’ birth.  The extraordinary journey was not required of Joseph and Mary; rather, it served to demonstrate the couple’s extraordinary faithfulness to the Law of Moses. 

Upon arriving at the Temple, Joseph and Mary were greeted by two prophetic figures, Simeon and Anna.  Simeon prophesied that the child Jesus was destined to cause division; he would lead some people to be raised up and others to be cast down. (Lk 2:34)  Similarly, Anna proclaimed that the child would bring salvation to those who hoped for it. (Lk 2:38) 

Surrounding these central actions listed above, there is also mention of the considerable poverty of Joseph and Mary (Lk 2:24), the themes of waiting, divine consolation, and divine power (Lk 2:25), a reference to Isaiah’s prophecies about the People’s return from the Babylonian Exile (Lk 2:32), and a reference to those who would eventually plot Jesus’ death (Lk 2:35). 

There are many ways this story and its numerous details might be understood, but the story limits those possible interpretations to two.  The several characters mentioned in the story find divine consolation in the birth of Jesus but, at the same time, they are aware that not all people will be consoled by the coming of the Savior. (Lk 2:34)  This prophetic story about the destiny of the infant Jesus indicates that some people will find salvation in him while all others will fail to find salvation.   

It is necessary to understand, however, that the story isn’t intended to pass judgment on those who will fall, but to provide instruction about how to find salvation and be raised up.  In the story, those who find salvation in Jesus are the ones who expected to find salvation; those who failed to find salvation, on the other hand, are those who expected to find something other than the salvation promised by God.  Perhaps, an illustration from modern life might help to explain this dynamic. 

The print and broadcast media offer a wide variety of details and information about local, national, and global events.  Last week, on a single page of a newspaper I read, there were stories about a recently released Israeli hostage and the declining social status attached to rent-controlled apartments in New York City.  One or both stories might seem very important to you, but that depends entirely on what you deem important.  The many details and opinions that surround us are always open to personal interpretation.  Depending on one’s perspective, the release of a hostage can be a sign of progress toward peace or a sign of a lack of progress.   

Like the story of the presentation of Jesus in the Temple, the information and opinions expressed by individuals, groups, media outlets, etc., can be understood in various ways.  Furthermore, the interpretation one gives to such information is determined by one’s expectations.  Those who expect bad news will focus on bad news.  Those who expect good news will focus on good news.  If it appears that bad news about the world outweighs good news, this might be result of the habit of expecting negative outcomes.  The Gospel invites us to expect salvation from God. 

Quite obviously, it isn’t the case that expecting one’s favorite team to win will cause the team to win.  Bears fans know this all too well.  Rather, it is the case that expecting one’s team to win allows one to participate in the winning season, when and if it happens. 

Living in expectation of God’s salvation won’t cause universal salvation to occur, but it will cause you to be able to recognize it when it happens.  Similarly, those who expect evil to rule the world don’t cause evil to rule the world, but they do cause themselves to be ruled by the evil in the world. 

The Scriptures still speak consoling words to those who expect redemption by God.  It remains your own choice, however, whether you are uplifted by the Word of God or cast down.  The difference between those two outcomes is made by your expectations.