Simeon Recognizes The Messiah

 

  Luke 2:22-35

 Jesus Presented in the Temple

²² When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord ²³ (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), ²⁴ and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”

²⁵ Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. ²⁶ It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. ²⁷ Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, ²⁸ Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

²⁹ “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
    you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
³⁰ For my eyes have seen your salvation,
³¹     which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
³² a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
    and the glory of your people Israel.”

³³ The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. ³⁴ Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, ³⁵ so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

Every Night at Compline, the Church's Night Prayer, the "Nunc Dimittis", Simeon's prayer, is offered as a fitting closing of the day.  Would that we could say with Simeon that in the course of our daily interchanges with others, we had seen the presence of the Lord, the light to the Gentiles, the salvation prepared for all peoples, the light for the Gentiles and the glory of the Chosen People, Israel.  Perhaps this is a goal,  a New Year' Resolution that we could make: to try to see God's hand, to recognize God's presence at work in our lives more than we do right now. All is so much routine, so much without  connection to God's loving presence and plan for us.  Might we alter this and try to be aware of that plan, that presence, and go about our daily work and actions as God's grateful servant?

Bro. Rene

Dear God, help me to live in your presence and speak and act for you and with you. Amen.