Thoughts for the Day

When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord’), and t offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, ‘a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons.’

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,

‘Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,
according to your word;
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel.’

And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, ‘This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

From the time of Abraham the Jews understood themselves to be a chosen nation. God had chosen them to be His people, and although they had rejected Him at times there was still a deeply held belief that one day He would send them a Saviour. Many thought this would be another king like David, who would sweep his enemies before him. But another group included those who quietly waited on God. They prayed constantly and they waited and watched for a sign. Simeon was one such man, and we are told that the Holy Spirit rested on him.

On the eighth day after his birth Jesus is brought to the Temple to fulfill certain ceremonies. Among these was circumcision and the "buying back" of the first-born child. The firstborn child was seen as being a gift from God and so belonged to Him. (Remember when they left Egypt God has saved their firstborn Exodus 12). Accordingly Mary and Joseph would "buy back" their son, as it were, and make a sacrificial offering of two doves or pigeons.

When the Holy Family enter the Temple they are met by Simeon who immediately sees the baby as a sign that God has answered his prayers, for he has been told that he would see the Messiah before he died. We know his words of praise as the Nunc Dimittis, which we sing at Evensong. Notice that he specifically mentions that Jesus will a "light to the Gentiles"! Simeon is another one who sees the potential of this tiny baby who has come to change the world!

Gracious Jesus,
whose servant Simeon lived at a much
slower pace than most of us today,
who was waiting for the arrival of the Messiah,
and who saw the truth when he took You in his arms,
may we too know the certainty of faith
that comes when we accept You as our
Lord and Saviour.
Amen.