Readings: Malachi: 3:1-4; Hebrews 2:14-18; Luke 2:22-40
Theme: A Light of Revelation for all People
Our first reading from the prophet Malachi tells us that the Lord himself will enter his temple and present himself to those who have been seeking him. This is what happens when Mary and Joseph bring the baby Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem ‘to be consecrated to the Lord’ in accordance with the law of Moses. While there, as our gospel reading from Luke tells us, they meet two prophets – senior citizens – Simeon and Anna, who lived near the Temple. They were waiting for God’s final intervention to bring true justice and peace to Israel and the world. When they see the baby, Jesus, they immediately recognise him as the promised Messiah, and their hearts are filled with gratitude and joy.
Simeon and Anna represent the faithful remnant of Israel: devout, obedient, constant in prayer, led by the Holy Spirit, at home in the temple, longing and hoping for the fulfilment of God’s promises. Luke tells us that Simeon was a man whose life was touched by the Holy Spirit, and that he believed he would see the Messiah before he died. When he takes the child into his arms, he speaks one of Christianity’s most beautiful blessings, a prayer with special meaning for us, for he recognizes God unique presence in the baby he is holding: ‘Master, as you promised me, you are now dismissing your servant in peace, for my eyes have seen the salvation you have prepared in the presence of all peoples: A light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel’ (Lk 2:29-32). Then Simeon turns to Mary and speaks these words: ‘You see this child: he is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, destined to be a sign that is rejected – and a sword will pierce your own soul, too – so that the secret thoughts of many may be laid bare’ (Lk 2:34-35).
These words, which Luke revisited again and again throughout his gospel, are at the very heart of the Gospel message. God’s plan of salvation would be realised through a suffering Messiah who would identify with us in every way, except sin, as our second reading states. Contrary to conventional messianic expectation, the Messiah would not be a powerful military leader who would conquer Israel’s enemies. He would identify rather with the poor and lowly, not with the brokers of power. And he would be rejected by the powerful elites, political and religious. Simeon’s prophecy to Mary was not happy news of a long life and her recognition as the mother of one of the great ones of the earth, but simply that her heart would be pierced. Simeon recognises that Jesus would suffer, and that Mary would share his sufferings.
But what can we say about Anna? She was a widow whose husband had died when she was a young woman. Her life since then had been dedicated to God and spent in the Temple in fasting and in prayer. Like Simeon she was a prophet—an office that is seldom attributed to women (though the Bible makes it clear that women were as capable of prophecy as men were). She, too, was awaiting the Messiah, and when she saw Jesus, she knew she had found him. Then, off she goes and immediately spreads the good news ‘to all who looked forward to the deliverance of Jerusalem’ (Lk 2:38).
As disciples of Jesus we have much to learn from Simeon and Anna. Like them we are called to spread the good news that Jesus is the Light of the World. By our words and especially by our actions, we must bring the light of faith to those living in darkness, the light of hope to those without hope, and the light of love to those without love.
I conclude with the following prayer composed by St John Henry Newman:
Lord Jesus,
Help us to spread your fragrance everywhere we go.
Flood our souls with Your Spirit and life.
Penetrate and possess our whole being, so utterly,
that our lives may only be a radiance of Yours.
Shine through us, and be so in us,
that every soul we come in contact with
may feel your presence in our soul.
Let them look up and see no longer us, but only You, Jesus.
Stay with us, and then we shall begin to shine,
so to shine as to be a light to others.
The light, O Jesus, will be all from You,
none of it will be ours.
It will be You shining on others through us.
Let us thus praise You in the way you love best
by shining on those around us.
Let us preach you without preaching,
not by words but by our example,
By the catching force,
the sympathetic influence of what we do,
the evident fullness of the love our hearts bear to you. Amen.
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