Lectionary: 202"Lord, now let your servant go in peace; your word has been fulfilled: my own eyes have seen the salvation which you prepared in the sight of every people, a light to reveal you to the nations and the glory of your people Israel."
As the year comes to a close the liturgy offers these words of the faithful Simeon who, like many of us, prayed often.
In one of the parishes I served there was a gentleman who entered the church as soon as the door was opened and remained there until it was locked at night. I was told he wanted to die in church, although he was not elderly and, except for his mind, in good health. The pastor didn't mind this oddity because he saw everything that went on and, though quite defenseless, prevented vandalism by the neighborhood imps.
Perhaps his fellows regarded Simeon with the same amused tolerance. He watched all the infant boys as they were brought to the temple by their young, happy parents. They surely knew the prophecy as well as Simeon but lacked his ardor. After a thousand years since Nathan's prophecy, what were the odds that the infant messiah might appear now? And who would know him, anyway?
But, Saint Luke tells us, Simeon had been assured by the Holy Spirit that he would see and recognize the infant when he arrived. If no one else believed his private revelation, he kept faith with it.
So on that particular day another couple brought in another baby boy. The young woman carried the infant as the young man carried the offerings of the poor -- a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons. Perhaps they stood in line with dozens of other couples. There could be nothing unusual about their clothing or demeanor. Everyone assumed a reverential posture in the temple, especially young people in the presence of elders. Those who could afford to offer a lamb or shepherd were probably treated with some deference; the rest were riffraff, honored more by the Lord than by the guardians of the temple. There was no end of their kind.
But when this particular couple entered something lit up within Simeon. "There he is!" his soul was shouting. With an old man's impetuosity Simeon ran at the couple.
I am always astonished at what happened next. "He took the baby in his arms!"
Imagine the shock that came over the young couple as this old fellow snatched the child from Mary. The watchers must have been aghast; the other elders murmured, "O Lord, now what's he doing?"
But Mary with the same Inspiration surrendered the child and heard his prayer,
"Lord now you let your servant go in peace...."
In our Night Prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours ("Compline") we recite this passage daily. Every day we declare again, "...your word has been fulfilled." Whether the day was routine or extraordinary, pleasant or painful, reassuring or distressing, we declare again, "my own eyes have seen the salvation..."
It came to us in our prayers and our works, in the kindness of friends, family and strangers, in the routine and the unusual. In the spirit of Job who said, "We accept good things from the Lord, and should we not accept evil?" we declare with the confidence of faith, "This is the day the Lord has made!"
During this Christmas season, as 2017 draws to an end, we can sing again, "Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord...."
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.