in the law of the Lord: a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons. There lived in Jerusalem at this time a very upright and devout man
named Simeon; the Holy Spirit was in him. He looked forward to the time when the Lord would comfort Israel, and he had been assured by the Holy
Spirit that he would not die before seeing the Messiah of the Lord. So he was led into the Temple by the Holy Spirit at the time the parents brought the
child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law. Simeon took the child in his arms and blessed God, saying, “Now, O Lord, you can dismiss
your servant in peace, for you have fulfilled your word and my eyes have seen your salvation, which you display for all the people to see. Here is the light
you will reveal to the nations and the glory of your people Israel.” His father and mother wondered at what was said about the child. Simeon blessed them
and said to Mary, his mother, “Know this: your son is a sign; a sign established for the falling or rising of many in Israel, a sign of contradiction; and a sword
will pierce your own soul so that out of many hearts and thoughts may be revealed.”
Reflection:
As faithful Jews, Joseph and Mary did what
was prescribed in the Law. They presented their
firstborn male child with an offering. Noble in spirit but
poor, they could only afford a pair of turtle doves. Other
babies have better offerings. What is in the heads of Jesus’
parents, we could never know. Did they feel secret
shame that they could not provide well enough for the
Son of God? We will never know. But Mary and Joseph
in their poverty did not shirk their responsibility. In their
poverty, they want to do what is right for their precious
baby. And the appearance of Simeon makes it even more
interesting. He spoke highly of the child in a simple cloth
by simple parents whose offering amounts to almost
nothing. No matter, he sees the essential that is invisible
to others. Only he blessed God for the interesting times
ahead that will mark human history. The divine has
penetrated earthly realities. The traffic between heaven
and earth will be tremendous.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2021