My Eyes See Your Salvation : Mal 3:1–4; Heb 2:14–18; Lk 2:22–40 (4 C)

 

My Eyes See Your Salvation

 

Mal 3:1–4; Heb 2:14–18; Lk 2:22–40 (4  C)

“Consecrate all the first-born to me, the first issue of every womb, among the sons of Israel” (Ex 13:1)

 

Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the temple. The events of this feast celebrated 40 days after Christmas, are only mentioned in the Gospel of Luke. He wrote this Gospel for Gentile Christians unfamiliar with the Jewish rite of presentation and purification. During the rebuilding of the temple, poverty highly discouraged builders. The prophet Haggai prophesied: “Greater will be the glory of this house, says the Lord of hosts, and in this place, I will give you peace. I will shake all the nations so that the treasures of all the nations will come in. And I will fill this house with glory” (Hag 2:7, 9). 

 

Parents of the Baby Jesus fulfilled the commandment of God, “Consecrate to me every firstborn male. The firstborn from every womb among the Israelites belongs to me, both of man and beast” (Ex 13:1). And, at the presentation of the Child Jesus in the temple, the prophecy of Haggai was fulfilled. And the temple was refilled with Divine glory. The Holy Spirit had assured Simeon “that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord” (Lk 2:26). Led by the Holy Spirit, Simeon went into the Temple. He was not a Levite, nor a scribe, nor a doctor of the law. He was just a “righteous and devout man, awaiting the consolation of Israel” (Lk 2:25). The Holy Spirit blows where it wills (Jn 3:8). He saw the glory of the house of Israel and the new Israel (all the nations) coming into the temple. When he saw the Baby Jesus in the hands of Mother Mary, he remembered the words of the Psalmist, “Lift up your heads, O gates; be lifted, your ancient portals, that the king of glory may enter” (Ps 24:7).

Simeon took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, “Master, now you dismiss 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 glory to your people Israel” (Lk 2:29-32). This prayer has become part of the night prayer (Nunc dimittis) of the Church. And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about Jesus. Then Simeon said to 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 soul too” (Lk 2:35).

 

Rejoicing with Simeon, let us sing a hymn of thanksgiving to God who sent the true light to dispel the darkness and to give us all a share in his splendor. Saint Sophronius says, “Through Simeon’s eyes we too have seen the salvation of God which he prepared for all the nations, the new Israel”. As Simeon was released from the bonds of this life when he saw Jesus, we will also have the liberation of our burdens when we see the phase of God” because we suffer the thirst of our souls, “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When will I come and see the face of God? (Ps 42:2). Let us also ask Mother to take us in her arms and offer to God as she did with Jesus, for we are all her children.

 

“Our lighted candles are a sign of the divine splendor of…our souls” (Divine Office)