The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord.
When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord, and to offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.
Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. He came in the spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:
[Nunc dimmitimus]
"Now, Master, you may let your servant go
in peace, according to your word,
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples:
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and glory for your people Israel."
The child's father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted - and you yourself a sword will pierce - so that the thoughts of m any hearts will be revealed." There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after he marriage, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Israel.
When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.
The Gospel of the Lord.
According to the Mosaic law [Lv. 12, 2-8], the woman who gives birth to a boy is unable for forty days to touch anything sacred or to enter the temple by reason of her legal impurity. At the end of this period she is required to offer a year old lamb as a burnt offering and a turtledove or young pigeon as an expiation of sin. The woman who could not afford a lamb offered instead two turtledoves or two young pigeons as Mary does here.
"awaiting the consolation of Israel": Simeon here and later Anna speak about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem represent the hopes and expectations of faithful and devout Jews who at this time were looking forward to the restoration of God's rule in Israel. The birth of Jesus brings these hopes to fulfillment.
"and you yourself a sword will pierce": Mary herself will not be untouched by the reactions to the role of Jesus. Her blessedness as mother of the Lord will be challenged by her son who describes true blessedness as "hearing the word of God and observing it." [Lk. 11, 27-28 and 8, 20-21].
It took an old man, Simeon, and an old woman, Anna, to discern the new thing that was happening. They are examples of the clarity that can be found in old people. Every night of life, the Church's Night Prayer repeats Simeon's canticle. "Now, O Lord, you can dismiss your servant in peace. Mine eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared for the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel." It is deeply meaningful. Every day is like a short lifetime, and nightfall reminds us of approaching death. The end is therefore not to be dreaded as something we have always excluded from our consciousness. but welcomed as a fulfillment - much as the body welcomes the prospect of rest and sleep.
Now we have Simeon as an old man and Jesus as a babe and both contemplating life:
Now I lay me down to sleep.
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
And if I die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take.
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