Luke 2:20-40 (NIV)

20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,

you may now dismiss your servant in peace.

30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,

31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:

32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

and the glory of your people Israel.”

33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.

Reflect:

God’s faithful ones, like Simeon and Anna, dedicated their lives waiting and asking for God to fulfill his promises.  They did this in patient hope, trusting that God is faithful. And God favored them, enabling them to recognize that Jesus was the fulfillment of what they had been longing for. They understood that the presence of Jesus, Emmanuel, was salvation and eternal hope. They knew God had come to save his people…and in particular them.  There was no greater reality for Simeon and Anna, and they were immediately filled with peace and thankfulness as they beheld the child Jesus. In light of this ultimate experience, Simeon was even able to say, “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace”.

Respond:

The impact of God’s saving presence is so real and powerful, that even life as we know it could end and we would have truly lived! Like Simeon and Anna, have we recognized that God’s presence has come into our lives to bring nothing short of salvation and eternal hope?  The truth is that each of us who have placed our trust and faith in Christ have received this!  This is our ultimate reality now, one which is to be filled with great peace and thanksgiving.  May our salvation be more realized!