A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke

“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.”

Simeon speaks these words as he takes Jesus in his arms, who Mary and Joseph have brought to the temple in Jerusalem to present him in fulfillment of the law of the Lord. Luke says of Simeon: “It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.” After blessing Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, he prophesies Jesus’ role in salvation and the suffering that Mary would experience as a result “so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” The prophetess Anna also sees Jesus and, as Luke tells us, “gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.” These two holy people, Simeon and Anna, recognized through a life of faith and prayer that Jesus was the Messiah.

God, thank you for the gift of steadfast faith. Simeon and Anna waited a lifetime to see your Son, and when they did see him recognized the child Emmanuel. Help me understand that your way of revealing yourself in time doesn’t correspond to my expectation of what and when you reveal yourself to me. Eager always to say “my eyes have seen your salvation,” at times I wait for that moment to come and lose heart in the waiting. At other times, I know you are there and at the end of the day can say, like Simeon, “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace.” God, give me the grace today to live in the light of revelation.

Lord, strengthen my faith; I want to live in your light. As Carmelite priest Father Stinissen said, “To believe in Jesus Christ makes us look, to the eyes of unbelievers, like children who believe in fairy tales. Jesus was destined to be the fall and the rising of many. Some fall over him, and others are saved by him.”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.