Nunc Dimittis - Simeon's Song

Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the LORD"), and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons."

And behold there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:

"Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace,

According to Your word;

For my eyes have seen Your salvation

Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,

A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,

And the glory of Your people Israel."

And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."

- Luke 2:22-35

As we continue through Christmastide, today we come to the Dedication in the Temple, as reported by Luke. Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the LORD"), and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons." A note here in my study bible indicates "Days of . . . purification: Forty days after birth (see Lev. 12:2,4), Jesus is brought to the temple to be blessed according to Jewish tradition. In the Orthodox Church women and their infants, male or female, also come for a blessing on the fortieth day." In the Eastern Church, the blessing (and in some traditions - such as the Armenian - baptism) is a way of introducing the child into the community. So we can think of a parallel with Jesus: the child is brought into the community and becomes a part of that community. In this case, we understand that Jesus is fully a part of His Jewish heritage and community life and is brought up in accordance with the Law and the Scriptures.

And behold there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. A note here reads, "The Consolation of Israel: the joy of the deliverance that the Messiah is expected to bring to Israel." We could think of Simeon as a metaphor for Israel - an ancient people long awaiting the Deliverer, in faith. Simeon's age is important, it seems to me, for all of us. He lives in hope, just as we are to live in expectation and hope, regardless of our age or what we have seen in life. This is a great secret to spiritual reality, to the life of those who would be devoted to spiritual understanding.

And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. So he came by the Spirit into the temple. Simeon is a devout man, a man fully enmeshed in prayer in his life, living with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Like so many others (as we mentioned in yesterday's reading and commentary) who people this story surrounding Jesus' birth into the world, Simeon experiences great grace in his life, and the action and participation of the Holy Spirit. The "Lord's Christ" is the Christ of God the Father. The Christ is the "Anointed One." In some way, we have in this passage the revelation of Trinity: God the Father, the Son as the Child and Christ, the Holy Spirit working through Simeon.

And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel." My study bible notes that, "This 'Canticle of Simeon,' called the Nunc Dimittis (the first words of the prayer in Latin), is still sung daily at evening prayers in the Orthodox Church, as the contemporary confession and experience of all worshiping Christians. Christ is still the salvation God prepared for all peoples, the light of the Gentiles and the glory of Israel." Of course, this canticle is found in many branches of the Church during evening prayers, and its beauty still shines to us. It is the beauty of the light brought to the "old" eyes of Simeon, someone who has awaited this Day, as have his people. The prayer of awaiting is a prayer from ancient times, culminating in the aged eyes of Simeon, who realizes his hope in the Child. Yet, it is even more than this: "For my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel." It is a light, Simeon understands, which is salvation before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of . . . Israel." The glory of Israel, or the people of God, will be this revelation to the Gentiles. The light and hope of Simeon is not only of his people, but for the whole world - all people in all times. This is quite a hope to be realized!

And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." My study bible says, "At the time of the Passion of Christ, Mary will suffer the sword of pain which (according to tradition) she escaped in childbirth. Seeing her Son on the Cross, her soul will be pierced in grief." Again, Simeon speaks through the Holy Spirit, revealing spiritual reality to Joseph and Mary. The sign of Jesus' crucifixion will be "spoken against" - a curse, a scandal - but necessary so that "the thoughts of man hearts may be revealed." In Simeon's prophetic words we find the first indication of what it is to mean that Jesus' life will be a stumbling block, and bear the power of judgment in the response of all people to this event, revealing the thoughts of many hearts.

Repeated themes of age, expectation, the pain of life and its spiritual consolation are in our reading today. We think of the hope of Mary and Joseph. Both of them have been given to understand that this is a special Child - but all is revealed to them as life goes on, a light given, just as it is revealed to us through this story. No one begins this story in complete knowledge and understanding of events that are to unfold. Spiritual prophecy does not work that way: Simeon's prophetic words are the first indication of the pain that Mary will bear, the hardships that will come even to the life of the Son, the Lord's Christ. Simeon, as an old man, has awaited this moment all of his life and now it is fulfilled. His canticle blesses the Child, and praises Him, but the experience of life is also there, and the warning of the experiences to come. So let us consider then, along with our understanding of a long life in the world and the experience of pain that can bring, what it is to await in hope. What is it to live a long life in expectation, and spiritual fulfillment? Simeon sees the culmination of his hopes, the consolation he awaits as fulfillment of Scripture. But what about in our world? We who have this story, lived out 2,000 years ago, how do we await that consolation and that light of expectation? We live in hope of His return, but also in the understanding that this grace which pervades this story, and especially the life and character of Simeon, is something which is also given to us. It has been poured out upon all flesh -- the Anointed One, the Christ, has also anointed us. So to live out in long life the expectation and consolation of this moment is to live also in God's peace, in prayer and communion with the Holy Spirit and the receipt of God's grace. In this powerful understanding, the sad death of Jesus on the Cross has a potent meaning, a reason and purpose, and so can the sad or difficult events of a long life for each of us. It is not that we seek suffering or hidden meaning - but rather that we respond to suffering and the awful shadows of hardship and pain in this world by seeking that Spirit and Its response and consolation for us. I cannot speak to each individual for every pain or hardship, but there is a place for each of us to seek that for ourselves. May you all find yours, in the heart of the prayer, in union with the Holy Spirit and in the light of His life. And may we all live in hope, throughout our lives. Simeon sings an inspired song, and I hope so may we all. This is my prayer for all of us.