. . . As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord . . . Joshua 25:15b
"The Child Jesus Brought to the Temple and Recognised by Simeon as the Saviour" by William Brassey Hole [retrieved November 30, 2024]
Published date 02022025
Frank Wesley (1923-2002). Presentation in the Temple, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. [retrieved January 15, 2025].
Editor's Note: We have learned about the many different gifts that we may have and the many different and important parts of the body. Take a few moment to look closely at the two images above. Let this be a game. Write down how many differences you can see (and, no, I don't know how many there are). Then start over and look at each picture in its entirety. What is being depicted? How is the total of Hole's image different from that of Wesley? I'd love to read your list and thoughts (send 'em to FaithatHome2020@gmail.com).
The gospel this week tells the story of Simeon, a man who had been waiting (and hoping) all his life to see the Messiah, and Simeon had been promised that he would not die until this had happened. So when Joseph, Mary, and Jesus came for their purification, Simeon immediately recognizes God’s “salvation”. The words Simeon speaks have been set to music many times and, known as nunc dimiitis, is an integral part of many worship services. To bring this to today and our everyday experience, we can recognize many who bring “salvation”, not necessarily Jesus but the many who serve. How blessed are we.
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. . . Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; . . . It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,
“Master, now you are dismissing 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 for glory to your people Israel.”
And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. . . .
sermons4kids: “As soon as Simeon saw baby Jesus, he knew God had kept His promise. Simeon took Jesus in his arms and praised God, saying, "Lord, now let your servant die in peace. As you have promised, I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people." ”
Scripture: February 2, 2020—Malachi 3:1-4; Hebrews 2:14-18; Luke 2:22-40; and Psalm 24:7-10.
Collect: Almighty and everliving God, we humbly pray that, as your only-begotten Son was this day presented in the temple, so we may be presented to you with pure and clean hearts by Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Reflection: Consider Simeon’s song as a charge to parishioners to go, seeing the fulfillment in Christ, but instead of being released, being charged to depart from the security of our gatherings to tell and share this good news of great hope in a world that sorely needs to hear it.
Practice: What are ways you can share the good news?
Video presentation of the readings. Thanks to Ed for reading.
Images enhancing
the scripture
"PRESENTATION IN THE TEMPLE" many ways and times
by fra Angelico
"Simeon receives the infant Jesus", Lebrecht Music and Art Photo Library, Alamy
Music founded
in the scripture
“Canticle of the Turning“, Composer Hal Hopson, based on Star of the County Down, an Irish melody; Lyricist Rory Cooney
“Nunc dimiitis“, by Gustav Holtz
“Lift up your heads” by Quincy Jones
Other voices
about the scripture
“Another lesson in obedience” from Joyful Mysteries website
“A meditative guide” from Aleteia website
“What’s happening” from National Catholic Registry website
Movies representing some part of the scripture
“Conversations with God” (2006, PG), homeless man becomes spiritual messenger, Review
“The Celestine Prophecy” (2006, PG), following your bliss & trusting the universe, Review
"Nunc Dimittus"
In the gospel of Luke (2:22-38), we learn that Mary and Joseph, as devoted parents and devout Jews, brought the infant Jesus to the temple to “present him to the Lord”. This really means that the parents sacrificed two turtle doves and also Joseph and Mary consecrated the child (first-born male) to the Lord and also the male child was circumcised.
As a child, I learned of two of these three (I had no clue about circumcision). Yet, it was only when I joined the Episcopal church and began singing in its choirs that I learned most of the rest of the story. As I participated in the church’s music, I learned several versions of the “nunc dimittis”, sometimes called “The Song of Simeon.” To paraphrase the "nunc", “Lord, you have kept your word and allowed me to live long enough to see the world’s salvation”. So sometime earlier, Simeon had obviously been grousing to God about how long he had been waiting to see the world’s salvation and God has said, “No worries. You will see this with your own eyes.” And Simeon did.
What strikes us in the story is that Simeon just burst into song or praise. Simeon was just giddy that the long-promised Messiah was right there in his arms. We have memorialized this song from the Bible in a similar manner as we have memorialized other Biblical songs, like Miriam’s after the Israelites cross the Red Sea, or like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s song when God saved them from the fire, or most notably like Mary’s song, the Magnificat, when she heard she would bear the son of God.
What also strikes me about this story is lost Anna. I know I have a negative reaction to most things I view as anti-women, but this one does “take the cake” for me. Most don’t realize that Simeon was not the only one who witnessed Jesus’ presentation in the temple. Anna spent her life in the temple, worshiping God through prayer and fasting. When she saw Simeon bless Jesus, Anna burst into song or praise. Anna didn’t get a “nunc”; she barely got a verse in the gospel of Luke. While this makes me sad, I do remind myself that Anna too was giddy to see Christ, that Anna’s joy was also profound, that Anna sang and praised mightily. When I look at it that way, I’m mollified.
If you'd like to read about one hymn in particular, let me know.
Here's a beautiful version in Spanish plainsong.
For families: Study guide; group activities; Snacks; Kid video
For children: Activity—one and two; Bulletin; Craft.
For middlers: Activity—one and two; Bulletin; Craft.
For youth: Is Micah 6:8 more than a t-shirt slogan today? We can certainly hope so, although the non-profit Happy Givers has quite a nice line of Micah 6:8 items. Seriously, how do we live in relationship with God as God desires and simultaneously live in the world? What does it means to “. . . do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” How do we do that in 21st century contexts? What might be examples of people living out this kind of life? .
If you wish, share your thoughts on our website.
Today the Church celebrates our Lord’s presentation to God on the fortieth day after his birth, in obedience to the Jewish Law.
This is a moment of manifestation of Jesus as the Messiah when Old and New Testament come together in the testimony of the aged priest Simeon and the prophetess Anna. The words of Simeon are a regular feature of the Church’s evening liturgies.
The first reading from Malachi reflects the hope of the prophets for the coming of the Messiah and the inauguration of God’s reign over all the earth. The second reading is from Hebrews. The writer explains that Jesus’ work as savior is made possible because he is God incarnate, fully human and fully divine. God saved the human race not from the outside but by entering into the world and becoming human and, having taking humanity into the divine life, redeemed the human race.
We return today to the joy of Christmas and in our liturgy we witness to the presence of God in the world coming to us in Bread and Wine and coming to the world through us, the Body of Christ.