And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every male who first 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."

Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous 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. And he came in 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
that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel."

And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,

"Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed."

And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

by The Rev. Charles Henrickson

Gospel: Luke 2:22-40

Are you ready to go? What I mean is, are you ready to leave? No, I don't mean right at this very moment. It would be nice if you would stick around till the end of the service. But then, at the end of the service, will you be ready to leave? By that I mean, will you be ready to leave in peace, satisfied and content and ready for whatever comes next?

What makes you ready to leave, to leave any situation? For instance, this year is coming to a close. Are you ready to put 2016 behind you and move on to whatever 2017 may bring? What makes you ready to leave, even to leave this life? That day could happen any day, you know, any hour. Are you ready to go? If the Lord were to decide to call you home, even today, would you be ready? If not, why not? If so, what would make the difference?

Today in the Holy Gospel we meet a man who was ready to go. He was ready for whatever might happen next. And we find out in this text why he was ready, what made the difference. The man's name is Simeon, and I think we can learn something from him today about what it means to "Depart in Peace."

Let's set the scene. It's forty days after the birth of Christ. We're in Jerusalem. We're going to the temple. Why? Because forty days after the birth of a firstborn son, the father and mother were supposed to go to the temple and offer up a sacrifice to the Lord. It's in the Law of Moses. Because the firstborn sons of Israel were spared from death at the time of the Passover in Egypt, those boys were to be dedicated to the Lord and his service. Theoretically, they were supposed to serve at the temple. But the Lord God set apart the whole tribe of Levi to be kind of the "designated hitters" to take the place of the boys from the other tribes. Only, on this occasion, there is a firstborn son from the tribe of Judah, the tribe of kings, coming into the temple, who will also go on to be the Priest Supreme, making the ultimate sacrifice for all people. Do you see him? Joseph and Mary are carrying him into the temple now.

What? You say you can't tell which couple carrying a baby into the temple is the one I'm talking about? Yeah, I know, that's the point. There was nothing special, no special effects, no halos, to distinguish the Holy Family of Joseph, Mary, and baby Jesus from all the other families there that day. And that's how it would have appeared to Simeon, too, had the Lord not given him a special revelation by the Holy Spirit.

"Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous 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. And he came in 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."

Simeon was waiting for "the consolation of Israel," it says. He was waiting for the comfort the Lord had promised to his people. "Comfort, comfort my people," the prophet had spoken centuries before, and Simeon was waiting and wanting to see the fulfillment of that promise. Now, here it comes. The consolation, the comfort, is being carried in right before his eyes.

The consolation comes in the person of this little baby. The Holy Spirit reveals to Simeon that he is seeing the Lord's Christ. This is the Messiah, the Christ, the promised deliverer-king, who will bring in God's kingdom of comfort and consolation. Promise fulfilled. The Lord had told Simeon he would not die before the arrival of the Messiah. Now the Christ has come. Simeon thanks God for fulfilling this special promise to him, and so now Simeon--presumably an old man--now Simeon is ready to see death, if that is what is in store for him.

Simeon takes the little baby in his arms and utters this beautiful psalm of praise:

"Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel."

Now here's what it means to be ready to depart in peace. It's to know and to experience the salvation that the Lord has prepared and promised. That's what Simeon experienced when he saw that baby with his own eyes and held him in his arms. Because of this salvation, come in the person of Christ, now Simeon knew he was at peace and ready for whatever might come next, even his own death. Now he could depart in peace.

How would that peace, that salvation, that consolation, come about? That's where our text goes next. Joseph and Mary marveled at what Simeon said about their baby. And Simeon blesses them and says to Mary his mother: "Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed."

The consolation will come through conflict. The salvation will come through suffering and sorrow. The peace will come through a cross. Mother Mary will experience sorrow, like a sword piercing her soul, when one day she will see her son suffering shame and humiliation and death on a cross. But that is how the salvation will come. Jesus Christ, Son of God and son of Mary, true God and true man, will suffer and die for the sins of all men, winning our forgiveness. And with Christ's sacrificial death comes the salvation, the peace, and the consolation we need so very much.

So how is it with you, dear friends? Are you ready to depart in peace? Can you say with Simeon, "Yes, Lord, I'm ready to go, I'm ready for whatever comes next"?

Now you may not have laid your eyes on the infant Christ, being carried into the temple. You have not held that little baby in your arms. But here's what you do have. You have the same word of God given to Simeon. Your ears have heard the word of the Lord. Your eyes have seen, with the eyes of faith, what God has laid before you: the path of peace, leading all the way to heaven, through faith in Jesus Christ. And you have received, and you will receive once again today, the very body and blood of your Savior in his Holy Sacrament. Dear Christian, Simeon has nothing on you. You are just as blessed. You are just as comforted. You are just as ready to go.

You know, that is why the church sings Simeon's song right after receiving the Lord's body and blood in the Sacrament and right before the end of the service. It's because we can identify with what Simeon experienced. We have received the same Savior. And so we sing Simeon's song, the Nunc Dimittis. "Nunc Dimittis" is simply the Latin title for the opening words, "Now you let depart": "Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace according to Thy word, for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation." Yes, we can say this too! And we do! With joy and gladness we praise God for the salvation that comes to us, freely and fully, in the person of Christ Jesus our Lord.

Now we can face whatever comes to us this week, or in this year to come. Whether that means health issues, financial issues, broken relationships, struggles with depression or loneliness--whatever comes our way, we are ready. Even death, if the Lord should decide it's our time to go. We are ready. Not because of our merits. But because of the Lord's Christ, Jesus Christ, the infant Messiah, the man dying on the cross, the risen Savior. This is the one who speaks to us his words of peace. This is the one who has the words of eternal life. And this is God's promise to you, that you have forgiveness and peace-and with them, everlasting life-because of this Jesus Christ.

What hope for the new year! What peace that surpasses all understanding! What joy to know this Savior! What blessing it brings to you and your family and to this congregation! Nothing else is like it. Nothing else can fill the void and vacuum you would have apart from Christ. But with Christ we are ready to face whatever comes our way.

by Msgr. Charles Pope

The Liturgical instinct of the Feast of the Presentation which we Celebrate today is "Light." For Christ is our light and the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light! In the Gospel Simeon holds Jesus and calls him "A light for revelation to the Gentiles." And thus, this feast has long featured the carrying of candles by the faithful in procession, and the blessing of candles. For this reason the feast was often called "Candlemas."

Biblically the feast celebrates the "purification" of our Lady when, as a Jewish woman, she would present herself forty days after giving birth to be welcomed back to the community and was blessed. I have written more the history of that here: The Churching of Women

For this reflection, perhaps we do well to attend to four teachings or perspectives we gain of Jesus our Light in the readings. We are taught that our relationship with Jesus is: Cleansing, Consoling, Compelling, and Communing.

I. Cleansing

The Gospel opens with this description: 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.

It might strike us as odd, even irritating that a woman or a couple would need to be purified after giving birth. But ancient Jewish practice exhibited great reverence for rituals of birth and death. And on account of the deep mysteries of life that were represented not only by these events, but also the fluids (e.g. blood, and amniotic fluids) that accompanied them, a kind of purification or blessing was deemed necessary for those who returned to the community after these events. (See more at the link above).

And while we may wonder at (or even scoff) at these notions, the fact is that all of us need purification and cleansing. We are sinners, and we live in a world tainted by sin. The Lord must purify us all; and unless this happens, we will never be able to endure the great holiness, glory and purity of God or heaven.

Jesus our savior alone can cleanse and purify us and make us able to endure the glory of God. The first reading both describes our need for purification and also points to Jesus, the one who purifies us:

But who can endure the day of [the Lord's] coming? And who can stand when he appears? For he is like the refiner’s fire, or like the fuller’s lye. He will sit refining and purifying silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi, Refining them like gold or like silver that they may offer due sacrifice to the LORD. Then the sacrifice of Judah and Jerusalem will please the LORD, as in the days of old, as in years gone by. (Mal 3:2-4)

Yes, only the Lord himself can purify us to endure his glory. Thank you Jesus, our Light and Savior for the sanctifying grace by which, alone, we could ever hope to endure and rejoice in the glory that waits. Thank you Jesus for your grace and mercy by which we are able to stand before our Father and praise him for all eternity. Thank you Jesus our purifier, our savior and Lord.

The first gift our saving relationship with Jesus is cleansing.

II. Consoling

Well aware of the burden of sin, ancient Israel longed for a savior. The pious knew well that sin brought strife, pain, and deep grief. Among the pious who longed for the Messiah were Simeon and Anna, who frequented the Temple looking, and longing. Of Simeon we are told:

[He] 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 should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.

And of Anna who is described as among those who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem, we are told she was:

a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her 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.

So here are two of the pious of Israel longing and looking for the consolation of the Messiah who would save the people and bring consolation and peace.

But what is true consolation and peace? It is to be reconciled to the Father, Abba; to once again see Him and be able to walk with him in the Garden in the cool of the morning. True consolation and peace are found only when the gates of heaven are opened and we look once again on the glorious and serene face of our Father who loves us.

Here too is a gift that can come only by the ministry of Jesus, for no one knows the Father but him and anyone to whom Jesus reveals Him. Jesus is our peace and our consolation by leading us back to his Father in and through his Sacred Heart, and by his Holy Passion.

Simeon, as he holds Jesus, is holding the Gift of the Father, and thus a tremendous gift of peace and consolation come to him in a kind of prevenient way. So he can say:

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.

Such a consolation to hold the infant Jesus, and know that God so loved the world that he sent his only Son to save us. Yes, and now Simeon can go forth in peace from this world for he has beheld the light of God’s saving love in Jesus.

III. Compelling

Among the things were are told in this Gospel is that Jesus is no merely neutral figure. He is the one on whom all human history, both collective and personal, hinges. And the "hinge" is our choice for or against Jesus. Simeon says to Mary,

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 many hearts may be revealed.

Yes, all of human history, personal and collective hinges on Jesus. Jesus compels a choice. We are free to choose for or against him, but we must choose. And on this choice we must make depends the rise or fall of us all.

Here is a dramatic truth, Jesus our savior has come, and now we must choose. Choose wisely and carefully, for upon your choice depends your rise or fall.

Jesus says, Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. (Matt 12:30).

St Paul says, In the past God overlooked ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead. (Acts 17:30). And again, We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God! (2 Cor 5:20)

Where will you spend eternity? That depends on your stance toward Jesus. Your future rises or falls on Him. Will you choose him? You are free to choose, but you are not free not to choose! Jesus compels a choice, and on this choice your very life will rise or fall.

IV. Communing

It is a remarkable truth that Jesus did not merely save us from on high. He became flesh and lived among us. Today’s Gospel says,

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.

Imagine the intimacy of Jesus dwelling among us then, and still now "tabernacling" among us in the Blessed Sacrament and in the temples of our heart through His Spirit. Our Lord seeks communion with us, and is not ashamed to call us his brethren (Heb 2:11).

On this feast of the Presentation allow the allow the Lord into the temple of your heart. Give him access to your soul by receiving him in Holy Communion and seek his presence tabernacled in our Church. Today Jesus is not only presented in the temple, he is presented to you. Reach out to hold on to him and receive in your heart, like Simeon. Run and tell others to come, like Anna.

by Jill Carattini

In ancient cities, sentinels kept vigil on the city walls throughout the night. Long, difficult hours of waiting and watching characterized the sentinel’s evenings. The watcher’s role was well understood as vital for the protection of the city and the welfare of its citizens. Morning, nonetheless, meant great relief, both for the watchmen who kept vigil throughout the darkness and for the city within the walls.

Making use of the laden imagery of those who watched for morning, biblical writers often juxtaposed the role of the watchman and the work of the prophet. Through long, dark hours of slavery and exile, stubbornness and despair, the prophets kept watch, calling out evils, calling forth awareness, peace, and repentance.

"This is what the LORD says: Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, 'We will not walk in it.' I appointed watchmen over you and said, 'Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’ But you said, 'We will not listen'"
(Jeremiah 6:16-17).

The book of Isaiah expands the imagery of the sentinel’s watch even further, suggesting watchful eyes throughout the kingdom of God, servants who hold vigil day and night, watching for light even when presently surrounded by darkness.

"Listen! Your sentinels lift up their voices, together they sing for joy; for in plain sight they see the return of the Lord to Zion"
(Isaiah 52:8).

An old man in Jerusalem named Simeon was one such sentinel. All that is known of him is that he was righteous and devout, and looked forward to the consolation of his broken land. Led by the Spirit one day, he went to the temple to offer the customary sacrifice, when he noticed an infant in the arms of a young, peasant woman. Taking the baby in his arms, he began to sing:

"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"
(Luke 2:29-32).

A watchman who had kept vigil through long years of darkness, Simeon sees the infant Christ and uses the language of a slave that has been freed. There is a sense of immediacy and relief, as if the light of morning has arrived after years of shadow, and he is finally free to leave his post.

Epiphany, the historical Christian feast day that celebrates the arrival of the magi to the birthplace of Jesus, tells a similar story. Matthew describes a vigilant scene not unlike that of Simeon at the temple or sentinels on the city wall. Astrologers from the east followed a lone star through a great expanse of darkness to come upon a new born king. Their watchful journey took years. It impelled further darkness as Herod’s jealousy reared an evil demand for the murder of infant boys throughout Bethlehem. It was a solitary journey, disregarded by the masses, and wrought with difficulty. But the light was real; the glory of the LORD had risen. "Nations shall come to your light," sang the prophet, "and kings to the brightness of your dawn" (Isaiah 60:3).

With those who first watched and waited for God to step from the heavens and into their world, we hear on the feast of Epiphany that we, too, are a world straining in the dark, waiting for a great light. But in the world of one straining to see more, Christ himself can transform our watching and our waiting, our lives and our deaths, bringing light where death stings, tears discourage, and darkness haunts: because the Light has already come! "I wait for the Lord," sings the psalmist, "my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord, more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning" (Psalm 130:5-6). The night is long, but the light is real.

About The Author:

Jill Carattini is managing editor of A Slice of Infinity at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries in Atlanta, Georgia.

by Dr. Jack Graham

And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed."
Luke 2:34-35

Mary had a hard life. She became pregnant out of wedlock, which would've brought shame to her and her family. She raised young Jesus, and had other children along the way. At some point, she probably lost her husband to death. And then, she followed her oldest son to the cross, where he was crucified as a criminal though He was innocent.

The same little mouth that cried out on Christmas morning is the one that cried in pain on the cross. And the same tiny hands and feet on that little baby would have nails driven through them 33 years later. Yes, Mary's soul was most definitely pierced with sadness.

The message of Christmas is the message of the cradle, the cross, and the crown. The cradle because God became a man in Christ. But the wood of the cradle touches the wood of the cross, where that man died for the forgiveness of our sins. And He rose again and ascended on high where He received His crown and assumed His rightful place in heaven.

The story of Christmas isn't just about a baby in Bethlehem. It's the foundation for a major shift in human history… and Mary was there the entire way. Life isn't always easy, and it wasn't for Mary. But God has a plan and will work all things for good. Mary trusted Him. You can too.

THE STORY OF CHRISTMAS INVOLVED SUFFERING FOR MANY. LOOK TO THEM AS EXAMPLES AS YOU PERSEVERE THROUGH HARD TIMES.

By Dr. Tim Clinton

"One of two things you must do; you must either receive Him or reject Him. You receive Him here and He will receive you there; you reject Him here and He will reject you there."
D. L. Moody

Anna.

Rarely will you see her in a Christmas play. Out of the four Gospels, only Luke even mentions her story. An eighty-four year old widow. A prophetess who "never left the Temple area, worshipping night and day with her fastings and prayers." (Luke 2:37 MSG).

Recently, I was struck by the last phrase in verse 38. Anna was praising God and talking about the child to all "who were waiting expectantly for the freeing of Jerusalem" (MSG) Anna's words resonated in the ears of every man and woman who, with a "spirit of expectation", had been waiting for the One who would "break the yoke of their burden and the staff on their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor" (Isaiah 9:4). Her rejoicing reflected the foretelling of prophets some 700 years before. The Messiah would be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14), in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). The One anointed, and appointed, to preach the good news….to proclaim liberty to captives…to give sight to the blind…to lift up the down trodden (Isaiah 61:1, 2).

Anna's message was abundantly clear…He had arrived - in a manger.

• He was the root of Jesse.
• The Rose of Sharon.
• The unspeakable mystery was now fulfilled.
• The Christ child who would change everything.
• Emmanuel, "God with us" - becoming flesh and dwelling among us so that we might see the glory of the Son, full of grace and truth.

When Jesus was born, the skies erupted with the Glory of the Lord. The heavens were filled with a huge angelic choir, praising God, and singing, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased." (Luke 2:14 ESV)

Luke proclaims that;
Angels adored.
Shepherds sang.
Wise men worshipped.
Why?
Because - He…had…come!

But then, in the midst of history fulfilled, John records words that shatter God's gift of love. "He (Jesus) came to his own, and his own people did not receive him." (John 1:11 ESV) What? How is that even possible? Seven-hundred years of expectancy fulfilled, and they reject the Promise? How do you reject the Son of God? But they did.

There is good news however. John follows those words of deep despair with a declaration of heavenly hope. "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God…" (John 1:12 ESV)

Throughout the annals of time, every man and woman has had to make this choice. Reject…or receive. There is no middle ground. No "hope so", or "let's wait and see". A line has been drawn in the sand, and everyone must choose.

When facing his choice, the jailer in Acts 16 fell down before Paul and Silas and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" Paul and Silas answered with amazing clarity, "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved…" (Acts 16:30-31 ESV)

Jesus was born in the shadow of the cross.

Born so that God could "reconcile us to Himself through Christ" (2Corinthians 5:18 NAS). Born in sinless perfection so that He who "knew no sin" might become "sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (vs. 21)

Born in the "fullness of time" to "redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons." (Galatians 4:4-5 NAS)

Born to give all mankind the opportunity to receive Him and believe on His name.
Everyone can believe. Everyone can receive.
The Hope and Peace for which the whole world "waits expectantly" has arrived.
His name is Jesus - Wonderful Counselor - Mighty God - Prince of Peace.
He is the only reason for the Christmas season.
If you never have received this Gift of Love - make today the day.

The Christ child - God's only Son - will turn your life around.

About The Author:

Tim Clinton, Ed. D., LPC, LMFT (The College of William and Mary) is President of the nearly 50,000-member American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC), the largest and most diverse Christian counseling association in the world. He is Professor of Counseling and Pastoral Care, and Executive Director of the Center for Counseling and Family Studies at Liberty University. He has authored over 20 books including Breakthrough: When to Give In, When to Push Back.