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When the days were completed for their purification according to
the law of Moses, the parents of Jesus took him 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. Luke 2:22–24
Forty days after a firstborn male was born, the law of Moses
required that the mother participate in a purification ritual and
that the parents were to “redeem” the child by offering a ritual
sacrifice. As faithful Jews, Mary and Joseph took these obligations
seriously. When they entered the Temple, they were met by a holy
man named Simeon, who was among the faithful Jews “awaiting the
consolation of Israel.”
From its founding, the Kingdom of Israel had endured many troubled
times. The last time the Kingdom of Israel had been united was
under the reign of King David and his son Solomon in the tenth
century B.C. After Solomon's death, the kingdom split into the
Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. The
Northern Kingdom was captured by the Assyrians in 722 B.C., and the
Southern Kingdom was conquered by the Babylonians in 586 B.C.,
leading to the destruction of the First Temple and the exile of
many Jews to Babylon for about seventy years. In the centuries that
followed, Greek culture was imposed upon the region after the
conquest of Alexander the Great, and the Romans finally captured
Judah in 63 BC, maintaining control beyond the birth of
Christ.
This history of oppression and division created various responses
among the Jewish people. Many prophets had foretold the coming of
the Messiah, the one who would bring consolation to Israel. Some
Jews expected the Messiah to be a political leader who would
reunite and restore the Kingdom. Others were indifferent to the
prophecies. But a faithful remnant, like Simeon, awaited the
Messiah who would bring about a profound spiritual renewal.
Simeon was not a Pharisee, Sadducee, or scribe, but an ordinary
devout Jew filled with the Holy Spirit. It was the Holy Spirit Who
revealed to him that he would not see death before he had seen the
Messiah. On the day Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the Temple,
Simeon, inspired by the Holy Spirit, came to the Temple and
recognized the Christ Child. He took Jesus in his arms and
rejoiced, saying, “Lord, now let your servant go in peace; your
word has been fulfilled…”
We should all strive to be like Simeon. Like the people of Israel
and Judah, we are living in a world where God’s Kingdom is often
divided or overshadowed by immorality, wars, divisions, and a lack
of faith. We might be tempted to address these challenges in
various ways, but the best way is to become part of the faithful
remnant who, like Simeon, trust in God’s promises and eagerly
anticipate His transforming action in our lives and in the
world.
Reflect today on the state of the world. In some places, the
Kingdom of God is vibrant and alive; in others, it seems distant or
absent. No matter where you find yourself, turn your gaze to the
all-powerful Messiah, Who is capable of renewing His Kingdom on
Earth as we await its fullness at the end of time. Devote yourself
to His mission, and allow the Holy Spirit to inspire you to be an
active participant in bringing about the reign of God.
My Lord and Messiah, as I see the challenges and divisions in
the world around me, help me to trust in Your promises. May I, like
Simeon, be filled with faith and hope as I await Your Kingdom.
Inspire me to be an instrument of Your grace, helping to build Your
Kingdom here on Earth. Jesus, I trust in You.
Image: Janmad, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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