Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
In the Name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
And Simeon blessed them and said unto Mary His Mother, ‘Behold, this Child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be spoken against . . ., that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.’
On one hand, nearly every parent I know would have high hopes for their newborn, desiring good things and a good destiny for the young and vulnerable life in their arms. In ancient Israel, the word of blessing of the patriarch of the family was critical. What he said would come to pass, and so we can understand why Esau became indignant with his brother, Jacob, when he stole the blessing rightfully belonging to him. When Esau plead with their father, Isaac to speak even unto him his blessing, Isaac had little left to bless his duped son with (Gn. 27:1-46).
The old man, Simeon, was a just and devout soul who waited with longing for “the consolation of Israel.” The Holy Spirit had revealed unto him that he would not see death until his eyes had seen the Messiah, the Christ. He is, in some measure, a patriarch in this story of the Meeting of the Lord in the Temple. And, in patriarchal fashion, he takes up the Child, Jesus, in his arms and blesses God in words we know quite well,
‘Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy Word; for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people, a light to enlighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel.’
Then the old God-receiver, as we call him, blessed the Most Holy Theotokos, her Guardian, and the Child in his arms,
‘Behold, this Child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be spoken against (yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
“’[T]his Child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be spoken against . . . .’” In other words, Mary, your Son is destined to stir the pot and in so doing He will be opposed. Many will fall because of His Light, but many more will be raised up through His Light because this Child is “’the Way, the Truth, and the Life’” (Jn. 14:6). Through Him, good things – the absolute good – will come to those hearts and souls longing for God’s consolation and redemption. For our God is a good God Who loves mankind. His Way, His Truth, His Life will challenge and convict. His words will pierce the darkness of sin-hardened hearts and expose the infestation of death in this world. To those who oppose His Light, He will be a consternation. He will be an annoyer, a gadfly, foolishness and a stumbling block to those who are perishing. But, to those who are being saved, He is the Great Physician, the Wisdom and Power of God – righteousness, sanctification, and redemption (1 Cr. 1:18-31).
For here, Mary, in old Simeon’s arms, is the very One of Whom St. John the Theologian and Evangelist proclaimed – and all Israel longed for – the Word of God made flesh Who is Life and Light, Whose Life is Light and His Light is Life. This Child in the Temple is the One Who enlightens every soul coming into the world and Who gives power to those who receive Him to become sons of God by grace – His grace – even as He is the only-begotten Son of God by nature (Jn. 1:1-18). His love will cause the fall and rising of many. “’He who believes in Him is not condemned,’” declares the Theologian, “’but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the Name of the only-begotten Son of God.’” St. John goes on,
‘And this is the condemnation, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved [their] darkness more than [His] Light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the Light and does not come to the Light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the Truth comes to the Light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God’ (Jn. 3:18-21).
There is no other way to God than through this Jesus in the old God-receiver’s arms (Jn. 14:6). “’[F]or there is no other Name under Heaven given among men by which we must be saved’” (Ac. 4:12). “’Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, . . . .’” (Ac. 16:31). There is no other divinely appointed path of salvation than dying and rising, falling and getting back up, repentance and humility.
Our Lord once cautioned His disciples about perceptions of Him. “’Do not think,’” He said, “’that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword’” (Mt. 10:24-42; Lk. 12:49-53). Here, in this Child, is God’s sign of contradiction. He is at once both the Lamb of God and the Lion of Judah (Jn. 1:29, 36; Rv. 5:5): a Lamb for the repentant, a fierce Lion to those who do not. He searches minds and tests the heart of all souls (Ps. 6 [7]:9; Jr. 17:10; 20:12; Hb. 4:12; Rv. 2:23). We should not be mistaken about this Child in the arms of the old God-receiver. He is, “’”The stone which the builders rejected [and] has become the Chief Cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes.”’” Our Lord once told this to some who opposed Him. He, then, goes on to tell them, “’Therefore I say to you, the Kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it.’” So, He warns, “’[W]hoever falls on this Stone [once rejected but now the Chief Cornerstone] will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder’” (Mt. 21:42-44).
Beloved, it is better to fall and be broken in repentance on our Lord Who is full of mercy and compassion for repentant sinners than to remain opposed and be ground to powder by Him.
This Jesus is Emmanuel – “’God with us’”. This Jesus – a sign of contradiction – is God’s salvation “’for He will save His people from their sins’” (Mt. 1:18-25).
Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen.
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
VIGIL PROPERS: PROPERS:
Ex. 12:51-13:16; Lv. 12:1-8; Nm. 8:16-17 Hb. 7:7-17
Is. 6:1-12 Lk. 2:22-40
Is. 19:1-5, 12, 16, 19-21