2-Feb-17

Gospel MK 2:22-32
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.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.
This man 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.
He came in the Spirit into the temple;
and when the parents brought in the child Jesus
to perform the custom of the law in regard to him,
he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:

"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."
Reflection:
Mary and Joseph brought the baby Jesus to the Temple in accordance with the law that every first born male be consecrated to the Lord.
Simeon was a good man. In his heart he knew that he could not die in peace until he "had seen the Christ of the Lord."
Having seen Jesus, Simeon said, "Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace.....for my eyes have seen your salvation."
In seeing Jesus, Simeon had seen his own salvation.
Recently, I visited Bill, an elderly friend whose health had been failing for some time. Not long ago, he had lost his wife of over fifty years. He was now bedridden in a care facility.
Uncomfortable, my friend had become somewhat despondent. His son, Dan, asked if I would visit his dad in an effort to cheer him up and hopefully get him back on a spiritual path.
As I entered my old friend's room, he brighten. I sat on the edge of Bill's bed and we reminisced about old times. I gave him a picture of the retreat house chapel that he and his wife had frequented together many times. His face lit up with joy!
We continued to talk, then I gave him another picture. This one was of Rembrandt's the Prodigal Son returned.
Bill became solemn and a calmness came over him.
As our visit came to a close, his son joined us as my friend and I prayed while holding a crucifix.
Just a few days later Bill passed on peacefully, surrounded by his family.
With the death of my old friend, I think of the words spoken by Simeon two thousand years ago:
"Now, Master, you may let your servant go
in peace, according to your word,
for my eyes have seen your salvation..."

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff comfort me."
- - Psalm 23:4