"for my eyes have seen your salvation"

More than once in these past three weeks, I've flipped open to Luke 2:29-32, the profession of Simeon upon seeing His Lord presented in the temple. It's so simple and plain, but for some reason it just resounds in me. I saw that verse depicted in a "Christmas" skit last Advent - Simeon saw his Savior and proclaimed it, and there was this pretty schmaltzy music behind the monologue, but it was poignant. A lot of it probably has to do with that and my memory of the skit. Yet at the same time, it's just beautiful, regardless of the skit. 

 Luke 2:29-32.....and I especially love verse 30 (in bold): "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 sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel."  

I think of Simeon, waiting for ages for the Glory of Israel to be revealed, for the Messiah to enter into their midst, wrinkled and perhaps crippled from his old age. I wonder what the expression on his face was as he saw his Lord enter into the temple - just a babe, an innocent, precious infant cradled in the arms of his purest Mother. Was he shocked? Surprised? I can imagine him gaining momentum and rushing to Mary, perhaps startling her and Joseph with his sudden burst of energy as he rejoices joyfully at the sight of his Messiah. But I can also imagine him shuffling slowly to where Mary and Joseph stood, tears welling in his eyes, as the fulfillment of his life stares at him with the eyes of a baby. Can you imagine, cradling the Lord in your hands - Someone for whom you had waited for decades, and Someone for whom your nation had waited for centuries, perhaps millennia? It astounds me. Can you imagine what faith Simeon must have had, to proclaim so boldly in the temple, "Lord, for my eyes have seen your salvation"? The statement is so bold and so strong that it leaves very little room for any doubt in Simeon's words. 

Sometimes (actually, more often than not) it simply baffles me that our Lord took on human flesh and took our human appearance. He could have come so majestically, riding in on something splendid and gilded with gold, to rouse the awareness of all the nation. But it wasn't how He had planned it. Instead, He came meekly, as a baby, entering the world in the cold of a manger. And today, He comes to us just as humbly, as we adore His Presence in tabernacles throughout the world. Sometimes, it's just baffling. 

-EAP 

Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross September 14, 2008