Today we start looking at the story of Anna and Simeon, who welcomed the Infant Christ in the Temple as inspiration for ways we might welcome Christ. Their story is in the Gospel of Luke. After the familiar Christmas story about shepherds and angels visiting the manger, we hear, “at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 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 that 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.” (Luke 2:21-24) The purification rite would have been forty days after Jesus’ birth. Women were required to be ‘purified’ after childbirth and a first-born son was ‘redeemed’ by an offering.
In the next verse we meet Simeon who was righteous and
devout, looking 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 should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
(Luke 2:25-26) When Mary and Joseph arrive, he took him up in his arms and
blessed God and said, “Lord, now let your servant depart in peace, according to
your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared for all
peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Israel.”
(Luke 2:27-29) This Song of Simeon is commonly said during Evening Prayer from
the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer.
We don’t get the rest of the story if we just stop at his
song of praise. Simeon continues to prophecy and tells Mary, “Behold, this
child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is
spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that
thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed.” (Luke 2:34-35) Imagine for a
moment the turmoil of thoughts that must have gone through Mary’s mind as she
hears Simeon’s words.
The day of surprises isn’t over yet. The 84-year-old
prophetess, Anna, daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher came up to
the pair. Apparently, she lived in the Temple grounds worshiping with
fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very
hour she gave thanks to God and spoke of him to all who were looking for the
redemption of Jerusalem. (Luke 2:36-38)
Rembrandt’s painting of the scene (ca 1627) shows Anna giving praise while Simeon counsels Mary and Joseph.
Unlike Simeon, we do not have Anna’s words recorded, only
that she gave thanks and spoke of the redemption of Jerusalem. This
affirmation of her son’s role in life must have been another one of those
things that Mary “pondered in her heart.”
Simeon and Anna were waiting and prepared for the coming of Messiah,
the Christ of God. They had been waiting years and years. Perhaps there were
times when they thought God had forgotten their faithfulness. I’m sure we’ve
all had times when we prayed for something and prayed and prayed, but nothing
seemed to be happening. God didn’t seem to be listening.
Waiting for ‘God’s timing’ can be difficult. We can get
inspiration from Simeon and Anna who waited their lives for God’s revelation.
When it came, that revelation was in the form of a helpless infant. Were they
surprised by that, or did they understand that God acts in ways we don’t
expect?
Has there been a time when you have been surprised by how
God responded to a prayer?
Sit with the image and imagine yourself in the scene. What if you were a bystander? What if you were one of the participants? Feel the emotions of Anna and Simeon as they welcome the One they had been waiting and hoping for.
As an aside: In the Gospel of Luke, the family returns to
Nazareth where Jesus grows up. It is in the Gospel of Matthew that we hear of
the visit of the Magi and the escape to Egypt.
