Today we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, when Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple for consecration “as it was written in the law.” As I read the verse in Luke 2:22-38 I was moved by the words used to describe Simeon – “righteous” and “devout” and then the description of Anna – “she never left the temple.”
Simeon realized upon setting eyes on Jesus that He was indeed the Messiah everyone had been waiting for and Simeon immediately embraced Him. Anna knew this too and gave thanks to God and spoke about the child “to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.” These people were “tuned in.”. Their spirits were “turned on.” Theirs lives were focused on prayer, on righteousness, on contemplation. They were able to “recognize” Jesus in their midst because their lives revolved around waiting for Him. They were consistent, they were steadfast, they were trusting and they were patient. We all know how the story ends, so by now we know that Simeon and Anna were right. They were right about the Messiah and they were right about His destiny. All because they were “in tune.”
How does this Gospel speak to us in our day? What does it mean to be devout and righteous? How can we become like Simeon and Anna? To be devout means to show deep religious feeling or commitment. To be devout requires commitment, commitment to God and His word. To be righteous requires high moral standards. In today’s world of hustle and bustle both of these things present a challenge that not too many of us are willing to tackle. We’re either too busy, too tired or too skeptical. We live in a self-centered, self-absorbed society where many are not willing to try anything that takes us out of our comfort zone. The ways of the world often call into question our righteousness. Often we are tempted and forced to make decisions that challenge our moral standards. The characters in this Gospel are examples of how we are to live our lives in order to maintain a deep relationship with our Lord, in order for us to be devout and righteous and remain “in tune.” We are called to live committed to the Lord, understanding that despite our free will, we should live in total dependence on Him, seeking his counsel and guidance, doing what pleases Him, trusting Him in all things and praising Him always with grateful hearts for His Presence within and around us each day. Why? Because this is what is going to bring us abundant peace and joy. After all, scripture says “He came so that we might have life and have it to the full!” Some translations mention “and have it more abundantly.” Do you think it means an abundance of material things or do you think it means the abundance of peace and joy that comes with knowing Christ more intimately? I believe it’s the latter.
We are told that Anna never left the temple. Maybe physically she did but spiritually and emotionally her heart was set on God no matter where she was. That’s what’s expected of us. When we wake in the morning – praise Him, when we have tough decisions to make throughout the day – ask for his guidance, when we receive good news – thank Him, when we receive bad news – ask for His mercy and grace. In all we do , we should put Him first. This is how the Spirit within usbecomes manifest, as in Simeon. This is how we begin to tap into the divine within us. Simeon and Anna were signs of hope in their day. We must be signs of hope in our day. Share your faith with those who are lacking, teach them about the source of your joy. Remain steadfast, commit to the Lord, embrace Him as Simeon did and allow His presence to envelope you! God bless you!
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