Advent Day Four

Luke 2:25-32

“Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: ‘Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel’”

Many of the prophets that God used to reveal the prophecy of God did not have the opportunity to see Jesus, to see the salvation that God had brought to the world through the people of Israel.  But God, in His infinite mercy, prepared the way.  Simeon, who was devout and righteous, with the Holy Spirit upon him, had the opportunity to meet the Savior and to teach us.  Even in his advanced age, he trusted the Holy Spirit’s promise that he would see the Savior before dying – and he not only saw the child, but took him in his arms.

In the same way today, in this time of Advent when we celebrate the coming of the Christ child, we ought to remember to not only to see and know who Jesus is, but to also follow Simeon’s example in embracing him, giving thanks to God.  As the Church today we can declare how great is our God, and that we have seen our salvation.  We are sinners who would be separated forever from God, helpless except that God looked on us with eyes of mercy.  The small child that Simeon met so many years ago grew to become the most wonderful man who has walked this earth.  He took our place and took on the punishment that we deserved.  And now, like Simeon, we have the opportunity to declare during our lifetimes: “For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”

Like Simeon, let us be guided by the Holy Spirit as we contemplate the plan of salvation for our lives.  If you are a Christian, seek in this time a deeper and better relationship with God, and if you are not, I invite you to take advantage of this season, to embrace the child and to praise God that we can experience salvation in Him.