[Simeon took the child Jesus] 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.” (LK 28:32)
On the eighth day, Mary and Joseph took the child Jesus into the Temple to present him to the Lord as prescribed by the law. In the darkness of a world covered over by sin, Christ enters humanity as “a light for revelation.” Once again we can reflect on the great moment when God brings order by giving the order, “let there be light.” Jesus comes into our world as the face of God, the face of Divine Mercy to make visible the Father’s face of infinite love and to show the world how much God desires us. God’s love for us is real. Light reveals, it makes known what is hidden and unveils what we are unable to see. However, our spiritual vision needs to be corrected, our gaze needs to be purified in order to behold God’s gracious gift of self and to see his light and to experience his glory. Simeon and Anna were both spirit filled people. They were filled with the hope that their eyes would personally behold the “Light of the World.” They longed for the anticipated Messiah. When Jesus revealed his light, his love, his life, Simeon and Anna saw it, rejoiced in it and drew others to it. Sadly, it was not seen by all but only by some. Why? Let’s take a moment to consider how they might have prepared to encounter the Christ, the One sent by the Father. The people who were not prepared for the coming of the Lord did not see him even though he was in their midst talking to them face to face. They could not see him. This will repeat itself many times with the Pharisees and Scribes who were unable to see Jesus because their own darkness prevented them from seeing his glorious light. Simeon and Anna’s actions are helpful for our own spiritual journey as we search for the Light in our desperate times especially in bleak moments covered with despair, confusion and desolation. We hear that Simeon was a righteous, devout and holy man filled with the Holy Spirit and that Anna was a woman dedicated to the Temple and lived a life of fasting and prayer. These beautiful, spiritual disciplines are so beneficial to our spiritual senses for “blessed are the pure of heart for they shall see God.” Let us pray that our Lord will prepare our hearts and light our way so we may see him in our hearts and encounter him personally and intimately in our prayer.