Luke
2:22-40
22 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 23 (as it is written in the Law
of the Lord, “Every
male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice
according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two
young pigeons.”
25 Now there was a man in
Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout,
waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to
him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into
the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him
according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and
blessed God and said,
29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
according
to your word;
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation
31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for
glory to your people Israel.”
33 And his father and his mother
marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and
said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of
many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce
through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
36 And there was a prophetess,
Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in
years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she
was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting
and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very
hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were
waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
39 And when they had performed everything
according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town
of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became
strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.
I have
long enjoyed singing the Nunc Dimittis. Put yourself in the place of Simeon.
You have longed for this moment your entire life. You have longed to be able to
see your redeemer in the flesh. You have received the promise of eternal life,
but now it is there before your eyes. Simeon can now be certain of his
salvation.
What
makes you certain of your salvation? Is it hearing your sins are forgiven on
Sunday morning? Is it reading your bible everyday? Is it the good life you have
lived? Or is there something more? Some people will point to their Baptism,
where Christ claimed them. Some people will point to their good deeds.
I know
that my redeemer lives. I hear the words of Simeon, and now I can depart in
peace. I can die in the knowledge that Christ has saved us from our sins. The
Nunc Dimittis is sung after the Lord’s Supper with full recognition that we can go forth into
this dark world as enlightened by the eating and drink of Christ’s body and blood for the
purpose of enlightening the world around us.
We sing
knowing that this world can truly work its worst, or even kill us. But we are
more than happy to die in peace knowing that Jesus was pierced through for our
transgressions and for our salvation. He died for your sins. He claimed you in
the waters of Baptism. The Holy Spirit even helps you do good deeds.
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