Today the Church traditionally celebrates
Candlemas or the Feast of The Presentation of the Lord in The Temple. The Christmas season is finally over...As we enter into the "ordinary" time of the year I like to contemplate what Holy Simeon said of Him that came:
Quote:
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Now Master you can dismiss your servant in peace, for You have fulfilled Your word; for my eyes have seen the salvation of the Lord, prepared for all the people to see, a revealing light to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel. (Luke 2:29-32)
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Two people met Joseph, Mary and Jesus at the Presentation: Simeon and Anna. Simeon was a very old man, was righteous and devout, and looked for the consolation of Israel. It had been revealed to him that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah (Luke 2:25-26). Simeon took the infant Jesus in his arms and prophesied concerning the mystery which for ages had been hidden in God: that the Gentiles were to be fellow heirs and fellow members of the Body of Christ and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel (Ephesians 3:4-11, Colossians 1:26). Thank God! Thank God...that the Gentiles are fellow heirs of the promise of God! That is great news for us! That means, that those who are forsaken by the world...those that are hated by the world...are loved by God!
With his Lord in his arms, he then asked his Lord to let him depart this life in peace after waiting so long to see his Salvation (Luke 2:29-30). I too am asking the Lord to allow me to depart from my "Old life"...I am asking God to allow me to see the salvation of the Lord. We are new in Christ, we have a new life. Dearest God, don't let me stay the same, but change me. Allow me to see every day that I am a person of the promise! It matters not how many are against me, because YOU ARE FOR ME!
God Bless everyone of you, and Merry Candlemas! The Light of Christ has shown in the darkness...Salvation has come!