"Simeon & Anna"

Christmas Day--2019

A-Poem-a-Day Until Christmas

Hallelujah!

Image credit: pinterest.com

SIMEON & ANNA

Simeon wondered

if he were seeing things

He rubbed his tired old eyes

squinted and peered again

at the little family

that came through the Temple doors

The Sanctuary

was shadowy and dim

Flames from the oil lamps

were flickering—

Were his eyes playing tricks?

Wasn’t this an ordinary family?

…a couple like any

ordinary Jewish couple

here to present their firstborn son

holy to the Lord?

Nothing special about them

Just poor folk

with two lowly turtledoves

for the sacrifice…yet?

Perhaps this was wishful thinking

Perhaps, his imagination

He needed to be sure

Simeon moved a bit closer

Oh, he’d been waiting so patiently

for the fulfillment of the promise

of the Lord to comfort Israel

He knew He would—

for the Holy Spirit

assured him

he absolutely would not die

until he beheld the Messiah

…but that was long ago

Suddenly an unmistakable quickening

began rising up in his spirit…Yes!

…O Glory! Glory!

He bounded

toward Mary and Joseph

with arms outstretched

and swooped up

their swaddled infant son

uttering prophetic proclamations

jubilant and terrifying

I behold God’s salvation!

A light to the Gentiles

The glory of God’s people Israel

and directly to Mary, he prophesied:

…a sword will pierce your soul

She shuddered…

for she knew God had a plan, but…

What could this mean?

Then the widow Anna approached

Bent and grey and pious

she was a prophetess

who dwelled in the Temple

most of her life, praying

fasting and serving the Lord

with a joyful heart

Spontaneous praise

sprang from her lips

as she beheld the babe

Then Anna proclaimed

to all who would listen:

Come and see…

This is our newborn redeemer!

…from that day forward

Jesus grew

in wisdom and grace

the Cross before Him…

…and a sword did pierce

Mary’s soul

Maude Carolan Pych