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
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