1 John 2:3-11. Let heaven and earth exult in joy! – Psalm 95(96):1-3, 5-6. Luke 2:22-35.

Jesus is recognised by Simeon

The faith and truth of Simeon. This event captured in Luke’s Gospel, I have not considered before . . . Mary and Joseph presenting Jesus to the Lord as was Jewish custom for first-born male children. According to the Holy Spirit, Simeon is able to finally rest as he has seen the ‘Christ of the Lord’ and leaves Mary with a sobering glimpse of the future for her son and herself. Holy Spirit, Lord God and Jesus Christ all in the one experience together, with Mary and Joseph – it requires much pondering. What stirs in me is how the Spirit moves to create witness for the Holy Family and how Jesus is recognised by Simeon. Mary and Joseph are left wondering at Simeon’s words . . . I continue to wonder how I can be best witness for Jesus in the world today, prompted by the words in John’s letter: ‘We can be sure that we are in God only when the one who claims to be living in him is living the same kind of life as Christ lived.’