Saturday 02 February 2019

Psalm: Psalm 24

Background

At the end of the story of Jesus’ birth, Luke uniquely includes the story of Mary and Joseph presenting Jesus at the Temple in Jerusalem, and of his recognition as the Messiah by two elderly figures: Simeon, in this passage, and Anna, in the verses that follow.

Simeon is inspired to come to the Temple at the time Mary and Joseph are present and they mistake him for the priest who is to circumcise the infant Jesus. Instead, Simeon praises God in the words that have become known as the ‘Nunc dimittis’, a standard part of the Anglican service of Evening Prayer and set to music by many church composers. Simeon has been waiting all his life to see the Messiah that he has been promised he will see and speaks with gladness of the fulfilment of his hopes and those of Israel.

Churches often focus on the needs of the young, but this passage and the verses that follow in relation to Anna provide us with a celebration of the faith of the elderly. We identify with Simeon’s joy and with the deep sense of contentment that he can die peacefully in the knowledge that the future of Israel is in God’s hands.

To Ponder:

•  How might Mary and Joseph have reacted to these unexpected words from Simeon?
• What other biblical passages discuss faith in relation to the elderly?