My
Beloved Youth,
May
the peace and love of the Young Child Jesus be with you all.
The
Holy Spirit had revealed to Simon "that
he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ."
(Luke 2:26)
Forty
days following the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, He was brought
to the Temple according to the Jewish Tradition. "As
it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every
male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord."
(Luke 2: 23)
In
Jerusalem there was a very just and devout man named Simon who was
led by the Spirit into the Temple. It was revealed to this man that
he would not die until he had seen the Lord's Christ. Simon was waiting
for the Consolation of Israel. This man whom the Holy Spirit was upon,
was anxiously anticipating the joy of the deliverance that the Messiah
was expected to bring unto Israel (the Consolation).
"For
my eyes have seen Your salvation. Which You have prepared before the
face of all peoples, A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your People Israel." (Luke 2:30-32)
Many
Orthodox scholars call the Lord Jesus Christ's presentation into the
Temple, "The Meeting of our Lord." For at His Holy
presentation the Lord Jesus Christ's messianic identity was recognized
and proclaimed by the holy man Simon and also the prophetess Anna
(Luke 2:25-38). Therefore, it is thought that perhaps "The
Meeting of Our Lord" more accurately portrays the Lord Jesus
Christ meeting with His people.
The
Song of Simon is prayed in the Compline Prayers, Vesper Services,
and during the Litany for the Holy Gospel throughout Coptic Orthodox
services worldwide. Following his song, Simon also said to St Mary,
"Behold this Child is set for the fall
and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against
(and a sword will pierce through your own soul also)"
(Luke 2:34-35). Meaning that at the time of the Passion of the Lord
Jesus Christ, St Mary will suffer the sword of pain that she escaped
during childbirth. Witnessing her Son upon the Holy Cross-, St Mary's
soul would be pierced in grief.
Also
in the Temple along with Simon at The Meeting of the Lord, the prophetess
Anna "gave thanks to God and spoke
of Jesus to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem"
(Luke 2:38). Anna was a lady who had not departed from God. This firmly
supports that God reveals Himself to those who do not depart from
Him. At the time of The Meeting Anna was an elderly lady who had remained
fervent in her fasting and prayers both by day and night. She abided
in the Temple.
After St Luke's account of The Meeting of Our Lord, the Holy Gospel
writer states that St Joseph and St Mary took the Child Jesus and
"returned into Galilee, to their own
city, Nazareth" (Luke 2:39).
I
pray that with our biblically based evening prayers and during Vesper
Services, each time we pray we come to the realization that the Lord
Jesus Christ is still the salvation God has prepared for all people,
the light of the Gentiles, and the glory of Israel. Amen.
God
bless you,
Bishop
Youssef
Bishop, Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States
