When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 22 When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, 23 just as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,” 24 and to offer the sacrifice of “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,” in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord. 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the holy Spirit was upon him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Messiah of the Lord. 27 He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him,28 he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying: 29 “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.” 33 The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; 34 and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted 35 (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” 36 There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. 38 And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.
Jesus who is Lord, Savior, and Messiah was born under the Mosaic Law and had to be circumcised as an heir to the promise made to Abraham according to the prescriptions of the Law (Gen 17:1-14). God commanded that every firstborn shall be consecrated to the Lord as a sacrifice (Ex. 13:2) because God had spared the firstborn of Israel during the final plague on Egypt (Ex. 12:29-30). When the firstborn was a month old, it could be redeemed for the price of five shekels of silver (Num. 3:47-48). A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons was the redemption price to be offered by the poor (Lev. 12:8). The woman must be purified after childbirth, and all males must be circumcised (Lev. 12: 2-8). Luke combined two separate rituals.
Luke presented Simeon and Anna, two aged and pious witnesses who were looking for the fulfillment of God’s OT promises. Through the influence of the Holy Spirit, they attested to the greatness and significance of Jesus’ birth. Both Simeon and Anna were righteous and devout (they fervently obeyed the Mosaic Law) and served God. They were both filled with the Holy Spirit and were awaiting the Messiah. Simeon was not a priest. They recognized Jesus as God’s instrument of salvation which many of the Israelites would reject. Mary’s faith will also be tested. Luke presented Anna and Simeon as equal in God’s grace and God viewed them as equals in honor and grace. They were both given the honor to see and hold the Messiah before they died as God promised.
Almighty God, grant us the grace to understand our role in the growth of your kingdom on earth. Help us to be steadfast in faith and to persevere in spreading the truth of the Gospel. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
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