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, like John the Baptist, is circumcised when he is eight days old according to the prescriptions of the Law (Gen 17:10-14; Lev. 12:3). Circumcision signifies the child’s inclusion in the Abrahamic covenant and his identity as part of God’s chosen people. The naming of Jesus, meaning "God saves" (Mt. 1:21), fulfills the angel’s instruction to Mary (Lk. 1:31) and Joseph (Mt. 1:21).
Mary and Joseph completed the purification required after childbirth, which was associated with ritual impurity, to conform to the Mosaic Law (Lev. 12:1-8). In Jewish thought, blood symbolizes life (Lev. 17:11) and the shedding of blood, whether through childbirth or other circumstances, rendered a person ritually unclean because it disrupted the wholeness associated with life. The purification rites served to restore the mother to full participation in the liturgical life of Israel.
The presentation of the firstborn recalls the Exodus, where God commanded that every firstborn male be consecrated to Him as a memorial of how He spared the firstborn of Israel during the final plague on Egypt (Ex. 12:29-30; 13:2). According to the Law, firstborn sons could be redeemed for the price of five shekels of silver (Num. 3:47-48; 18:15-16). While the Gospel of Luke does not explicitly state whether Mary and Joseph paid the five-shekel redemption price, their presentation of Jesus entirely to God may symbolize His unique role as the Messiah, wholly dedicated to God’s mission. Additionally, Mary offered a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons as her purification offering, a provision for the poor under the Law (Lev. 12:8).
Simeon, described as righteous and devout, represents the faithful remnant of Israel awaiting the expectation that God would send His anointed one (the Messiah) to redeem and restore Israel "the consolation of Israel," a phrase rooted in Isaiah’s prophecies of comfort and salvation (Isaiah 40:1). Simeon’s guidance by the Holy Spirit reveals the divine initiative in recognizing Jesus as the Messiah.
Simeon’s song, the Nunc Dimittis, praises God for fulfilling His promises. The name Nunc Dimittis comes from the opening words of the canticle in the Vulgate, the Latin translation of the Bible, where Simeon acknowledges that he can now die in peace because he has seen the Messiah. God fulfilled His promise to Simeon that he would not die before seeing the Messiah, who is the embodiment of God's salvation (cf. Isaiah 40:5). Jesus is the fulfillment of prophecies that the Messiah would bring light to the nations (Is. 49:6) and the culmination of Israel’s history, fulfilling God’s promises to the patriarchs. The reference to "glory for your people Israel" highlights that Jesus fulfills the messianic hopes of Israel, bringing salvation to both Jews and Gentiles (Is. 42:6).
Simeon predicts Jesus’ divisive role in Israel, causing some to rise and others to fall, echoing Isaiah 8:14-15, which speaks of the Messiah as both a sanctuary and a stumbling block. The reference to the sword piercing Mary’s soul foreshadows her suffering at the foot of the Cross (Jn. 19:25-27). Through Jesus, the true intentions of hearts will be revealed, fulfilling the prophetic insight of Isaiah 53:3 and 53:10.
Anna’s presence as a devout woman and prophetess from the tribe of Asher highlights the continued representation of the so-called "lost" tribes of the Northern Kingdom, signifying the unity of Israel. Although the Northern Kingdom had been destroyed, remnants of these tribes persisted, symbolizing that God’s covenant promises were not forgotten. Anna’s inclusion emphasizes the restoration of all Israel through the Messiah, fulfilling the prophetic hope of Israel’s reunification (Ezekiel 37:21-22). Her continual worship in the Temple recalls the faithfulness expected of God’s people, as described in Psalm 84:5, and exemplifies the spiritual vitality of the remnant. Like Simeon, Anna represents the faithful remnant anticipating the Messiah (Malachi 3:1), bearing witness to the fulfillment of God’s redemptive promises.
Anna arrives "at that very time" when Simeon is proclaiming his prophecy about Jesus, demonstrating God’s providence, and becomes a witness to Jesus’ identity as the promised Messiah. Her recognition of Jesus as the Redeemer fulfills the expectations of Isaiah 52:9, which proclaims the joy of Jerusalem’s redemption. She gave thanks to God and became a messenger, proclaiming Jesus as the fulfillment of the messianic hope to all who awaited the redemption of Jerusalem. While the Holy Spirit explicitly filled Simeon and guided him to the Messiah, Anna’s prophetic role reflects the Spirit’s influence, allowing her to recognize and proclaim Jesus as the Redeemer in her lifetime. Together, Simeon and Anna serve as witnesses to God’s faithfulness and represent the faithful remnant of Israel awaiting the Messiah..
Almighty God, we thank You for the faithful witness of Simeon and Anna, who recognized and proclaimed Jesus as the light of the nations and the glory of Israel. Open our hearts to receive Your salvation with joy and to proclaim Your promises to others. Fill us with the same Spirit that guided them, so we may faithfully await the fulfillment of Your kingdom. This we pray through Christ our Lord, Amen!
Sources
- McSorley, Joseph. An Outline History of the Church by Centuries (From St. Peter to Pius XII). 2nd ed., B. Herder Book Co., 1944.
- Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
- Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
- Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
- Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Prentice Hall, 1990.
- Charpentier, Etienne. How to Read the Old Testament. Translated by John Bowden, 1981.
- Komonchak, Joseph, et al., editors. The New Dictionary of Theology.
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