The Stage is Set

The scene

The stage is set and in today’s Gospel we see a drama acted out that will shift our focus and change our view of the little family who we follow, as they move into the great arena of the Temple of Jerusalem. As the scene opens they appear overshadowed by the glory of their surroundings.

By the end of the scene glory itself is relocated, as the infant Jesus is recognized as the Glory of His people and the Light of all the world.

The scene is Jerusalem, on the approach to the great Temple, magnificently rebuilt by Herod, standing high up on the Temple Mount. You go up to Jerusalem and so the parents ascend, a simple devout family group, with their little child and the sacrifice of the poor: two doves, to fulfil the requirements of purification in obedience to ‘an old commandment.’

The next scene takes place within the Temple. Enter Simeon, a ‘righteous’ man, impelled by the Holy Spirit to come at this moment to find what he has spent a life time seeking. Few people in that holy place notice an old man, in the shadows, take a baby in his arms but when he speaks out a few heads turn and those of us watching this action stand, held in the moment, not daring to breathe as we strain to catch the words falling from his lips. 

Simeon speaks.

Here, he states, in the full view of his people lies an infant who is the Glory, Light and the Salvation of all people. It is not surprising that the child’s mother and foster-father tremble – the holy man’s words about the child are words that can only be applied to the Lord God himself: Glory, Light, Salvation.

The stage direction says – ‘change lighting.’

The Temple building fades into the background and the infant shines out, throwing the little family into relief.

Enter the whole world: the world of Israel and the gentile world, coming in from the outer courts and the margins of the town, from all directions. You should go up to see the Glory but now the Light shines out from someone lowly.

His lowly mother reaches out to gather him back into her bosom and Simeon speaks again. She knows the Spirit who speaks through him, and it takes all her faith and trust and obedience to stand and hear the prophecy. Her husband stands at her side willing her to be strong but she has no need for strength.  What the child in her arms will do for all of us, is already done in her. She is full of grace like no other person and all of us may follow to drink from that same stream.

So, once again she plays the role assigned to her, though angels leave her and people disbelieve her and a sword pierces her heart; she wants no other part except to be the daughter of the Father, the mother of the Son and spouse of the Spirit. What strength does she need? She who trusts the Lord as no other person has trusted him, she who carries Glory in her arms and nurses Light and Salvation for the world.

The infant Glory leaves the Temple on the throne of His mother. A shadow passes over the Temple walls and the Light descends the stair and passes through the gate. Watching him go the old man smiles because the fullness of time has come at last.

[Readings: I Jn 2:3-11; Luke 2:22-35]