He Sees More Than Others Can - So Can You!

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.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit
that he should not see death
before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. 
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,
he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:
, “NowMaster, you may let your servant go 

in peace, according to your word,

for my eyes have seen your salvation,

which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples:

a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

and glory for your people Israel.”

This is one of my favorite passages in the Bible.  The prayer of Simeon evokes for me a man that has total trust in the Lord.  Can you imagine the joy Simeon must have felt to have taken this child into his arms and feeling somehow that this baby was special and then he remembered the promise that had been given to him and realizes that it has been fulfilled!  His wait was over and in his arms was the Messiah, the One God promised so many years ago and he, Simeon, was now ready to surrender himself totally and fully to God. 

If you do the Liturgy of the Hours, some call it Divine Office, the Canticle of Simeon is very familiar to you.  I find it one of the most comforting passages in the whole Bible.  I find it so not because of what happened to Simeon, but rather his canticle speaks to me of the Holy Eucharist.  The Eucharist is the way Jesus remains with us, His Church, in a most intimate way, joining together, creator with creature, God with man, The Holy with the sinner in a love feast that makes the Wedding Feast at Cana seem like a slumber party.

The Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of the triumphant risen Jesus is what we receive at every mass.  We do not have to depend on us being in a good mood or the celebrant giving a good sermon or the choir providing great music to make every mass very special. Our emotions need not be a part of the ceremony because Jesus is there in person and He is there no matter how we feel.  We can reach out and touch Him in the Bread and Wine and further, we can be one with Him as He enters into us.  We can get no closer to God this side of heavens gate. 

So today, rejoice with brother Simeon for we have seen with our own eyes the fulfillment of the promise God made to His people so long ago.  Receive Him and converse with Him as a friend. 

Please remember to pray for those in Purgatory.  You can offer up your communion for their benefit.