At the right time and in the right way

‘A sword will pierce your own soul?’ (Luke 2:35)

From Luke 2:22-40 (Year C: Presentation of Jesus)

Bringing to an end a long  Christmas liturgical holiday in this Feast of the Presentation (and not to be confused with that other feast known as the mid-winter northern hemisphere holiday noshers) we are left with the realisation that persecution, opposition and danger are never far whether in Rama after Herod did his work or in the prophecy of Simeon whom we meet one-off in this story found in the gospel of Luke.

Enter Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Jesus turns up as a baby in the Temple brought there by Mary and Joseph.  The visitors were poor – instead of bringing a lamb which every ‘respectable’ ‘middle-class’ family would have done – they brought a poor offering of two young pigeons (presumably kept and slaughtered for the purpose).  In case we ever forget the humanity and Jewishness of Jesus’ family we should recall that they were there on official cultic duty – Jesus was circumcised and Mary was ‘purified’ according to Jewish law and custom.  (Purification of mothers after childbirth might be regarded as a weird religious practice and reflective of strange ideas about these matters but it should be recalled that a ritual referred to as ‘churching of women’ was practiced in the main Christian churches up to the middle of the last century albeit with a rewording of the ceremony prior to that in order to focus on thanksgiving.)

Enter Simeon and Anna

Two other persons mysteriously enter the story in quick succession: Simeon and Anna. Simeon was a good person upon whom the Holy Spirit rested. The people at that time had no theology of the Trinity but they knew the Holy Spirit when they met the ruach – the feminine breath of God that brings peace, love and wisdom wherever it rests. And God rested there on that day in that place where the Jews piously made sacrifice, praised God and undertook their religious duties.

‘Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple’ (v.27) Simeon arrived just at the right moment for what was to follow next.  Simeon, mature in years and filled with the Holy Spirit, saw and embraced what he had been waiting for much of his life.  Like a minister at the table he took the bread, blessed it and gave it back to where it came from. Taking the child into his arms he blessed it and uttered – according to Luke – some prophetic words of wisdom, joy, hope and warning.   These words are part of the daily night office used by those who pray the liturgy of the hours.  Where there is darkness there is light; where there is despair there is hope ….

Simeon saw and affirmed what others could not see in this child.  But, he saw beyond this moment of incredible joy to a time when all would be hardship and pain because a sword will pierce our souls.  And why? ‘the inner thoughts of many will be revealed’ and truth will be told and that ‘sign that will be opposed’ will be the cause of grief. 

A wounding blessing

Simeon blessed the child Jesus and his mother Mary. But it was, so to speak, a mixed blessing. In fact it was also a wounding (the French word is blessure).  He foretold a deep wounding and by foretelling it Mary knew that blessings of a wounding sort were in store for her.

Sometimes people can says things to us that are deeply wounding. Or, we sometimes can do the same to others.  What is so wounding is the ‘thoughts revealed’ as Simeon says in the same breath. We speak from what is within the heart and, unfortunately, what is there is not always to our own good or those who hear us. But, sometimes what has a wounding effect is, ultimately, for the good of the other or ourselves.

The ultimate wounding for Mary occurred in the desolation of Calvary.  We are all destined at some stage to face deeply wounding moments in our life’s journey.  With great blessings and giftedness comes much responsibility and not infrequently great suffering, misunderstanding – even persecution.

And what did Anna have to say?  She spoke about Jesus to ‘all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem’.  Her role was to continue in the presence of God night and day in the Temple praising God and practicing what nowadays would be classified as a lay monastic spirituality. She presented herself at ‘that moment’ (v.38) in the right place‘

At the right time

The entire story of the Presentation is a breaking out of a new experience in the pilgrim people who sought real freedom and growth.  There is a strong element of surprise, joy and annunciation to the world here.  Simeon and Anna hung in there in humble trusting and hope and at the right time, in the right place, with the right person and in the right way something wonderful happened for them.  And so it will be for each one of us. Have we not had this experience more than once in our journey through life?