THE PRESENTATION 2022

 + Today we pause our observance of the adult Jesus’s burgeoning ministry and look back to 40 days after his birth—a commemoration called The Prsentation of the Infant Jesus at the Temple(which was this past Wednesday) also known as The Purification of the Virgin.Both things are true: 40 days after giving birth, a Jewish mother needed to bathe in the ritual waters of the temple to purify herself, allowing her to return to the daily life. And 40 days after the birth of a first son, he was to be presented to the Temple with a sacrifice of thanksgiving appropriate to one’s economic standing (in the case of the Holy family, two pigeons). On the occasion outlined by Luke in today’s gospel both things happen the purifying AND the presentation rituals. (This day is also referred to as Candlemas, but to get into that is far too much church trivia…)
    The scene is chaotic…at the Temple hundreds of people are making their offering. A poor family from Nazareth should have gone unnoticed, save for the demeaning stares that came from only being able to offer the smallest sacrifice allowed. Other than disdain, no one would pay the Holy Family any mind. And yet, in this story two faithful people do—they’re drawn to this baby.
    First on the scene is the old priest, Simeon. That day he was guided to the temple---it wasn’t his turn to serve at one of the altars and yet he was drawn, driven to be there by the Holy Spirit. The couple’s made their sacrifice, the purificating bath has been taken when this old priest comes toward them….why would a revered priest of the temple give two hoots about a poor family from the backwater town of Nazareth, offering their measly pigeons at the altar? They meant nothing to the economy of the temple and yet, here comes Simeon. Why? Because, as God often does, God uses the ordinary and the dismissed, the unremarkable and the outcast to shine God’s light in the world.
Simeon’s been waiting for messiah and, on this day, finds him in the arms of Mary. Filled with joy he sings his song of praise, known throughout Christendom as the Nunc Dimittis which, loosley translated means “Let me now depart.” This old priest has been waiting to see the salvation of the world arrive and now that he’s seen the Messiah, he’s at peace.
The song of Simeon is beautiful, the moment, poignant. We recite this song at our night-time services, Evening Prayer and Compline. Why? Because it’s in the peace of God’s love for us that we lay our heads down at night, knowing all things are well because God is among us.
    The second character that comes on the scene is the prophet Anna, daughter of Phanuel. Anna was married for seven years and then widowed. Clearly she didn’t have a son or a brother to care for her because she was living in the temple, alone, for YEARS (a woman without a man was literally nothing in Ancient Israel, relegated to a life of begging). Once Anna hears Simeon’s song she begins to proclaim the redemption of Jerusalem. No doubt dismissed by many, Anna realizes upon hearing Simeon’s words that all is not lost, for the Messiah is here and she announces this to all within earshot in the cacophanous Temple halls.
    The joy of knowing that all will indeed be well, buoyed Simeon and Anna as it should us, for wherever we find ourselves this morning—-in heartbreak, worry, fear, a deep ache for what was and is no longer—-whatever weighs on us today, there is Good News: fear not, for the Messiah is here, in our midst. Always. The healing of what lays heavy upon us is at hand—for our eyes have seen the Savior, here for all to see, freeing us to go on with life in peace as God has promised, through the coming teachings of that 40 day old baby held by Mary, worshipped by Simeon, praised by Anna, given to you and me. My eyes have seen the Savior, how about you?
Amen.