[Advent] The Love of Simeon
“For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations.” (Luke 2:30-31) It’s that time of year when, inevitably, you’ll step into a department store and hear: “Last Christmas, I gave you my heart, but the very next day, you gave it away.” (My sincerest apologies if that gets stuck in your head.) If you love that song, I’m happy it’s adding to your Christmas joy. But it always makes me pause. It seems to be about love, given and betrayed and found anew. And after all, Christmas is all about love, right? Christmas is, in fact, the most beautiful love story.…
Simeon and Anna: Ready and Attuned [Advent]
During Advent reflections, I love when “side characters” like Simeon and Anna get a little attention. Though they don’t show up in nativity scenes, both elderly figures shared a deep faith and lifelong devotion to God. That devotion helped them be ready to speak when the Gospel Himself arrived. We meet both Simeon and Anna in chapter 2 of Luke, right on the heels of the shepherds’ story. Simeon is described here as “righteous and devout” and someone who was “waiting for the consolation of Israel.” He was sensitive to hearing from the Spirit of God, which is how he knew he would meet the Messiah before he died…
