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Behold, this Child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel;
and for a sign which shall be spoken against (Lk. 2:34).
We are celebrating the feast of the Meeting of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ today. Why is it called the Meeting? Because the Divine Infant Jesus was met by St. Simeon in the Jerusalem Temple.
When the Infant had fulfilled forty days from His birth by His Most Pure Mother, He was brought by the Most Pure Virgin, according to Jewish custom, to the Temple to be consecrated to God, as it is written in the law of the Lord that every male child who opens the womb was to be consecrated to God (Ex. 13:2). And at that moment, by inspiration, the holy elder Simeon entered the Temple. It had been foretold to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he saw Christ the Savior.
And now, in the arms of the elder is the Divine Infant, the Messiah Whom suffering mankind had awaited so long. From an abundance of joyful emotions, a wonderful song poured forth from the mouth of the holy elder: Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word: For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, Which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel (Lk. 2:29-32).
A Miracle of St. Simeon the God-ReceiverRebecca was a diligent student, carefully studying the Old Testament books, Jewish traditions and way of life. One day, while interpreting Isaiah chapter 53, she had her first argument with a rabbi.
“>St. Simeon also addressed the Mother of God, saying about her Son: Behold, this Child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against (Lk. 2:34). The prophetess Anna was also in the Temple, who spoke to people about the Savior.
After this, the Mother of God and her Son and the elderly Joseph returned to Christ the Nazarene/NazariteThere are two words used for Christ in the New Testament: “Nazoreos” and “Nazarinos.” “Nazarinos” means Nazarene, that is, a resident of the city of Nazarus. We understand that Christ really lived and grew up there. But “Nazareos” means “Nazarite.”
“>Nazareth (Lk. 2:22–39).
Take note, beloved, first of all, that the Son of God submits to all the established Jewish religious laws: He is brought to the Temple for dedication to God like every male child of the Israelite people. This is for us believers a model of obedience to all the commands and ordinances of our holy Orthodox Church.
The Church of God, founded by God Himself, is our loving mother that cares for our eternal salvation. The divine teaching of our God and Savior expounded by the God-enlightened Holy Fathers on the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is an immaterial fire: the light of faith, the warmth of love, the tongues of fire that speak in the heart of God’s Law. He awakens us from the world’s charms, leads us to hope in God, and encourages us toward repentance. If we do not prevent His action, He directs us along the narrow path of self-denial. Grace transforms everything it touches into a priceless treasure.
“>Holy Fathers, the wonderful divine services and prayers, Church ordinances—all of this in the Orthodox Church is the spiritual food that nourishes our souls. Without this food, our soul dies; but by eating it we come to the measure of the stature of Christ (Eph. 4:13). Let us surrender ourselves, beloved, to the guidance of our holy Orthodox Church, which is the reliable path to the Kingdom of Heaven, as is clear from the Savior’s words about Orthodox pastors and other pastors: He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep (Jn. 10:1-2).
Also worthy of our attention is how the holy elder Simeon meets the hour of his repose. Not fear of death, but quiet joy was on the face of the holy elder, as the Church hymn says of him: “Tell us, O Simeon: Whom bearest thou into the Temple in thine arms, rejoicing?”[1] But how do grave sinners and unbelievers face death? With despair, with horror. Why? Because the unbeliever sees emptiness and darkness before him, while his conscience, the incorruptible judge, at the same time speaks about the future life and payment for life’s sins… But St. Simeon saw blessed and eternal life with God before him. We, beloved, also desire a calm and peaceful repose. Let us build our entire earthly life under the gaze of the future, eternal life, striving with all our hearts to fulfill the commandments of God; for we hear the voice of the Lord: Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father Which is in Heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity (Mt. 7:21-23).
And finally, the remarkable words of St. Simeon about the Savior, the Divine Infant: Behold, this Child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against (Lk. 2:34). What does this mean? It means that Christ the Savior won’t simply pass by all of human world history, but on the contrary, will appear as the central Person for all ages, for all people in the world. People will treat the Savior either with hatred or with great love. And we see this throughout the history of mankind. About Whom have men thought, spoken, argued, and written about more than Christ the Savior? Some slandered Him, His Church, the servants and followers of Christ God in every way, trying to blot out the very name of Christianity.
Others, on the contrary, died for Christ, confessing Him as their God and Savior; they loved Him with all their hearts, building their entire personal and societal lives according to Christ’s precepts. So it was, so it is now, and so it will be. And this is because Christ the Savior was not only the most ideal, all-holy Man (there never was and never will be such a man other than Him), but at the same time God, Who came to earth and appeared among men for their salvation (Bar. 3:36-38, Mt. 1:21-23, Heb. 13:8).
Beloved, let the waves of unbelief rage, let men not want to confess our Lord and Savior; but we, His followers and members of His holy Orthodox Church will unceasingly proclaim with our words and lives that Jesus Christ is the true Man and our true God, the Savior of the world, that He is truly that stone that the builders rejected, but which is the cornerstone! (Mt. 21:42).
Amen.
[1] Vespers for the feast of the Meeting of the Lord, first sticheron on Lord, I have cried unto Thee.
