And when the day came for them [=Mary and the new born
Jesus] to be purified as laid down by the Law of Moses, they took him up to
Jerusalem to present him to the Lord — observing what stands written in
the Law of the Lord: Every first-born male must be consecrated to the
Lord—and also to offer in sacrifice, in accordance with what said in
the Law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.
Now in Jerusalem there was a man named Simeon. He was an
upright and devout man, he looked forward to Israel’s comforting and the
Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that
he would not see death until he had set eyes on the Christ of the Lord.
Prompted by the Spirit he came to the Temple; and when the parents brought in
the child Jesus to do for him what the Law required, he took him into his arms
and blessed God and said:
‘Now, Master, you can let your servant go in
peace, just as you promised; because my eyes have seen the salvation
which you have prepared for all the nations to see, a light to enlighten
the pagans and the glory of your people Israel’.
As the child’s father and mother stood there
wondering at the things that were being said about him, Simeon blessed them and
said to Mary his mother,
‘You see this child: he is destined for the
fall and for the rising of many in Israel, destined to be a sign that is
rejected — and a sword will pierce your own soul too — so
that the secret thoughts of many may be laid bare’.
