Sparkles of Light (Lk 5:22-32)

2 February 2012, Thursday, 4^th Week of the Year

 WAITING IS THE HARDEST PART OF LOVING

When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord, and to offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:

"Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel."

Lk 5:22-32

            Today we celebrate the Presentation of Jesus in the temple.  What is this celebration all about?  This reminds us that from Christmas, it is forty days after.  Hence, we celebrate the Presentation of Jesus in the temple.  The presentation of Jesus in the temple served two purposes; the first is the redemption of the first-born and the second is the purification of Mary.  The purification was normally performed in the local synagogue but Mary and Joseph decided it should take place in the temple. If the family could afford they would offer a one year old lamb, but if not they would offer two young pigeons.  This was the law during Jesus’ time and this is the background of what we are celebrating today.

            But I would like to focus on the person of Simeon.  God made a promise to Simeon that he will see the messiah. God told Simeon that his life would not end until he sees the Saviour.  In my contemplation of this part of Luke, I imagine how Simeon was so astounded and emotionally happy when Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple that day. I imagine that he was waiting for a long time for this and he never gave up waiting.  Simeon then prayed after having seen Jesus.  He started off by establishing the fact that he recognizes that God is completely sovereign. He then told God that he's all set and that he can now die happy because God fulfilled his promise to him.

            Simeon was a righteous and devout man, “awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.”  Simeon was faithful in his waiting.  What are you waiting for?  Are you faithful in your waiting?  We are a people in waiting.  We are waiting for something in our lives, may it be something petty or something extravagant.  We are all waiting.  Perhaps we are waiting for a visit or a call from a friend or a family.  And sometimes we give up waiting because it seems that visit or call will never come.  Perhaps we are waiting for an opportunity or a chance that would make us happy or make our problems go away.  And sometimes we give up waiting because that opportunity or chance will never come.  God promises us that he would never leave us, that he would never abandon us.  But there are times in our lives that we give up waiting for this promise of God.  When troubles, problems, and even tragedy in our lives come, God seems to be fair.  God promises us that he would never leave us, but perhaps there are some moments in our lives we felt that God left us.  

God will never leave us as long as we wait for him lovingly just like Simeon.  The story of Simeon perfectly exemplifies God's characteristics of promise-keeping and rewarding faithfulness.  Waiting is the hardest part of loving.  If we wait for someone we love and it takes a very long time for that someone to come, it is hard, it is difficult, it is painful.  But the Gospel for today reminds us that this is the way of true loving.  If our waiting is built on love, then that waiting has already been answered since very start.  Continue to wait loving and have faith, God is always there with you.