Homily for Sunday in the Octave of Christmas

Did Simeon’s aged feet dance a little as he held the child? While he looked into those sleepy eyes and let the tiny hand wrap itself around one of his gnarled fingers? Did he lift his eyes to heaven when he prayed, or did he just look into the eyes of heaven’s Lord as he held him? Did he bend down his gray beard and let his rough lips kiss the soft hair? Did he drink in the smell of the newborn? Did he fall to his knees as he held Him? Did he hug him close?

And what was in the Blessed Mother’s mind and heart when she noticed the old man making his way toward her with his arms outstretched? Arms that would not be denied? Did she recognize in his eyes the same wonder that had filled the eyes of the Shepherds forty days before? Did she realize that here was another of God’s saints who had been let in on the secret? One who knew who and what she was carrying?

And Joseph, faithful Joseph, standing by and watching. What went on in his mind as he watched first Simeon and then Anna start spreading the word about the Child? So close to Herod, jealous Herod. How terrifying to be protector for the Lord of the universe when he couldn’t even lift his head on his own! And how Joseph loved him – even though not his own. And yet, truly born for him as much as for anyone.

This meeting in the temple had long been foretold by the Prophet. “The Lord whom you seek shall suddenly come to His temple.” And while many watched for that day, their own ideas about God’s glory and splendor blinded them to it when it actually took place. They expected something grander than this! But not Simeon or Anna. They knew who had come to the temple that day and they worshipped in awe and reverence. They were not put off by the lowliness of His appearing.

And Simeon – what was that look in his eye when the old seer handed the child, ever so reluctantly, back to his holy mother? He looked at her and his eyes filled with tears as he saw what this Child, this most holy Child, had come to do. He looked down the long corridor of the years and saw the tree, heard the cries of pain, saw the grief written on Mary’s face: “A sword will pierce your own soul also,” he whispers to her.

For it would be by suffering and dying that He would indeed become the “salvation” which God prepares before the face of all people. He is the light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of Israel precisely when the fire of love consumes Him as He sacrifices Himself on the altar of the Cross – carrying in his body the weight of the sin of mankind and offering Himself in perfect obedience to the heavenly Father “on behalf of all and for all.”

The Light that burns and shines in Him is the light of the Father’s love for a lost race . Simeon and Anna stare at him and are now ready to die, for they know now that the Lord has truly kept all of His promises, for He has given His most precious gift of all. His Son. “What more could God have given, tell me, what more did He have to give?”

We sing the song of Simeon after the celebration of the Eucharist every Sunday. We say with Simeon and with Anna: “It’s okay, Lord. We could die now and it would all be okay. We’re ready to go home. We’ve seen our Savior. We have touched, handled the flesh of Your Son, we’ve touched and seen the face of Love Incarnate. We can go home now. Glory to God in the highest!”

And like Simeon and Anna of old, we will not be put off by the meanness of His appearing, by the lowliness of His coming. Bread and wine, so ordinary, so plain and simple. And yet hidden in them the flesh and blood of God incarnate, of Emmanuel, the God who is with us, who is for us.

And like Simeon and Anna of old, we who have seen and known Him here cannot keep silence. Our words cannot but burst forth in two directions. First and foremost, thanks to the Father for such a gift, and how could we ever be worthy of such a gift, of such love Praise to heaven’s Lord for wrapping His love up for us in so tiny a package and delivering to us with a great big: “I Love you!” on the tag. And after the praise and glory and thanks to God, then too the telling to others, the speaking to those who do not yet know, who could not in their wildest imaginations even dream that God has so loved and favored them. We cannot not be telling them of the greatest gift ever given? We cannot not be calling them to come and share with us the feast of love, for there is a place at the Lord’s table for everyone for whom He gave the sacrifice and the sacrifice was given for all!

And as the Child grew and became strong in spirit and filled with wisdom and the grace of God resting on Him, so He would go on growing in us. Becoming strong in us and filling us with His wisdom and showering on us the grace of God.

And when the time comes for us to depart, we who have held him in our hands and in our hearts will go to His arms in peace and He will hold us and welcome us to the home He has prepared for Simeon, Anna, the Holy Innocents and us; to the Feast that never ends. Amen