The seven swords on the icon symbolize precisely these sufferings. 22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord[a]), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: a pair of doves or two young pigeons.[b]. Behold! The whole history of our Lord's ministry--one might almost say, of His whole after-work in the history of Christendom--is more or less the record of the fulfilment of Simeon's prediction. Simeon or Simon. 14Then He shall become a sanctuary; Rupert the Abbot, contemplating Mary, while she was suckling her Son, imagines her addressing Him in these words: A bundle of myrrh is my beloved to me, he shall abide between my breasts. What mother does not know her child so well that even those things that seem otherwise hidden, are not hidden to her? Going next morning to visit the image, he saw in the heart of the blessed Virgin not only seven, but eight swords. espaol. Simeon's dual prophecy about Jesus in the temple consists of two parts: These two prophecies have quite different functions and different settings. I am a Sister of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity praying and working together with other SOLT Sisters, Priests and Laity in the New Evangelization in the modern world, in areas of deepest apostolic need. For St. Simeon in the temple, after having received the divine child in his arms, predicted to her that this Child was to be the mark for all the opposition and persecution of men; Set for a sign which shall be contradicted; and that therefore the sword of sorrow should pierce her soul: And thy own soul a sword shall pierce.. 27 That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. Written to help preachers and Bible teachers communicate Gods Word more effectively, this commentary explores how the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus constitute the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy and guarantee salvation to all who believe on his name. To share this article with your friends, use any of the social share buttons on our site, or simply copy the link below. Oh God! We obscure the majesty of His miracle with the trappings of the Matthew 21:44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. Orthodox tradition says that he was one of the seventy scholars who translated the Hebrew Scriptures into the Septuagint, and that he translated Isaiah 7:14 as saying "a young woman" would conceive rather than "a virgin" due to his disbelief. We are told that the Holy Spirit rested on him (v. 25), the Holy Spirit showed things to him (v. 26), and the Holy Spirit moved him (v. 27). 12:8 Today we tend to take Jesus for granted. 2. Consequently, many Orthodox Christians celebrate the feast of Saint Simeon on 16 February. Numbers are still low. In a recent New York Times article, Jeremy Greene of John Hopkins University outlined the psychic impact of the past two tumultuous years on society. Scripture offers a deeper analysis of modern society than modern society could give itself. One night the unhappy youth fell into mortal sin. When he doesnt respond according to our narrow guidelines, we despair. NLT Large-Print Premium Value Thinline Bible, Filament Enabled Edition--soft leather-look, brown, NLT Large-Print Life Application Study Bible, Third Edition--genuine leather, brown (indexed), NLT Compact Giant Print Bible, Filament Enabled Edition (Red Letter, LeatherLike, Navy Blue Cross), NLT Life Application Large-Print Study Bible, Third Edition--soft leather-look, brown, mahogan, red letter (indexed). We are there too, for all of us brood over his violent death. In the Anglican Communion Simeon is not venerated with a festal observance, and 3 February is designated to recognize Blaise, Bishop of Sebastea, or in modern calendars, Saint Anskar (801865), a missionary, Archbishop of Hamburg-Bremen, and the first Bishop in Sweden in 864. Simeon, who takes the eight-day-old infant Jesus into his arms and starts to prophecy about him, because he of all people had been promised by God to see the Messiah. Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter. Isaiah 8:14,15 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. There would still be those who would oppose the Messiah, an opposition that would pierce her soul. But he did not exercise this compassion with Mary, who, because God wished her to be the queen of dolors, and in all things like his Son, and to see always before her eyes, and to suffer continually all the sorrows that awaited her; and those were the sufferings of the passion and death of her beloved Jesus. As her soul was mystically being pierced on Calvary, Jesus opened up a place large enough within her, to take on a universal motherhood for all of us. Simeon, who takes the eight-day-old infant Jesus into his arms and starts to prophecy about him, because he of all people had been promised by God to see the Messiah. Simeon is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodoxy and Oriental Orthodoxy. deliverance, health, helping, salvation, save, saving health, welfare The research gave proof that beginning in the fifth week of gestation,when a woman realizes she is pregnant, an infinite number of messages pass from the embryo to the mother, through chemical substances like hormones, neurotransmitters, etc.and the embryo sends stem cells that colonize the maternal medulla and adhere to it. By clicking Post Your Answer, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. WebThe Prophecy of Simeon 25 At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. According to the Biblical account, the Holy Spirit You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. Jesus work lies ahead, far greater in scope than any of the participants mentioned so far in this account. [3] And it meant stepping out in obedience, acting on what he heard. Simeons prophecy is described further as Gods promise to Simeon by the Holy Spirit. Does she have eyes in the back of her head? Actually no. 2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you () in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. Can you imagine being THAT guy?! WebHis prophecy is involved in the devotion to Mary as Our Lady of Sorrows. he was a fisherman at the sea of galilee and was the first to call jesus the son of the living god. [citation needed]. When considering a Feast like Our Lady of Sorrows, it is good to keep in mind that sorrow is always related to love. You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. The Christian Feast of the Purification therefore corresponds to the day on which Mary, according to Jewish law (see Leviticus 12:28), should have attended a ceremony of ritual purification. He quotes from Isaiah 8:14 re the falling and rising of many in Israel. The association between Gods He will either shield you from suffering. Unexpected uint64 behaviour 0xFFFF'FFFF'FFFF'FFFF - 1 = 0? 1 And Jacob called his sons and said, Jacob the man is now going to pronounce his prophetic blessing upon his 12 sons. The Holy Spirit was upon him Read full chapter Luke 2:25 in all English translations Luke 1 Luke 3 New Living Translation (NLT) And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed." Under Mosaic law, a mother who had given birth to a man-child was considered unclean for seven days; moreover she was to remain for three and 30 days "in the blood of her purification", for a total of 40 days. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, 28 then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29 Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace,According to Your word; 30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation, 31 Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 A Light of revelation to the Gentiles,And the glory of Your people Israel., 33 And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him. A primary verb; to speak or say. WebSimeon's prophetic hymn is called the Nunc Dimittis, after the first two words of the prophecy in Latin, and often sung as one of the "canticles" or songs of the New Testament as part of Roman Catholic piety. The two often intertwine in such a way as to make one impossible without the other. The sole mention in the New Testament of Simeon is thus: Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. In the Eastern Orthodox Church it is one of the twelve Great Feasts. All rights reserved worldwide. Luke continues to draw us in to read and ponder the rest of the story. 25 And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 34Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the babys mother, This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, and many others to rise. Can I use the spell Immovable Object to create a castle which floats above the clouds? This word is used for the master in the master-slave relationship. To lie, recline, be placed, be laid, set, specially appointed, destined. The relics were first placed in the Velika Gospa (Church of the Virgin) and then later translated to the Church of St. Stephen, which became known as the Sanctuary of St. Simeon the Godbearer. That is, He advanced in wisdom and in grace before men or in their estimation; and before God, according to St. Thomas, inasmuch as all His works would continually have availed to increase His merit, if from the beginning grace in its complete fullness had not been conferred on Him by virtue of the hypostatic union. WebExplains that peter, also known as simeon or simn, was one of jesus' well-known apostles. Merry Christmas, Simeon! WebThe Prophecy of Simeon 25 At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. to bless. But they can be understood from the perspective of Mary's unique motherhood. Contradicted in doctrine; for instead of being believed, he would be esteemed a blasphemer for teaching that he was the Son of God, as the impious Caiaphas declared him to be, saying: He hath blasphemed, he is guilty of death. Contradicted in his reputation, for he was noble, of royal lineage, and was despised as a peasant: Is not this the carpenters son? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary? He was wisdom itself, and was treated as an ignorant man: How doth this man know letters, having never learned? A mother. Acts 6:7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lords Christ. The tribe of Simeon. 25At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. Prayer Sensitive to the leading of the Spirit, he arrives at the temple just about the time that Joseph and Mary enter to present Jesus to the Lord. Anna responded to Jesus much the same way as Simeon. WebFirst Sorrow: The Prophecy of Simeon And you yourself a sword will pierce (Lk 2:35). ), "Your people" is possibly an allusion to the prophecy of Dan 9:24-27 where this same theme is taken up. Luke assigns Anna a place among the prophets (v. 36), which simply means, as Dan Darling put it, she was gifted and unafraid to declare the word of the Lord.. b Luke 2:24 Lev. Middle voice of a primary verb; to lie outstretched. Who can measure the sorrows of Our Lady? WebGreeting. Save 15% for life! Simeon confirmed the words of Isaiah concerning the coming Messiah. Hosea 14:9 Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? What is the symbol (which looks similar to an equals sign) called? For, as it was revealed to St. Theresa, the blessed mother, although she knew before this that the life of her Son would be sacrificed for the salvation of the world, yet she then learned more particularly and distinctly the sufferings and cruel death that awaited her poor Son. Start your free trial today! The feast of 2 February is often known as "Candlemas" because, in honor of the ritual purification of the Virgin Mary, candles of beeswax, which will be used for the whole liturgical year, are brought into a church and blessed. Episode about a group who book passage on a space ship controlled by an AI, who turns out to be a human who can't leave his ship? In the birth narratives about Jesus, we meet Simeon and Anna, who were also waiting for consolation (Luke 2:25). What were the most popular text editors for MS-DOS in the 1980s? However, for those churches that use the Julian Calendar, 3 February is on 16 February of the modern Gregorian Calendar. New blog post from our CEO Prashanth: Community is the future of AI, Improving the copy in the close modal and post notices - 2023 edition. Join today!. As often as she put on Him His clothes, she reflected that they would one day be torn from Him, that He might be crucified; and when she beheld His sacred hands and feet, and thought of the nails that were to pierce them, as Mary said to St. Bridget: My eyes filled with tears, and my heart was tortured with grief., The evangelist says, that as Jesus Christ advanced in years, so also he advanced in wisdom and in grace with God and men. See! 27That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. The Bible is silent about Simeon's age at this point, though he is generally assumed (for example by Howard Marshall, who refers to him as an "old man")[5] to have been elderly. Downfall. In the liturgy of Evening Prayer in the Anglican Communion, Anglicans recite the Nunc dimittis or sing it in Evensong in the canticle the Song of Simeon, traditionally every evening. ", Simeon knew that Jesus wasn't just for the Jews but for the Gentiles also as he alluded to Jesus Presented in the Temple New Living Translation (NLT). Love gives one a vision into things that are otherwise concealed. A falling, a fall, ruin. What is the meaning behind the parable of Children in the Marketplace in Luke 7:31-35? Scripture describes Simeon as being righteous and devout (Luke 2:25). Simeon is one of the four patron saints of Zadar; his feast day is celebrated on 8 October. And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; Genesis 14:19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: Genesis 47:7 And Joseph brought in Jacob his father, and set him before Pharaoh: and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. The Spirit has made known to Simeon that he will see the Messiah before he dies, and the Spirit reveals to him that this very baby, who has come as a light for revelation to the Gentiles, is the one (32). not for three days, but for thirty three years, Mary had to endure a like sorrow. The "just and devout" man of Jerusalem who according to the narrative of St. Luke, greeted the infant Saviour on the occasion of His presentation in the Temple (Luke ii, 25-35). I want to get out, not welcome in. How was Simeon able to have the Holy Spirit upon him prior to Pentecost? This section draws heavily on Isaiah 4066. [The Normal choice is kyrios.] Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning; / Jesus, to thee be all glory given (John Francis Wade, 17111786). From anistemi; a standing up again, i.e. [6][7][8], Sometime between AD 565 and 578, a body believed to be that of Simeon was translated from Syria or Jerusalem to Constantinople. Simeon, on the other hand, is portrayed as deliberately listening to Gods Spirit. Similarly, Anna had planted herself in Gods presence for decades, turning the grief of a young widow into a lifelong prayer. She is near us always, helping us in all adversity, affliction, heartache and difficulty. But how much more miserable would life be, if every one knew also the future evils which are to afflict him! His inner disquiet had been calmed by Christ, and his The Gospel of Luke 2:2239 relates that Mary was purified according to the religious law, after which Jesus was presented in the Temple in Jerusalem. Save 15% on BibleGateway+ with code SPRINGSTUDY15. Sister Magdalene answered him complainingly: Oh Lord, Thou didst suffer on the cross only three hours, but it is more than three years that I have been suffering this cross. Then the Redeemer replied: Ah! He, she, it, they, them, same. Simeon confirmed the words of Isaiah concerning the coming Messiah. Simeons prophecy, as Mary and Joseph present the infant Jesus in the Temple, is the first public pronouncement to Mary of where her relationship with the God-Man, her child, will take her. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, Mary continues to mother us from the death of sin into the Risen Life of Christ, laboring to bring us to true holiness, so that we can be born into eternal life and everlasting happiness. By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from Bible Gateway, a division of The Zondervan Corporation, 3900 Sparks Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 USA, including commercial communications and messages from partners of Bible Gateway. The Gregorian revision of the calendar occurred in 1582, well after the Great Schism between the Eastern and Western Christian churches in 1054. We pin our hopes on answers more than on the one who answers. WebAnd Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother: Behold this child is set for the fall and for the resurrection of many in Israel and for a sign which shall be contradicted. The Prophecy of Simeon. a Luke 2:23 Exodus 13:2,12 Advent's elderly heroes waited decades for consolation. And this prophecy is fulfilled on Mount Calvary. What would it look like to shift into a mindset where we are ready to receive more than escape? Zechariah Proclaims His Faith; Zechariah Returns to Faith; The Great Joy of Our Blessed Mother; An Infant Rejoices in the Presence of the Lord! This holy man was promised by God by a personal As children we were amazed by this in our own mothers. Which language's style guidelines should be used when writing code that is supposed to be called from another language? Our Blessed Mother and Her Perfect Faith; The Witness of Mary and Joseph Again, Luke returns to that word prosdechomenos. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? As he stood gazing at this, he heard a voice saying to him, that this sin had added the eighth sword to the heart of Mary. Get the best from CT editors, delivered straight to your inbox! He was well-versed in the Scriptures. From anti and lego; to dispute, refuse. Luke 2:25-35 "And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Ghost was upon him. He viewed his life as complete because he had seen Gods the Messiah. Our Blessed Mother and Her Perfect Faith; The Witness of Mary and Joseph Everyone is looking for rescue, for wrongs to be made right, for suffering to be over in these bewildering, beleaguering times. Psalm 22:6-8 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people, Psalm 69:9-12 For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me. Feeling chronically on hold has led me back to the biblical theme of consolationcomfort in the wake of loss or disappointment. 29-32). Intelligent listening meant that Simeon discerned the difference between his own impulses and the leading of God. WebThe Nunc dimittis (English: / n k d m t s /), also known as the Song of Simeon or the Canticle of Simeon, is a canticle taken from the second chapter of the Gospel of [1] James F. Driscoll, writing in the Catholic Encyclopedia dismisses this as "untrustworthy legends".[2]. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. But mothers have eyes at the center of their hearts. Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. For a sign which shall be spoken against.--Better, "a sign that is spoken against." He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. WebIn this essay, the author. Sign up if you would like to receive occasional treats from us. And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, "Lord, now let your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel." He said, What we are living through now is a new cycle of collective dismay.. Acts 2:36-41 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ, Acts 3:15-19 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. Answer, bid, bring word, command. He was My own waiting often feels like impatience and irritation. There is probably a reference also to the words of Jehovah (Isaiah 65:2) stretching forth his hands to a "gainsaying" people. And the nearer the time of the passion of her Son approached, with so much greater pain did that sword of sorrow, predicted by St. Simeon, pierce the heart of the mother; precisely this the angel revealed to St. Bridget, saying: That sword of sorrow was every hour drawing nearer to the Virgin as the time for the passion of her Son drew nearer. WebThe Prophecy of Simeon 25 At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. Anna didnt view Jesus as a secret revelation exclusively for her. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. And the sharing itself expanded her own joy. Simeon gave a very interesting prophecy here. His feast is 3 February in the revised Roman Martyrology of the Catholic Church and on 16 February in the Serbian Orthodox Church. While their age might seem incidental, in truth it highlights the limits of their stellar-ness. In the Church of England the Presentation of Christ in the Temple is a principal feast. The Holy Spirit was upon him 26 and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lords Messiah. Image: 4:2433). And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this Child, Behold, this Child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against. Due to the lockdown, we suddenly found ourselves to be a homeless congregation. O, my Lady, thy sorrows are not due to thee who art innocent, but to me who am guilty. . Mary, says St. Bernardino of Sienna, considered that the strength of the saints was to pass through death; the beauty of paradise to be deformed; the Lord of the universe to be bound as a criminal; the Creator of all things to be livid with stripes; the Judge of all to be condemned; the glory of heaven despised; the King of kings to be crowned with thorns, and treated as a mock king. Extracting arguments from a list of function calls, Passing negative parameters to a wolframscript, Short story about swapping bodies as a job; the person who hires the main character misuses his body, Simple deform modifier is deforming my object. Canadian of Polish descent travel to Poland with Canadian passport. Apparently a primary word; a 'mother'. Thus, Simeon is thanking his (literally) slave-master, God, for allowing him (Simeon) to see the One, the Messiah, that would liberate him. The Flight into Egypt New International Version (NIV) WebThe Prophecy of Simeon. Bostons SatanCon and the Call to Arms against Evil Spirits. But since thou hast wished to suffer so much for me, O, by thy merits obtain for me great sorrow for my sins, and patience under the trials of this life, which will always be light in comparison with my demerits, for I have often merited hell. Jesus Brought Relief. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. WebSimeon (Greek: ) at the Temple is the "just and devout" man of Jerusalem who, according to Luke 2:2535, met Mary, Joseph, and Jesus as they entered the Temple to fulfill the requirements of the Law of Moses on the 40th day from Jesus' birth, i. e. the presentation of Jesus at the Temple.. 25 December currently occurs 13 days later on the Julian Calendar than on the Gregorian calendar. and he is the glory of your people Israel!. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. Luke 2:29-32 - thanks God for being able to see the Messiah and praises God for this gift, Luke 2:34b, 35 - prophesies about Messiah Himself and a brief prediction about Mary. His inner disquiet had been calmed by Christ, and his soul was at rest. Some Christian traditions commemorate this meeting on 2 February as the feast of Candlemas, or, more formally, the Presentation of the Lord, the Meeting of the Lord, or the Purification of the Virgin (Mary). When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 29 Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, Simeon also strikes a more somber note, prophesying to Mary that with her joy would come anguish. Died: Charles Stanley, In Touch Preacher Who Led with Stubborn Faith, The Bible Does Everything Critical Theory Does, but Better, After My Dad Died, God Didnt Answer My Anguish, Complete access to articles on ChristianityToday.com, Over 120 years of magazine archives plus full access to all of CTs online archives. 3 His divine power has granted Simeons Prophecy From Tragedy to Glory; Contemplating the Eternal Word; Honoring the Holy Family; Gloria in Excelsis Deo! We would exclaim: How did she know that? Example He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. With them he foretold the terrible heartaches that would pierce the heart of the Holy Virgin at the death of Her Divine Son on the cross. ", "The Gospel of Luke", I Howard Marshall, Paternoster Press, 1978, Page 119, The Meeting of Our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ, The Coming of the Son of God into the Temple, The Presentation of Our Lord Jesus Christ in The Temple, The Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Feast of the Holy and Righteous Simeon the God-Receiver and Anna the Prophetess, "Amshir 8: Lives of Saints: Synaxarium - CopticChurch.net", "Holy, Righteous Simeon the God-Receiver", "Part of Relics of St. Simeon the Godbearer handed over by the Archbishop of Zadar to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem", Byzantine Catholic Church in America, 19 February 2013, Pope John Paul II. A second, more mundane, observation is that they were both very old. Lymphocytes are born from here and remain with the woman for the rest of her life. Mancuso stated: From the fifth week there is clearly a passing of cells, but messages begin at conception. Explains that the book of revelation is apocalyptic, prophetic, and epistle. 27That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. In the Catholic Church the Presentation is commemorated as the fourth Joyful Mystery of the Rosary. But if Jesus advanced in the esteem and love of others, how much more did He advance in Marys love! Sensitive to the leading of the Spirit, he arrives at the temple just about the time that Joseph and Mary enter to present Jesus to the Lord. The Spirit has made known to Simeon that he will see the Messiah before he dies, and the Spirit reveals to him that this very baby, who has come as a light for revelation to the Gentiles, is the one (32). Primarily the clause speaks St. Pope John Paul II puts it beautifully this way: Mary Most Holy goes on being the loving consoler of those touched by the many physical and moral sorrows which afflict and torment humanity. She didnt need to see how things turned out first. Simeon comes into the world to a God-fearing but very dysfunctional family. Gods comfort is intended to reach ever outward. Luke 2:36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser. As Simeon gazed into the brand-new eyes of the Ancient of Days, Christ for him went from being God with us to God with me. Comfort has no real meaning until general truth takes on concrete, personal dimensions. The Holy Spirit was upon him 26and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lords Messiah. Her distress over those children who reject their Father's love keeps her always at work and in intercession for the restoration of this relationship.