This week, in Luke 2:25-38, we explore the song of Simeon, nunc dimittis in Latin, meaning “now you dismiss.” It is regularly used in prayer services at the end of the day, such as Vespers or Compline, for those who pray the Hours. Prophecy plays an important role in the Canticles of Christmas and Isaiah. In this week’s passage we read both Simeon’s and Anna’s prophecies regarding Jesus. Although a prophet may foretell the future, the prophet is essentially “one who speaks for God.” Although only Anna is designated by scripture as a prophet, Simeon speaks in the form of a prophecy as well.
The Canticle of Simeon is a song of thanksgiving he sings to God for allowing him to see the Messiah before he “departs in peace,” meaning before he dies, just as the Spirit had indicated to him. Have you ever had the sense that God has answered your prayers in such a powerful way?
The image for this week is a stained glass panel in the transept of St. John's Anglican Church, Ashfield, New South Wales (NSW). This scene illustrates Jesus' presentation at the temple (Luke 2:21-35) to be named and circumcised. The prophet Simeon is holding the infant who he foresaw to be "the Lord's Christ."
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| https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+1%3A5-2%3A40&version=NRSV |
“So many situations in the world need peace” says Brother Alois, prior of Taizé. “But this peace has to come in our hearts. Peace does not mean we will always have an easy life, but it does mean we believe that peace is possible.”
If music is a pathway to God for you, you might want to listen to this arrangement of “Let your Servant now go in Peace” from the music of Taizé: LINK. The repetition your hear in the music of Taizé is designed to help one in meditation and prayer.
In the arc of our Advent/Christmas story, as people of prayer, we read perhaps the most relatable of the Christmas Canticles, Simeon’s Song. Simeon and Anna are presented as older, righteous and devout, prophetic Spirit-filled worshippers dedicated to fervent prayer, praying for deliverance of their people and the restoration of their community. We let scripture tell the story:
Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon who was righteous and devout, looking for the restoration of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. So Simeon, directed by the Spirit, came into the temple courts, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what was customary according to the law, Simeon took him in his arms and blessed God, saying,
“Now, according to your word, Sovereign Lord,
permit your servant to depart in peace.
For my eyes have seen your salvation
that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples:
a light, for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.”
So the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “Listen carefully: This child is destined to be the cause of the falling and rising of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be rejected. Indeed, as a result of him the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul as well!”
There was also a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old, having been married to her husband for seven years until his death. She had lived as a widow since then for eighty-four years. She never left the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment, she came up to them and began to give thanks to God and to speak about the child to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. ©NET Bible
What a beautiful story within which the Song of Simeon resides. As Mary and Joseph are presenting their newborn son, Jesus, at the Temple, we find the elders Simeon and Anna. Both recognized and lifted the baby Jesus up as the Messiah, the one who would deliver Israel. I have always wondered what Mary, basking in the aftermath of birth, thought about Simeon’s words about the sword which would pierce her own soul …
You can simply say “Amen” now and ponder on your own but if you would like to continue your journey with Simeon through his song, I invite you first to listen once again to the Taizé chant LINK before engaging in the spiritual practices of Breath Prayer and/or Lectio Divina by reading on …
Breath Prayer: Take a deep breath and gently read over this passage with a prayerful heart. I suggest just reading the Canticle of Simeon as I did to find the following breath prayer. I have found that God can speak is just a few words as powerfully as in many words. As you craft your breath prayer, breath IN: what Name shall I call upon God with? Breathe OUT: what is the desire of my heart inspired by the Canticle of Simeon? 6-8 syllables is an optimal prayer for breathing your prayers but make the prayer your own in whatever way works for you. If you desire you may pray this breath prayer:
Breathing IN … Light of Christ
Breath OUT … Fill me with Peace
Lectio Divina: Allow your breath prayer to envelop you in God’s presence as you begin this week by closing your eyes, allowing the scene in the temple to visualize in your mind. What do you see? What does the temple look like in your mind? What do you hear? Do you smell or taste anything? Is there something you can reach out to touch, perhaps to stroke the cheek of this beautiful newborn messiah? What do you feel as you enter into the scene?
With that image in your mind, I invite you to prayerfully consider the text in four movements.
1) Lectio: reading.
Slowly read the passage and immerse yourself in the beauty of just the Canticle of Simeon. There may be a word, phrase or image that bubbles up into your consciousness, the words may "shimmer," calling your attention. You may use either the ©NET Bible translation above OR open your own favorite bible (online or otherwise) to Luke 2:29-32 OR use these verses in the ©Tree of Life translation.
“Now may You let Your servant go in peace,
O Sovereign Master, 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 nations’
and the glory of Your people Israel.”
Luke 2:29-32 ©TLV
O Sovereign Master, 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 nations’
and the glory of Your people Israel.”
Luke 2:29-32 ©TLV
2) Meditatio: meditation.
Read the passage again, slowly. Allow your word, phrase or image to come alive and deepen in your consciousness. Consider what it means in this passage and how it intersects with your life now or in the past. What is God saying to you through your word, phrase or image?
3) Oratio: prayer.
When it feels time to move on, read the passage again, slowly. Allow yourself to move toward God who has already moved toward you through your word, phrase or image. How do you respond to God's movements ... in words, in deepen emotion, conviction or another way that may be more creative?
4) Contemplatio: contemplation.
When your time of encountering the scripture feels finished, it is time to rest. Allow all of the words and images and emotions to fall away until you are immersed in Silence, the God who holds you ... for as long as you can. Make an embodied gesture to close your time of prayerful reading.
As your Amen listen one more time to the Taizé Chant LINK
Spiritual Practice for your Advent "waiting:" As you journey through this week, take something with you. Take time to pause, breath and allow something of God to shimmer up into your consciousness. It may be your breath prayer or it may be a word or phrase from our passage or it may the image of stained glass. It may be your image of the temple or an emotion that was evoked. It may even be something you found somewhere else. Is there something here for you to take with you on your journey from the joy of Christmas into the light of Epiphany?
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| RomkeHoekstra [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], from Wikimedia Commons |
Thanks so much for your interest in The Canticles of Christmas. I hope you received a blessing from your reflection on the Christmas Story as told through these 5 beautiful songs of people of faith. **The sermon preached on this passage was already recorded (Dec 23) and posted on our website: https://www.hckaty.org/sermon-archive/
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