“now i see” (jn 9:25, rsv-ce)
“My eyes have witnessed Your saving deed displayed for all the peoples to see.” —Luke 2:30-31
The Church Fathers pictured Adam and Eve as viewing through the persons of Simeon and Anna the undoing of their earlier rebellion. Adam and Eve could thus say with Simeon, “Now we can die in peace; we have seen God’s salvation” (see Lk 2:29ff). They finally saw the fulfillment of God’s promise of victory over evil in the Infant Jesus (see Gn 3:15). God let Simeon and Anna see the promise, just as He let Moses see the Promised Land and feast his eyes upon it (see Dt 34:4). They “did not obtain what had been promised but saw and saluted it from afar” (Heb 11:13).
God lets us glimpse the heavenly future in today’s feast of the Presentation of Jesus. We may not live to see all our hopes come to pass, but God in His mercy lets us “feast our eyes” upon the promise and get a glimpse. We are privileged to see Jesus in Word, Eucharist, and Sacrament. We too can see the Light to the Nations and the Glory of Israel (see Lk 2:32).
Moses, Simeon, Anna, and the holy heroes of faith were the best of faithful Israel. Likewise, God lets us see a Light of revelation, a sign that will be for our “rise,” the rise of many (Lk 2:34). In seeing the Eucharist, reading the New Testament, and living in the Church, the Body of Christ, we not only fulfill Simeon and Anna’s hope, but far exceed it. Let us rejoice in all the Lord allows us to see.
Prayer: Father, I will feast my eyes upon that which glorifies You, rather than upon worldly “enticements for the eye” (1 Jn 2:16).
Promise: “Since [Jesus] was Himself tested through what He suffered, He is able to help those who are tempted.” —Heb 2:18
Praise: “O Lord, our Lord, how glorious is Your name over all the earth!” (Ps 8:2)
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
(It’s not too late to sign up for retreat How to Hear the Voice of God, Feb. 7-8. See our website for the location and more details.)
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