Ordinary Time

When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, his parents took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord in accordance with the dic-tate 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 Messiah 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 pre-pared in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel. The child's father and mother were amazed at what was said about him. (Luke 2:22-33)

What did Simeon see?

Simeon, an old man, with failing sight but a deep longing in his heart.
Simeon, an old man, but a man of vision, a man of dreams.
Simeon, an old man, but with the hopeful heart of the young.
Simeon, an old man, who trusted completely in the promise of God.

To the eyes of those around Simeon all that happened was that a man and his wife brought their young son to the temple to offer his to God, as the "firstborn" of their family.
To the eyes of those around Simeon, here was simply another "ordinary" child, squawking perhaps and needing a change of diapers.
To the eyes of those around Simeon there was nothing at all awesome in this daily event.

But to Simeon…

Through the gift of the Spirit, Simeon's eyes saw the promised one of Israel, the one longed for for ages.
Through the gift of the Spirit, Simeon's eyes saw the unimaginable love of God placed in his arms and in his keeping.
Through the gift of the Spirit, Simeon's eyes saw the truly awesome mystery of God's dwell-ing among us.

Whose "eyes" do I have? Remember the words of the prophet Joel:

Then afterward I will pour out my spirit upon all mankind. Your sons and daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions; Even upon the servants and the handmaids, in those days, I will pour out my spirit. (Joel 2:28-29)

Can I see the amazing love of God around me, with me, in me? Can I recognize the extraor-dinary power of God in the simple and ordinary events of my life? Do I even expect to see these? Am I still one who dreams dreams and sees visions?

These are a gift of the Holy Spirit!

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love!