THE MEETING OF THE LORD

THE MEETING OF THE LORD

(February 2)

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. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And inspired by the Spirit (ἐν τῷ πνεύματι, in 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 lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel.’” (Lk 2: 25-32)

On the great feast of The Meeting (Ὑπαπαντή) of our Lord, we celebrate the encounter, or “meeting,” of two sides: 1. Humanity, in the person of Simeon, and 2. Divinity, in the incarnate Son of God, Jesus Christ. Both sides “are brought” to the meeting-place, the temple, by and in “obedience” (from “ob” + “audire,” meaning, “to listen in”) to God’s voice, expressed in His Spirit and His law.

In our many “meetings” or encounters with Christ, particularly in the mystery of the Eucharist, we also encounter this mystery, of both human and divine “obedience.” We, from our human side, “lift up our hearts” and open them up to “listen in” to God’s grace, handing ourselves over to be transfigured in a special “meeting,” or Holy Communion, with the Lord. And He, on His part, “listens in” to our prayer, to the prayer of the Church, and comes to meet us, again and again, by His Spirit. Thank You, Lord, for coming into our “temple” to meet us, again and again, as a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Thy people Israel!