Christmas Octave, Tuesday – 29th December 2020 — Gospel: Lk 2,22-35
Prophecy of Fulfillment
Simeon, like other Israelites, lived with the hope of the fulfilment of God’s promises to his people. He was “awaiting the consolation of Israel” (Lk 2,25). Therefore he was able to recognize and declare the child Jesus as the Messiah and Saviour of the nations. In order to see God’s promises fulfilled in our lives we need to have special eyes of faith and be filled with the Holy Spirit. The images of Simone’s song parallel the writings of the Prophet Isaiah (40,1-2; 51,3; 52,9). This song is tangentially related to Jesus’ birth but is primarily a revelation about who Jesus is. He prophesied that Jesus will be the source of both edification (lifting up) and destruction of people in Israel. Jesus came at the time, when the people of Israel had broken the covenant with Yahweh. He restores the damage done to the society by giving a new commandment, i.e., to love one another as God has loved us (Jn 13,34).
