2^nd of February: The Presentation of our Lord and the Purification of Mary

Luke 2.22-40 tells us the story of this Feast Day, exactly 40 days after Christmas. In the middle of that portion, we hear of St Simeon:

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law...

The place of the Holy Spirit in Simeon’s life was evident. To the Gospel writer, Saint Luke, it was important enough to mention three times in these brief verses.

The Holy Spirit firstly orients toward the Holy Things. The Spirit draws Simeon to the Temple. The Spirit forms his life to be set-apart (righteous and devout). The Spirit gives assurance; Simeon knew that he would see the Messiah prior to his own death. That being said, Simeon did not know the details. It was at that point, that particular day, that the Spirit sovereignly moved.

One of the messages of the Presentation is that, for each and every one of God’s children chosen in Baptism, we are drawn to the Holy Things AND we don’t know where the Spirit will lead us. The Spirit is not limited merely to the Temple or Church, but blows throughout all of creation in many and various ways.

As we wait for how the Holy Spirit will lead us through the rest of this year (and, like Simeon, the remainder of our lives), we too are drawn to what is Holy and open to wherever God leads. Only God knows where and when, but he will lead and reveal creatively for each and every one of us.

Pr Ed Barnett