Homily II on the Presentation

1Hesychius, a presbyter of Jerusalem, speaks about the presentation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Do not be unaware that the Spirit made Simeon a prophet and promised him, 'You shall not see death before you see the Christ' (Luke 2:26); 'Now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word' (Luke 2:29). Having been granted this through him, did he not bless Joseph and Mary? Was he not commanded through him to speak to Mary, 'Behold, this is destined for the fall and resurrection of many in Israel' (Luke 2:34)? Did not Anna, as a prophetess, possess him through him? And having been filled by him, did she not proclaim the salvation nearing through the child? The explanation of these things should be given to you in turn, but perhaps time has been consumed, and it was necessary to prune the word for the sake of your obedience.

If the word is not acceptable to you, because you are unamenable companions at the table of holy writings, from where the writer of the Gospels began the history, it was necessary for us to prune the interpretation from there as well, so that both time and your own desire might be met. 'And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon.' The Spirit wove no small encomium for this man, Simeon, in the prefaces: 'For behold, he says, there was a man in Jerusalem' whom the prophets of old sought and the law desired, but grace found and, finding him, crowned him with the following. Where is the crown woven? Pay attention: 'And this man was righteous and devout, expecting consolation for Israel' (Luke 2:25). It was fitting to rejoice for Simeon and consider him blessed, for he was not only righteous but also devout, abstaining from all wickedness; and as one 'expecting consolation for Israel,' he neither labored in striving for virtues nor did we make him one who merely avoided wickedness. And 'there was a Holy Spirit upon him.' This is wonderful and appropriate also for those to whom it was spoken; for he had a temple, and his flesh had a pure bridal chamber, and he cleansed his soul of the entire worldly spider's web; from there he drew the Spirit's dwelling to himself. 'And he had been promised by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before seeing the Lord's Christ.' You see how great it is to be a temple of God; those who practice such a life pass from life to life. Therefore, to Simeon, 'it had been promised that he would not see death before seeing the Lord's Christ,' that is, before seeing the one who abolishes death, before seeing the one who raises the dead, before seeing the one who transforms tombs into a bridal chamber, before seeing the one who makes his departure from here fearless.

And he came into the temple in the Spirit. This is also not worthy to be passed over; for it is a proof that he acted according to the command of the indwelling Spirit, and he did not enter the marketplaces or engage in any activities at all without him; how much more, when he enters the temple, he comes not otherwise, but through his leading. 'And when the parents brought the child Jesus to do according to the custom of the law concerning him, and he received him into his arms.' Whose child was it to him that he did not know, having been informed by the one dwelling in him and commissioning him by the Spirit, and certainly somehow to Simeon saying: 'Run, elder, run, hasten already, seize the blessing quickly, before the star...'

2It appears, before the Magi arrive, lest I be insulted; for the light from me must precede the star's arrival in Bethlehem, so that it may be known that from me both the journey is guided and the ray is borrowed; but you will not be harmed if the uninformed reap the firstfruits of the blessing.

Now, Master, you release your servant according to your word in peace. This is a moment of great joy, for I have no fear of death, but with joy, I bring life to the dead. The Father was also working these great and numerous mysteries, since the Spirit, on one hand, was the one providing for the needs, and the Son, on the other, was being carried in arms, having been pleased to appear in the flesh and to be born as a child for us. And the Father himself was working all these great and numerous mysteries. David the prophet borrowed from you and said, 'In peace I will sleep and rest' (Psalm 4:8). For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared before all peoples, and which many prophets longed to see.

The prophecy declares that light will come for the revelation of the nations and glory to the people of Israel. This means that first, the nations will be enlightened, and then Israel will be glorified. For it is written that the first will become last and the last will become first, as the privileges of the former are lost due to sloth.

Meanwhile, the father and mother of Jesus were marveling at the things being said about him. The angel Gabriel had announced to the Virgin Mary that the Spirit would come upon her and the power of the Most High would overshadow her. If she had forgotten, the Spirit would remind her. The incarnate one wanted to be called Joseph so that the one plotting against the mystery of our salvation would be deceived. For the potter could not save the perishable clay except by himself being shaped with it.

Simeon blessed them, for those who had served the curse by giving blessings needed to be blessed. And he said to Mary, his mother, 'Behold, this one is laid for a fall and...'

3He spoke of the rising of many in Israel. This was concerning whom Peter, having taken up Isaiah’s prophecy, sent to the churches. ‘Behold, I place in Zion a stone, a cornerstone, elect and honored, and whoever believes on him shall not be put to shame.’ Then he added the prophecy, interpreting it in agreement with Simeon as he spoke: ‘To you, therefore, belongs honor if you believe; but the unbelievers reject the stone which the builders threw away—this very stone has become the head of the corner, a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense. Those who stumble over it do so because they disobey the word.’ Therefore, it was not laid for the fall of the unbelievers and the rising of the faithful. For those who thought they stood by the law cast themselves down by their unbelief. But these others, amid the multitude of their sins and existing among the fallen, rushed to the staff of faith and raised themselves up.

‘Behold, this one lies for the fall and rising of many in Israel and for a sign that is contradicted.’ What is this? It is the cross. For this sign, after being filled with sufferings and wonders, was contradicted. He was naked, and he hid the sun; he fastened the nails and shook the stones; he opened his side with a spear and opened the tombs of the dead. From this, the sign became one that is contradicted. The unbelievers indeed left these things and looked away, but the faithful, after the sufferings, beheld the wonders. Thus, at that time, the crowd of the Pharisees wandered about him, but the centurion declared him to be the Son of God, and having spoken, he worshipped.

To these things belong the following corresponding matters.

And a sword shall pierce your own soul, so that the thoughts of many hearts may be laid bare.

This sword is the discernment that will pass through your soul according to the time of the cross.

For you will marvel to see upon the cross him who was begotten without corruption, seized without man, who did not open the womb and whose own birth acted impassibly and incorruptibly.

What then will come to pass from here? 'So that the thoughts of many hearts may be laid bare.'

Perhaps indeed this will happen among others, but much more surely among those who had been disciples of the Lord, who had beheld his sufferings and the deeds he performed, and who had endured the winter of reasonings from both sides— for example, Cleopas, who suffered from the things that the Christ, upon meeting him on the way to Emmaus, revealed to him.

For when Cleopas was asked why he was sad and his heart was confused, he spoke little about Christ and what the time allowed, not knowing to whom he was speaking; having spoken, he added: 'We had hoped that he was the one about to redeem Israel'— that is, our hope had become foreign to him and had gone out.

And the reasoning of Mary Magdalene was also revealed, being weak.

This happened of the Christ having been crucified.

4As she grew weak, Anna said to the Lord, 'If you have carried him, tell me where you have put him, and I will take him.' The story of the gospel now continues with the remaining events. There was a prophetess named Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, from the tribe of Asher. She had lived a long life, having been married for seven years after her virginity, and then she had been a widow for about eighty-four years. Anna's wealth was remarkable, for the treasure of good things was gathered from all sides for her, first because she was a prophetess. Although she was a woman with a weak vessel, she had cleansed it, and the Spirit of God had drawn near to her for dwelling. Additionally, she was an elder, and although her body had grown old, her mind had not grown old. Furthermore, she was a widow, not just a simple widow, but one who had lived with her husband for seven years and had borne the yoke of widowhood for many days and times, without giving her bed to a second husband, and thus she had reached the eightieth year of her life. Since she had certainly seen what was clearly announced to the Spirit in the eighty-fourth psalm, she sought to say such things about him as David, the psalmist, had sung: 'You were pleased, Lord, with your land, you turned back the captivity of Jacob. You forgave the iniquities of your people, you covered all their sins. You stopped all your anger, you turned back from the anger of your wrath. Truth has risen from the earth, and justice has looked out from heaven.' For in these words is the redemption of Jerusalem, which is next told and proclaimed by the woman and prophesied.

Anna's prophecy was a remarkable event, for she had lived a long and faithful life, and the Spirit of God had drawn near to her. She had cleansed her weak vessel, and her mind had not grown old, despite her advanced age. As a widow, she had borne the yoke of widowhood for many years, without giving her bed to a second husband, and thus she had reached a ripe old age. Her wealth was not just material, but also spiritual, for she had the treasure of good things gathered from all sides for her. She was a prophetess, and her words were inspired by the Spirit of God, as she proclaimed the redemption of Jerusalem.

Anna's devotion to God was unwavering, as she spent her days and nights in the temple, serving with fasts and prayers. Many people dwell in the temple, but they do not all share Anna's commitment to a life of service and worship. While they may insult or dishonor the temple through their actions, Anna's example shows us what it means to truly dwell in the presence of God. The Spirit led her, as it did Simeon, to recognize the child Jesus and to give thanks to God for his coming.

As Anna spoke to the people waiting for redemption in Jerusalem, she warned them not to be deceived by Jesus' humble appearance. He may have appeared as a mere child, but he was, in fact, the father of the ages. We would not have been able to see the redeemer or receive him if he had not humbled himself for our sake. By hiding his glorious nature and revealing his humble side, Jesus made it possible for us to approach him and to receive his gift of salvation. To him be glory forever and ever.