The Song of Simeon | Advent Week Four
āSo when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying,
āSovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised.
I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people.
He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!āā ā Luke 2:27-32
We are approaching the culmination of Advent, this season of anticipation and preparation. We have been waiting for Christmas, imagining what gifts we might find under the tree. But what happens on the other side of Christmas? When Christ has come, when the presents are all unwrapped, and our dreams and longings have become reality. Weāre left to wonder what comes next.
Chronologically, the biblical song we reflect upon hereāthe Song of Simeonā was first sung well after the events of Christmas Eve. This melody comes 40 days after Jesusā birth as his parents bring him to be presented in the Temple. It may seem odd to consider such a passage in the lead-up to Christmas; most of us will have called it quits with the holiday carols long before February. And yet, there are few people whose stories are more in line with this season of waiting and anticipation than Simeon's.
A man of great faith and devotion, we are told that Simeon had been assured by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the promised Savior. Luke writes that Simeon āwas eagerly waitingā for Jesus. We have seen this kind of eager anticipation reflected in the three other biblical Christmas songs weāve considered throughout the season. Mary, Zechariah, and the heavenly angels all celebrate what God has done and look ahead with hope to what the birth of Jesus will mean. Simeonās song echoes Maryās declarations of Godās faithfulness. He joins Zecharaiahās refrain of gratitude for Godās preparation. He harmonizes with the angels in proclaiming hope for all the world.
But Simeonās song is not entirely reprisal. His alone of the four Advent hymns addresses God in the second personāāI have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people.ā A simple detail on the surface, yet it denotes that for Simeon the emphasis is not just on what we sing, but also on who we sing to. Christmas comes and goes each year, but the miracle it celebrates is everlasting. We carry the song of Christmas in our hearts all through the year; Emmanuel is not confined to 25 days each December. God is with us always.
The hopeāthe joy of Christmas is not vague or unknowable. It is the personal unveiling of Godās love for all the world, a redemptive and transformative action that sets the world back into tune. Wrongs will be righted, darkness will be illuminated. Promises will come to pass.
It is hard to ignore our cultureās predilection for consumption, particularly during this time of year. We are a people constantly on the moveāalways looking for more, always onto the next thing. Christmas sales bleed into New Year's blowouts as our societal narrative directs our attention to the gifts we didnāt receive, to the things we still yearn for. We chastise ourselves continually, wishing we were betterāmore impressive. We worry we are not enough.
In the midst of this, Simeonās song is one of satisfaction and contentment. The desires of his heart have been fulfilled and he is at peace. To join our voices with Simeonās is to see ourselvesāour livesānot through the lens of what we may lack, but as reflections of Godās goodness and mercy. Time spent waiting is not wasted, but a posture of patience, allowing the gift of Godās promises to unfold. Our weaknesses and struggles are not failings but reminders that our Creator is forever refining and strengthening us. Simeonās song is but a verse in the cosmic symphony the earth has been singing since its creation. It is an age-old chorus we were made to sing.
1 Shout joyful praises to God, all the earth!
2 Sing about the glory of his name!
Tell the world how glorious he is.
3 Say to God, āHow awesome are your deeds!
Your enemies cringe before your mighty power.
4 Everything on earth will worship you;
they will sing your praises,
shouting your name in glorious songs.ā ā Psalm 66:1-4
As we reflect on Simeon and the wonder of Christmas, we rediscover this ancient melody. The song that places our Creator at the center of all things and gratefully anticipatesācelebratesāthe promises of redemption. Godās promises are always kept. The gift of Christmas is not conditional; withheld from the naughty and bestowed upon the nice. It is a comfort, a reassurance, an invitation to stop, give thanks, and share out of the blessings we have been given. May we be at peace.
Words: Emma Tweitmann
Images: Annie Spratt
āSo when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying,
āSovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised.
I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people.
He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!āā ā Luke 2:27-32
We are approaching the culmination of Advent, this season of anticipation and preparation. We have been waiting for Christmas, imagining what gifts we might find under the tree. But what happens on the other side of Christmas? When Christ has come, when the presents are all unwrapped, and our dreams and longings have become reality. Weāre left to wonder what comes next.
Chronologically, the biblical song we reflect upon hereāthe Song of Simeonā was first sung well after the events of Christmas Eve. This melody comes 40 days after Jesusā birth as his parents bring him to be presented in the Temple. It may seem odd to consider such a passage in the lead-up to Christmas; most of us will have called it quits with the holiday carols long before February. And yet, there are few people whose stories are more in line with this season of waiting and anticipation than Simeon's.
A man of great faith and devotion, we are told that Simeon had been assured by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the promised Savior. Luke writes that Simeon āwas eagerly waitingā for Jesus. We have seen this kind of eager anticipation reflected in the three other biblical Christmas songs weāve considered throughout the season. Mary, Zechariah, and the heavenly angels all celebrate what God has done and look ahead with hope to what the birth of Jesus will mean. Simeonās song echoes Maryās declarations of Godās faithfulness. He joins Zecharaiahās refrain of gratitude for Godās preparation. He harmonizes with the angels in proclaiming hope for all the world.
But Simeonās song is not entirely reprisal. His alone of the four Advent hymns addresses God in the second personāāI have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people.ā A simple detail on the surface, yet it denotes that for Simeon the emphasis is not just on what we sing, but also on who we sing to. Christmas comes and goes each year, but the miracle it celebrates is everlasting. We carry the song of Christmas in our hearts all through the year; Emmanuel is not confined to 25 days each December. God is with us always.
The hopeāthe joy of Christmas is not vague or unknowable. It is the personal unveiling of Godās love for all the world, a redemptive and transformative action that sets the world back into tune. Wrongs will be righted, darkness will be illuminated. Promises will come to pass.
It is hard to ignore our cultureās predilection for consumption, particularly during this time of year. We are a people constantly on the moveāalways looking for more, always onto the next thing. Christmas sales bleed into New Year's blowouts as our societal narrative directs our attention to the gifts we didnāt receive, to the things we still yearn for. We chastise ourselves continually, wishing we were betterāmore impressive. We worry we are not enough.
In the midst of this, Simeonās song is one of satisfaction and contentment. The desires of his heart have been fulfilled and he is at peace. To join our voices with Simeonās is to see ourselvesāour livesānot through the lens of what we may lack, but as reflections of Godās goodness and mercy. Time spent waiting is not wasted, but a posture of patience, allowing the gift of Godās promises to unfold. Our weaknesses and struggles are not failings but reminders that our Creator is forever refining and strengthening us. Simeonās song is but a verse in the cosmic symphony the earth has been singing since its creation. It is an age-old chorus we were made to sing.
1 Shout joyful praises to God, all the earth!
2 Sing about the glory of his name!
Tell the world how glorious he is.
3 Say to God, āHow awesome are your deeds!
Your enemies cringe before your mighty power.
4 Everything on earth will worship you;
they will sing your praises,
shouting your name in glorious songs.ā ā Psalm 66:1-4
As we reflect on Simeon and the wonder of Christmas, we rediscover this ancient melody. The song that places our Creator at the center of all things and gratefully anticipatesācelebratesāthe promises of redemption. Godās promises are always kept. The gift of Christmas is not conditional; withheld from the naughty and bestowed upon the nice. It is a comfort, a reassurance, an invitation to stop, give thanks, and share out of the blessings we have been given. May we be at peace.
Words: Emma Tweitmann
Images: Annie Spratt
Additional readings
The Song of Mary | Advent Week One
Entering into the Advent season through a reflection on Luke 1:46-56.
Additional readings
The Song of Mary | Advent Week One
Entering into the Advent season through a reflection on Luke 1:46-56.