Last Sunday's thought: the pivotal moment between the Old and the New Testament?

For those who feel their faith in visual terms, the depictions of Anna and Simeon by Rembrandt are of great interest. Rembrandt painted the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple first around 1627-8. Anna was painted by the great artist in 1631 pouring over a large book (not scroll!) of the Hebrew Scriptures. He died on 4 October 1669 without having completed the painting of Simeon with the Christ Child in the Temple. There is something particularly poignant about this fact, and the almost blind eyes of Simeon as if he saying the words ‘Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation...’ (Luke 2:29-30).


The event took place in Jerusalem on the 40th day after the birth of Jesus. It is not only a ceremony that marks the end of the Christmas and Epiphany seasons, but a pivotal moment between the old and the new covenants. As John Paul II remarked, ‘In the mysterious encounter between Simeon and Mary, the Old and New Testaments are joined. Together the ageing prophet and the young mother give thanks for this Light which has kept the darkness from prevailing. It is the Light which shines in the heart of human life: Christ, the Saviour and Redeemer of the world, “a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for the glory of his people Israel”.’


Our desire to get the message across sometimes affects adversely our ability to tell the story effectively. And what more moving story can there be than of these two figures, Simeon and Anna, the one symbolizing the Law, the other the Prophets (Anna is called a ‘prophetess’) who each pronounce upon the child Jesus? The prophetic words spoken by the aged Simeon shed light on the mission of the Child brought to the temple by his parents: ‘Behold this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against ... that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed’ (Luke 2:34-35). To Mary, Simeon says: ‘And a sword will pierce through your own soul also’ (Luke 2:35). As John Paul II expressed it, ‘The hymns of Bethlehem have now faded and the cross of Golgotha can already be glimpsed; this happens in the temple, the place where sacrifices are offered’. The mystery of the Incarnation leads inevitably to the crucifixion and the mystery of our Redemption.