In the days following Jesus’ birth, he was taken to the temple in Jerusalem for a blessing. This was no doubt similar to most parents’ nervous experience of taking the baby out in public for the first time. Mary and Joseph must have stood out as new parents and, as new parents do, they elicited sympathy and interest of strangers who would want to encourage them and put them at ease. Biblical accounts tell us that two elderly faithful followers of God saw Jesus and responded with overwhelming joy to his presence there. Anna and Simeon each had heard God’s promises of the Redeemer to come and had waited, in fact, spent an entire lifetime anticipating God’s gift.

Simeon greets this child, whom he has never seen before, with words of joy and recognition:

Lord, now let your servant depart in …