In the Temple

Read: Luke 2:22-40
Listen: Luke 2

“For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” Luke 2:30-32

Mary and Joseph bring the infant Jesus to the temple to dedicate him to the Lord according to Jewish law. They encounter Simeon and Anna, two faithful servants of God. Moved by the Holy Spirit, Simeon takes Jesus in his arms and praises God, recognizing him as the promised Messiah who will bring salvation to both Jews and Gentiles. Simeon also warns Mary that her journey as Jesus’s mother will include deep sorrow, foreshadowing Jesus’s suffering. Anna, an elderly prophetess serving God day and night, also recognizes Jesus and begins telling others how he will bring redemption. These temple encounters confirm Jesus’s identity and mission and Mary’s witness to God’s plan.

We, too, must wrestle with the full implications of Jesus’s life and suffering. Like Mary, our faith journey includes both joyful praise and painful challenges. Simeon’s prophecy reminds us that Jesus came for blessing and sacrifice, bringing salvation to the world. Sometimes, embracing God’s larger purposes means accepting difficult paths we wouldn’t choose for ourselves. Like Mary, we are called to witness and share in Jesus’s mission to the world.

TODAY: Look at your current challenges through the lens of God’s larger purposes. Use Mary’s continued trust in God to form a prayer: “Father, help me trust you even more as I continue to deal with ______________________. Help me trust you like Mary, fully convinced of your love and work in my life and the world. Thank you again for the birth of Jesus. Amen.”