Sunday, February 2. My Eyes Have Seen

An amazing thing happened to me recently.  I was eating alone in a restaurant and when I asked for my bill, the server said that someone else had already paid it for me.  As amazing as this was, only the anonymous donor, the server, and I “saw” it happen.  For everyone else in the place, nothing unusual happened that night.  I experienced this as an act of God’s love for me.

Today we read about one of the most amazing events that ever happened in Israel, and, yet, it seems only two people “saw” it happen.  The event had been predicted several hundred years beforehand by the prophet Malachi (Malachi 3:1-4).

Lo, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me; and suddenly there will come to the temple the Lord whom you seek, and the messenger of the covenant whom you desire…And who can stand when he appears?  For he is like a refiner’s fire…he will purify the sons of Levi…”

What image do you think came to mind when the people heard Malachi proclaim this future event?   The Lord himself was going to suddenly, without warning, appear in the Jerusalem temple.  He would be like the hottest of fires used by refiners to purify silver and gold.  I’m sure they envisioned an explosive event in which the temple would light up like fire.

In the gospel we read about the first fulfillment of this prophecy (Luke 2:22-40).

When the days were completed for their purification according to the Law of Moses, Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.”

A young Jewish couple took their newborn son to the temple to dedicate him to the Lord.  This was no big deal; it happened all the time.  When the threesome entered the temple courtyard, I’m sure they attracted no notice.  And yet this was God himself, in human form, walking into his temple.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.  This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.  It was revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord…and when the parents brought in the child Jesus…he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying: ‘Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace…for my eyes have seen your salvation which you prepared in the sight of all the people…”

The focus of this old man’s whole life was the coming of the promised Messiah.  God had revealed to him that he would see the Messiah before he died.  Though this little baby did not look like a great Messiah, Simeon led a life that was enlightened by the Holy Spirit.  He knew inside himself that the child before him was the greatest person Israel would ever know.  He had eyes to see what others could not.

At the same time…

There was also a prophetess, Anna…She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.  She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.  And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child…”

Imagine all these years Anna came to the temple to pray and “it just happened” that when Jesus was brought in, she was “coming forward.”  Talk about being led by the Holy Spirit!

These two holy people were given eyes to recognize Jesus.  For the rest who were there, Jesus was just another baby.

At Mass this Sunday, how many people will recognize Jesus as he comes?  Will it be just two holy people who have been praying for years waiting for God to show himself.  God wants all of us to have the eyes of Simeon and Anna.  He wants us all to be amazed when Jesus shows up.  

So, we pray with expectation, “Come Holy Spirit fall on me in a new way.”

About the Author

Author Bob Garvey lives in Louisville, Kentucky. He has a master’s degree in religious education and has been an active leader in the Catholic charismatic renewal for forty years. After retiring as a high school teacher, he began to write daily commentaries on the Church’s liturgical readings and other topics relevant to Catholic spirituality. He is married to Linda, has three daughters and four grandchildren.

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