Submitted by Pastor David Klappenbach, STS, First Lutheran Church, Rock Port, MO

As I sit down to write this, it is the eve of Groundhog Day. Tomorrow, February 2, will mark 40 days since we celebrated Christmas. It is a day for those who enjoy trying to figure out how much more winter we are supposed to endure on whether or not a groundhog sees his shadow. If his shadow was not seen would bring some hope in those suffering through the winter blahs with spring “just around the corner.” Who does not look forward to the warmth and new life that spring brings?
Christmas has long been put away. We are now in the middle of the seemingly endless days of winter. But if you were to follow the Biblical narrative according to Saint Luke, chapter 2, 40 days after Christmas marks the commemoration of the Presentation of the Lord. It was a day full of hope for Simeon, a priest who had been hoping for Israel’s redemption. God had promised Simeon that he would not die before seeing God’s Messiah. On this day Simeon’s hope was fulfilled. Mary and Joseph bring the baby Jesus to the Temple to fulfill their duties as parents according to law to present their first born to the Lord. They bring with them the offering for the poor, two turtle doves. This would also serve as Mary’s purification which would take 40 days after giving birth. When Simeon, guided by the Holy Spirit, sees Mary and Joseph holding the baby he takes the Jesus in his arms and blesses and praises God.
“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory of your people Israel.” Luke 2:29-32
When Simeon said, “Lord you are now letting your servant depart in peace,” it was not that his shift at the temple was ending and he was ready to go home after another hard day’s work. Simeon was now ready to die. That is what he meant when he said ‘depart.’ And there he was, with Mary and Joseph holding the 40 day old baby in his arms. This was the promised one, the promised seed of Eve and Abraham. The root of Jesse. A King yet an infant. The Savior yet the suffering servant. The conqueror by shedding his own blood. The Light of the World resting in the arms of one of God’s servants, Simeon.
Simeon knew he could die in peace knowing that God is faithful. The baby in his arms would die. That is what he was born to do, for the rising and falling of many in Israel. And Mary, Jesus’ mother would feel the pain like a sword piercing her soul too. So Jesus fulfilled the law that day for Simeon and for all of us. Jesus will fulfill the law on the cross so that we who cling to faith in his promise can depart in peace too.
Every night before going to sleep I recite those words of Simeon as part of my bedtime devotion. It helps me reflect on places where I have sensed Christ’s presence in my life. What were those places where I saw, touched, and felt God’s gift of Salvation in Jesus the Messiah? Having done that we may depart in peace. I may go to sleep (in a sense going to sleep is a kind of giving up) trusting that I am in God’s tender care, knowing that because of Jesus the old Adam is put to death. And in dying to sin we live in the newness of life empowered by the Holy Spirit. It is a great mystery that Simeon teaches us. In the death of this child Jesus we receive life. By his death and burial and resurrection means our burial is not final. We too shall rise. That was Simeon’s hope. It is our hope too. It is hope grounded in God’s promises, the same God who kept His promise to Simeon. It is a hope that springs eternal with new life.