The Presentation

“When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, ‘Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,’ and to offer the sacrifice of ‘a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,’ in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord. 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 had been revealed to him by the holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Messiah of the Lord. He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying: ‘Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel. The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them…” (Lk 2:22-35)

When Simeon approached, his widened eyes
and trembling hands foretold his prophecy.
And as he spoke, in words solemn and wise,
we learned about the path he could foresee.
A parent often thinks about the way
their child will grow up to change the world.
Joseph and I had blessed the shining day
that we presented Jesus—sleeping, curled
cob tight within our arms. As that man spoke,
I knew this day was his as much as ours.
As our amazement rose, his hope awoke—
prepared him for his death, due in mere hours.
He kissed my hand and then he bowed, withdrew.
That night I dreamed a curtain tore in two.

—Annabelle Moseley