Noticing God's redeeming grace

Luke 2: 22 - 35

The prayer of Simeon is today called the Nunc Dimitis (in Latin) and is used each night for the last prayer of the day. The words of Simeon, spoken by one who had 'seen' the promised Messiah and was now entering his death, seems a suitable conclusion for the activities of one's day. We could paraphrase the prayer to bring to mind all the events and experiences of the day in which we have seen the Lord in our lives. Those are the moments when Christ seemed most present, whether in an encounter with the beauty of creation or in an unexpected gesture of kindness from someone, perhaps in the face of a peaceful elderly person. Those are moments when the meaning of salvation, of God's redeeming presence seems most tangible.

The Christmas presents have been given and received, in fact several days ago. And yet, this gift of sight, of the Spirit's opening of the eyes of our hearts to see God's work in our midst continues. It will be one we hold on to throughout the year, one that will not wear out, as long as we appropriate it in our lives.

...my eyes have seen the salvation

which you have prepared....

a light to enlighten the pagans..

and the glory of your people Israel...