奉獻耶穌於聖殿，是發生在逃往埃及避難之前的。大黑落德可能已動殺機，祗在等待賢士回報後纔動手。所以在某程度上，耶穌來到聖殿，是向天父道別。他的一生雖然被死亡所籠罩，但天父的慈愛永遠長存。且看西默盎雙臂接過嬰孩耶穌，說：「主啊！現在可照祢的話，放祢的僕人平安去了！因為我親眼看見了祢的救援。」（路2:29-30）長者確是人類的先鋒，率先進入從未有人到達過的領域。西默盎比瑪利亞更早看見耶穌的未來，並告訴她這個嬰孩將來的命運！
西默盎親眼看見了甚麼？一個四十天大的男嬰。因為聖神在西默盎身上（2:25-27），所以他可以從這個男嬰身上，認出天主子，全人類的救援。聖神在我們的信仰生活中，佔有重要的地位。沒有聖神在心中，我們對天主的慈悲便會視而不見，對耶穌的教訓，聽而不聞。
西默盎看見了天主的救援，並沒有自私地據為己有，反而向在場的人，見證天父的慈悲。天主並不採用暴力，令人屈服。祂本可差遣十二旅天使，消滅魔鬼，懲罰罪人，率領一眾義人回天。但天主卻選擇降生成人，方便人類親近高不可攀的天主；行神蹟為人解困，教導人類回歸父家之路。「為作啟示異邦的光明，祢百姓以色列的榮耀。」（2:32）。天父的慈悲，的確令人驚訝。
天父是全知的，祂在天主子出道傳福音之前，已預言了他將要成為反對的記號。以往如是，現代人更變本加厲，不但不聽從耶穌的教訓，更批評反對教會的立場。當年天父沒有制止羅馬士兵虐待、釘死耶穌；今天天父也沒有制止婦女去墮胎，沒有制止僱主虐待外佣，沒有制止同性戀者結婚…因為天父是慈悲的，寬宏大量的，祂會接納反對者悔改皈依的。
天父，願我們在反對者面前，不會氣餒，仍能讓他們親眼看見祢的慈悲。亞孟。
SEEING GOD'S SALVATION WITH OUR EYES (Luke 2:22-35)
Presentation of Jesus in the Temple must have taken place before they fled to Egypt. Herod the Great had already made up his mind to kill the new born king. He was only waiting for the Magi to report back and after that started the massacre. To a certain extent, Jesus came to the Temple to say goodbye to the Father. The whole life of Jesus was shrouded in death but the Father's mercy endures forever. Behold, Simeon took the baby Jesus in his arms and said, "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation." (Luke 2:29-30) Senior citizens are truly forerunners of humanity. They venture into unexplored territories before anybody else. Simeon saw the future of Jesus even before Mary did and told her what lay ahead of this baby!
What did Simeon see? A forty-day-old baby boy. Since the Holy Spirit was upon him (2:25-27), Simeon saw the Son of God, the salvation of all humanity in this baby boy. That's why the Holy Spirit is very essential in our spiritual life. Without the Holy Spirit, we stare at God's mercy without seeing it; listen to Jesus' teachings without hearing it.
Simeon saw God's salvation but he did not selfishly keep it his own. He bore witness to the Father's mercy to all those present. God did not use force to conquer us. He would have sent 12 legions of angels to defeat Satan, to punish sinners and bring the righteous back to heaven. But God chose to take up human flesh so that men could come close to unapproachable God; to work miracles to relieve our plights and to teach us the way back to the Father. "a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel." (2:32). God's mercy surprises us all.
God is omniscient. Before the Son of God began preaching, He had already foretold his becoming a sign that was spoken against. As it was, so be it. Not only do modern people reject Jesus' teachings, but they also criticize and oppose the Church's stance. The Heavenly Father had not prevented the Roman soldiers from torturing and crucifying Jesus. Today, the Heavenly Father does not stop women from doing abortions, employers from abusing their domestic helpers, homosexuals from getting married ... It is because the Heavenly Father is merciful and forgiving. He will accept the conversion of the opposition.
Heavenly Father, may we not become frustrated before opposition so that they are able to see Your mercy with their own eyes. Amen.
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