The day Israel longed for had come. The promised Salvation had now appeared in the flesh and rested in the arms of Simeon.
In his arms, Simeon received the great Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. He held in his own hands the fulfillment of the promise given to Adam and Eve—the seed who had come to crush the head of the serpent. The Messiah who had been prophesied through countless generations was now being cradled in the arms of a man.
“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 to your people Israel.” (Luke 2:29–32)
Simeon burst into a song of praise upon holding the Christ child. The Salvation of the Lord had not come in power but in weakness. Christ was not untouchable in his deity. He had humbled Himself to be received into the arms of sinners for whom He came.
In the Divine Service the Lord gives Himself into the mouths of sinners. He comes to us not in a terrifying display of power but in the bread and wine, His body and blood given for us. We have seen the Salvation of the Lord in the Word and Sacraments.
We can join in Simeon’s song because we too have seen the Salvation of the Lord. We have tasted and seen that the Lord is good. As Simeon received into his hands his salvation, we have received into our mouths the same Christ.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27)
We depart the Divine Service in peace along with Simeon because we depart in the peace that Christ alone brings. He has once again united Himself to us through Word and Sacrament. He is our peace and gives to us peace with God through the forgiveness of sins.
