A Senior Citizen's View of Christmas

If you've followed this blog at all you know that I am a senior citizen and have been for nearly 25 years. In the USA a person reaching the age of 55 is eligible to join the American Association of Retired People (AARP). This then becomes one definition of senior citizen.

We seniors have many issues and thus find ourselves often in the news. One of the issues my wife and I have struggled with is whether we should remain in the home we built now over 34 years ago or should we take up residence in a place designed for seniors. Several of our senior couple friends have done so. When one or the other needs assistance, say because of physical or mental problems, the facilities are available. We have chosen, however, to remain in our house.

Two seniors, Simeon and Anna, appear in the Christmas story as Mary and Joseph come to Jerusalem to carry out the requirements of the Mosaic laws connected with the birth of a boy child. The first of these was Simeon.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, 

"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." 

And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, 

"Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed." - Luke 2:25-35 ESV

Simeon the God-receiver by Alexey Yegorov. 1830-40s

We know nothing about Simeon other than what Luke records. From that record we assume he was neither a priest nor a member of the Sanhedrin. However, he appears to be well grounded in the Scriptures and understood the prophecies about the Messiah or Christ. He may well have heard about the Magi coming and understood why they sought the child, that is, if the Magi came to Bethlehem shortly after Jesus' birth.  He may also have heard about the angels who appeared to the shepherds. All this information could have led him to Mary and Joseph. They were, after all, both of the house and lineage of David and the prophecies clearly said that Messiah would come from David's line.

"Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: 'The LORD is our righteousness.' "For thus says the LORD: David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel, - Jer 33:14-17 ESV

Simeon seems to have understood this prophecy. He also saw from the prophecies and the history of Israel that Jesus would generate great conflict. Many would follow him, but many would indeed oppose and kill him. So said the prophets about Messiah.

Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? . . . Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors. - Isa 53:1-12 ESV

Mary, says Simeon, would see all this come to pass, but not Joseph. He would be dead long before Jesus was crucified. Mary, however, would witness her son crucified and a sword would pierce her very soul with pain and anguish.

Simeon's song is sung in the liturgies of all branches of the Christian church. It is a reminder that the Christ came according to Biblical prophecy. It confirms the Christian belief that the Holy Spirit led the prophets to record what they had themselves not seen. God's plan came to pass and so believers are comforted in all ages by this confidence. Our God still guides the events of this world. And so we
seniors who are much more aware than those younger than us of the brevity of life and the certainty of God's judgment may wait quietly for the LORD's return. And if he does not return in our lifetime, then we await in peace and hope for his call to depart and be with him. With Simeon we sing,

"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."