Presentation

Old Simeon, pious and just, was drawn To wait for Israel's consolation As watchmen await the dawn, While Anna, who proffered her widow's mite, Had prayed and fasted in adoration For many a day and night. When Mary brought Jesus (ten tithes of love!) To give to God at his presentation And offer the turtledove, Good Simeon, Spirit-inspired, was led To temple; raptured in contemplation, He cradled the child and said: “You, Master, may now let your servant go, My eyes have gazed on the dear salvation You promised me long ago, And which you prepared in the peoples' view, A light to pagans for revelation, And Israel's glory too.” Then Anna gave praises to God with them And spoke to all in anticipation Of saving Jerusalem¾ Lord, let us with Simeon watch in place And pray with Anna in expectation Of seeing at last your face!

by Stephen Wentworth Arndt, Ph.D.

[ Annunciation | Incarnation | Shepherds | Epiphany | Flight | Presentation ]

Presentation   Notes:

Cf. Lk 2, 22–38.

The intended meter is as follows:

3. Cf. Ps 130, 6: My soul looks for the Lord more than sentinels for daybreak.

5. Cf. the parable of the widow's mite in Mt 12, 41–44 and Lk 21, 1–4.

8. Presentation: Jesus is presented to God in accord with Ex 13, 1–16. Cf. especially. v. 2: Consecrate to me every first-born that opens the womb among the Israelites, both of man and beast, for it belongs to me. Note that Jesus does not need to be redeemed as required by Nm 18, 15, since he already belongs fully to the Heavenly Father.

9. The turtledove: a pair of turtledoves, one for a holocaust and one for a sin offering, was the offering of the poor. Cf. Lv 12, 6–8, especially v. 8: If, however, she cannot afford a lamb, she may take two turtledoves or two young pigeons, the one for a holocaust and the other for a sin offering. The priest shall make atonement for her, and thus she will again be clean. Mary's purification after childbirth was, of course, merely ritual, not moral.

13–18: These lines are a versification of the Nunc dimittis, the canticle of Simeon, which the Church prays in its liturgy at Compline.




[ Carry Each Other's Burdens | Rejoice in Hope | Rejoice With Those Who Rejoice | Owe No Debt To Anyone | Accept Each Other | If One Member Suffers | Earthen Vessels | Forgive As The Lord Has Forgiven You | Be An Example To Believers | Keep Yourself Pure ]

[ Supper | Gethsemane | Betrayal | Denial | Ironies | Wounds | Surrender | Tomb | Doubt | Ascension | Christ ]

This poem is © Copyright 2002 by Stephen Wentworth Arndt, Ph.D.