On the church’s calendar February 2 is the day of the Presentation of Our Lord. On this day the gospel is read from Luke 2:22-40 which tells of Mary and Joseph presenting Jesus to the Lord exactly forty days after he was born, according to the instructions in Leviticus 12:2-8. February 2 is forty days after December 25. This passage shows us that Mary and Joseph observed all the rules, rites, and rituals of the Jewish religion of their time, and the choice of two young pigeons for the offering shows us they were poor. Jesus grew up in a humble but devout and loving family.
While this young family was at the Temple in Jerusalem that day they met an old man named Simeon who had been led by the Spirit to believe that he would live to see the Lord’s messiah come to earth. On the one day this ordinary young family came to the Temple he sought them out from among the crowds of people, took the infant Jesus in his arms, and said, “Lord, now let your servant depart in peace according to your word. For my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared in the presence of all people: a light for revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of your people, Israel.” It was a remarkable and startling event. You might think that Mary and Joseph were starting to get used to things like this ever since Jesus was born and the shepherds appeared at their door with a remarkable story of what had been revealed to them about Jesus. Nevertheless, it says they marveled at what they heard from this sweet old man.
Simeon was just the first of millions who would find peace because they found Jesus. Even as an infant, long before the cross came into view, the presence of Jesus brought peace to an old and weary heart. Some 30+ years later Jesus described his mission in the world by saying, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.” (John 14:27). Again, some 30+ years after that St. Paul wrote, “Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” And now, almost 2,000 years later, those who want peace in their hearts find it when they believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as the one who brings them forgiveness of sins through his death on the cross. “He is our peace” as Ephesians 2:14 says.
One of the most beautiful and moving things I have heard lately was a daughter speaking about her final days with her father: “I believe with all my heart that he had found his peace.” We can find our peace today when we come to Jesus in faith. We can pray. We can read the scriptures. We can commune. We can calm our hearts and ask the Lord to fill our souls with his peace. Like Simeon, we can then depart from this troubled world in peace. Or, if it be the Lord’s will, we can live many years with an inner peace that nothing can destroy.
Now may the peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen. (Philippians 4:7)
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