I am old, very old, and soon I must die,
But first, God revealed, I would see with my eye
The saviour of Israel, the one who is to come.
I just held him in my arms, and I said to his mum,
He will be a light for all nations, and a joy for you,
But sorrow, like a sword, will pierce your heart, too.
Who am I?
Simeon!
We are told that Simeon was a holy man who had been told by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before seeing the Lord’s Messiah. So he does not have a star leading him to Jesus, but instead it is the Holy Spirit who guides Simeon to the Temple on the very day that Mary and Joseph bring Jesus there. It is the Holy Spirit who reveals to Simeon that this tiny baby is the one who will save all people. Simeon breaks into a prayer of praise, and this prayer is now part of “Night Prayer,” prayed by Catholics around the world at the end of their day:
Lord, now you let your servant go in peace;
your word has been fulfilled:
my own eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared in the sight of every people:
a light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel.