Depart in Peace

Luke 2:28-32
[H]e 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.”
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Depart in Peace
Simeon had waited his whole life to see the Messiah, and as Mary and Joseph brough the baby Jesus to the holy city of Jerusalem, the wait would finally come to an end. Imagine how many other children this old man had watched carried into the Temple, how many times his hopes were raised by the prospect of the Messiah, only to have them dashed to pieces as he realized He had yet to come. How often did Simeon want to depart in anger and frustration? Yet through it all, he remained faithful, never giving up on the promise the Holy Spirit had given him.
And so, forty days after the birth of the Savior, Simeon’s eyes gazed upon the most precious sight ever. For Simeon saw not only a precious Babe in the arms of His mother, but he looked into the face of God. Just as Simeon was able to hold the Christ child in his arms, you too can hold our Savior in your hands. Every time we come to the altar and see the body and blood in, with, and under the bread and wine, we also behold our Lord. We take our Messiah into our mouth and so receive all His good and gracious gifts. And in that moment we, like Simeon, can depart in peace, for our eyes have seen the Lord’s Salvation.