“Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!”
Nunc Dimittis: The song of Simeon.
One of the most beautiful prayer responses to salvation. For why could Simeon now die in peace? Is it because he would have been uneasy dying and meeting God with a promise unfulfilled? Was he worried about the potential embarrassing moment in the heavenly conversation where Simeon wondered whether or not to bring up that God broke His word? Even if that impossibility were to be realized, would such matters really be upon our minds when we are enjoying full and free fellowship with the creator God? No. Simeon was now able to die in peace not because the promise had been kept but because the substance of the promise was now realized. He had encountered the Lord’s Messiah. He had met Jesus. There is no other reasonable explanation as to why Simeon could now depart in peace. His death need not be quick from this point, but he knew that when it would come it would be peace. Only by encountering the Glory of Israel, the ultimate blessing to the nations can death be faced without need of fear. There is no other way by which we may die at peace.
Prayer from The Divine Office:
At last, all-powerful Master,
You give leave to your servant
to go in peace, according to your promise.
For my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared for all nations,
the light to enlighten the Gentiles,
and give glory to Israel, your people.
No comments:
Post a Comment