Today’s gospel sees Luke finely crafting four brief scenes designed to give us a glimpse of the messianic vision that would define the future life of the young child, Jesus.

The curtain rises on the first scene: the ritual of presentation of the first born.  This is followed by the extraordinary encounter with Simeon. In the third scene we meet the aging prophetess Anna whose faithfulness in fasting and prayer is finally rewarded.  The curtain falls on the final scene – back in the family’s hometown.

It is worthwhile sitting with these four vignettes for a while, to situate oneself on that stage and reflect on the magnitude of what is seen and heard.

But then take a few minutes to read slowly the three great canticles of salvation that Luke includes in the first two chapters of his gospel: the first is Mary’s beautiful song of praise – the Magnificat (Lk 1:46-35); the second is the Benedictus prophecy of Zechariah (Lk 1:68-79). These two highlight how God has acted throughout history to fulfil the promises made.  The third and shortest of the three, is the centerpiece of today’s gospel the Nunc Dimittis– the realisation of the fulfilment of the great story of salvation.

The future of that young child is now our future, our hope, our joy – ‘the light of revelation to the nations.’

by Gerry Crooks