1 John 2:3-11
The way we can be sure of our knowledge of him is to keep his commandments. …Dearly Beloved, it is no new commandment that I write to you, but an old one which you had from the start. …The man who claims to be in light, hating his brother all the while, is in darkness even now. The man who continues in the light is the one who loves his brother… .
Today’s Gospel speaks of a holy old man named Simeon. He exemplifies John’s words in the first reading since he lived in the light. Simeon could recognize Jesus as soon as Mary and Joseph brought their Son into the Temple to present Him to the Lord because his sight was not merely human sight. There is no way he could, with ordinary human vision, have picked out Jesus from all the other little boys being brought to the Temple day in and day out, including the day recorded in the Gospel. Simeon had waited patiently many years for this moment. Because he lived a life of faithful, patient prayer, he could see with the eyes of the Holy Spirit Who lived within him. The Spirit is light.
John’s letter today tells us that if we want to live in the light and not be blinded by darkness, then we need to love one another. This is the command he heard from Jesus; the command he saw Jesus carry out in His earthly life. Simeon, while born long before Jesus, knew the command. He prayed, and so he was in relationship with the God of love. He understood how he was loved, and he knew how to love others. He studied scripture and waited patiently for the Messiah to come. What joy he had when he picked up Jesus and held Him after so many years! He was so excited that he lifted up this prayer, “Now, Master, you can dismiss your servant in peace; you have fulfilled your word. For my eyes have witnessed your saving deed displayed for all the peoples to see: a revealing light to the Gentiles, the glory of your people Israel.”
If we want to recognize Jesus in our midst as Simeon did, we need to walk in the light. Simeon called God His Master and himself, God’s servant. Simeon was called by God to serve in the Temple, to wait patiently in prayer, to look for the Messiah and to welcome Him. He did this right up until the end of his life, and his life ended in joy because he had light enough to reach for Jesus.
We are called to serve, but we have been given a vision of Jesus through the Gospels, something Simeon did not have. We know Jesus said, “Love one another as I have loved you.” We know He went about feeding the hungry, healing the sick, teaching those who wanted to know about God, praying, and forgiving. At the Last Supper, washing His disciples’ feet, He called us to serve one another in the same way. Finally, Jesus offered His life for us.
The Old Law required love of neighbor to protect the other’s life, interests, and welfare. Jesus brought love to a whole new level, asking His followers to love unconditionally. Sharing in another’s delight, showing compassion to a person in pain, and patiently waiting in prayer, we can begin to have light – not night – vision, the kind of vision Simeon had.
To really see Jesus and reach out to hold Him this Christmas season and always, we need to see Him among the many who stream into our lives each day. That kind of vision only comes if we live in the light of love.
OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS
How has the light of the Holy Spirit helped you love intensely, making you eager to serve others?
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