THE RISING AND FALL OF MANY

A MESSAGE FOR THE SUNDAY IN THE OCTAVE OF CHRISTMAS

Our Sunday Gospel today gives us a glimpse forward to the Presentation of the Christ Child in the Temple, something that according to the Law of Moses will happen on the fortieth day after the birth of the First-Born Son.  We know that day as Candlemas, and celebrate it on February 2^nd, marking the close of the Christmas season.  We reach forward into the future today because of something said by the old man Simeon.

Simeon was inspired by God, and spoke the words of the great canticle, the Nunc Dimittis, which is repeated in the official prayer of the Church every night at the Office of Compline: “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace.  For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people, to be a light to lighten the Gentiles, and to be the glory of thy people Israel.”  Simeon also set in motion the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary, describing to her how a sword was to pierce her soul because of the way her newborn Son would be treated by God’s enemies.

Simeon was a prophet. He was inspired by God to announce future events to none other than our Lord’s Blessed Mother, preparing her for her role as Queen of Martyrs and Virgin Most Sorrowful.  During the dread times that were to come, Our Blessed Lady would cast her mind back to these precious days that followed the birth of her Son.  She would draw her consolation from this birth, and from this beautiful and joyful tide of Christmas, when glory was proclaimed to God in the highest, and peace fell upon the earth and men of good will, when shepherds and wise men came to the manger to adore her newborn Child, and glory shone around.  These memories would be the happy crutch on which she would later lean as she stood at the foot of the Cross, memories that would seem so distant, and yet which were so unforgettable that they were stamped indelibly on her soul, and provided the strength that made her compassion so complete.

Indeed, her Son was born, and brought with him the deep inner peace that could fill all our souls if only we would permit it.  But alas, the world is so full of rebels, men who are not “of good will”, and who reject that peace.  They sow the seeds of discord, refusing the peace of God which comes from the voluntary submission to his will.  They cling to their own pleasures, their own false beliefs and stubborn habits, and Mary’s little Child would grow to provide an open contradiction to their pride. Those who received this Christ Child into their hearts would rise to become in their turn “children of God”, while those like Herod, who vainly fight against the newborn King, would fall. 

“Behold,” said the prophet Simeon, “this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against.”  Since that fateful first Christmas, nothing has changed.  Let us then receive Mary’s Son and rise ever higher towards him!