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Nang sumapit na ang araw ng kanilang paglilinis ayon sa Kautusan ni Moises, dinala ng kanyang mga magulang ang sanggol sa Jerusalem upang ihandog sa Panginoon. Ito ay ayon sa nakasaad sa Kautusan ng Panginoon, “Ang bawat panganay na lalaki ay itatalaga sa Panginoon.” Nag-alay din sila nang ayon sa sinabi sa Kautusan ng Panginoon, “dalawang batu-bato o dalawang batang kalapati.” May isang tao noon sa Jerusalem na ang pangalan ay Simeon. Ang lalaking ito ay matuwid at masipag sa kabanalan at naghihintay sa pagpapalaya sa Israel. Sumasakanya ang Banal na Espiritu. Ipinahayag ng Banal na Espiritu sa kanya na makikita muna niya ang Cristo ng Panginoon bago siya mamatay. Sa patnubay ng Espiritu ay pumasok si Simeon sa templo. At nakita niya na dala-dala si Jesus ng kanyang mga magulang upang gawin ang nakaugalian ayon sa Kautusan. Kinarga ni Simeon ang sanggol at nagpuri sa Panginoon. Sinabi niya,
“Ngayon, Panginoon ko, ayon sa inyong ipinangako, mapayapa mo nang kunin ang iyong alipin. Sapagkat namalas na ng aking mga mata ang iyong pagliligtas, na inyong inihanda, sa harap ng lahat ng bansa: Isang ilaw ng pagpapahayag sa mga Hentil at para sa kaluwalhatian ng bansa mong Israel.”
Scripture Reading 1
Lucas 2:22-32 (FSV)
When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”), and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,
“Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”
Scripture Reading 2
Luke 2:22-32 (NRSV)
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