Luke 2.25-32

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.’

Simeon had been waiting all his life. He has been waiting so long he must have grown so tired of waiting, or doubted or even forgotten what he is waiting for.

I wonder how many of your hopes and visions seem to have come to nothing? Sometimes we just have to keep on turning up, keep on putting one foot in front of the other, keep on trusting, keep on singing.

The musician and writer Nick Cave once said, “Hope is optimism with a broken heart.” Or, in other words, hope is believing in God’s promises even in the midst of the world’s pain.

And yet, each day there are glimpses of salvation. In these last twelve days of Christmas we have had a chance to dwell in Christ’s presence. In him we have seen salvation.

What you are waiting for? What you have already found? How God finds you? If you have seen salvation?