THE MEETING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IN THE TEMPLE (Part II)

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God and Savior,

CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

The Meeting of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple (Part II)

One of the most important and central persons in the Meeting (Presentation), apart, of course, from Christ and the Panagia (All-Holy Mother of God), was Symeon, "the Righteous and devout", who was granted to welcome Christ, to take Him in his arms and TO RECOGNIZE Him by the power and energy of the Holy Spirit. In fact he is a great personality both in that he saw the Christ and in what he said at that moment.

The Evangelist Luke characterizes him as a man who lived in Jerusalem and was just and devout, "waiting for the consolation of Israel". At the same time he says that he had the Holy Spirit and that he had been informed that he would NOT DIE BEFORE HE HAD SEEN THE LORD’S CHRIST [Luke 2:25-26]. All these signs are characteristic of an inspired man. This is why Holy Scripture is not interested in man’s origin, and the elements of his human make-up, because he had another life, A LIFE OF THE SPIRIT. Saint Photios and Theophylact say that he was ONE OF THE SEVENTY INTERPRETERS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT KNOWN AS THE SEPTUAGINT. The Septuagint is the official Orthodox Old Testament. Saint Symeon was unbelieving when he interpreted the Prophet Isaiah’s prophecy "BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL CONCEIVE AND BEAR A Son, and YOU SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL…" [Isaiah 7:14] and just at that time he was informed that he would live until he received the Christ in his arms. In other versions of the Old Testament the word "virgin" as "maiden." In the Gospels of Matthew (1:23) and Luke (1:27, 34) to have been born to Mary, a "virgin" (Greek "παρθένος"). Theologically there is a great difference between one and the other. The Messianic Prophecy is fulfilled when the VIRGIN Mary gives birth to Christ. The Hebrew word ALMAH, "unmarried woman," designates "a hidden virgin, shut off from the occasional sight of men" (Jerome). The Greek word used in the LXX is PARTHENOS, which means "VIRGIN".

Righteous Symeon blessed the Theotokos and Joseph, who followed these events with wonder and amazement. And he then turned to the Theotokos to make two remarkable prophecies to her. The first referred to the Person of the Godman Christ. "BEHOLD, THIS CHILD IS DESTINED FOR THE FALL AND RISING OF MANY IN ISRAEL, AND FOR A SIGN WHICH WILL BE SPOKEN AGAINST" [Luke 2:34]. This prophecy was realized during Christ’s life-time, but it continues to be realized in the history of humanity and in the personal life of every human being

The Godman Christ is the fall OF THOSE WHO DO NOT BELIEVE IN Him and the rising of those who do. Golgotha is an example, one thief believes and is saved, the other doubts and is condemned. This happens also IN OUR INNER LIFE. Christ falls WHEN WE, THE BAPTIZED, FALL THROUGH PROSTITUTION, and He is raised THROUGH OUR PRUDENCE. Likewise it can be understood that Christ will suffer and fall in death, but also many will be raised through His own fall and His own death (Saint Theophylact).

Saint Symeon’s second prophecy, which referred to the Panagia, (All-Holy), is as follows: "Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed" [Luke 2:35]. Apparently this prophecy refers to the pain and sorrow of the Theotokos about the Cross, when she saw her Son, Who is the Son of God at the same time, suffering and enduring. Though the Panagia did not endure or suffer pain during the birth of Christ, precisely because SHE CONCEIVED HIM WITHOUT SEED AND GAVE BIRTH WITHOUT CORRUPTION, SHE HAD TO SUFFER VERY MUCH AT THE TIME OF HIS DEPARTURE.

This was the very sword that would pierce the soul of hte Theotokos at Christ’s death and the Cross and would reveal the thoughts of many men which were hidden in their hearts. From the pain which she felt they understood that this was His natural mother. Saint Athanasius the Great says that the phrase "that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed" means that the Cross of Christ, His Passion, would reveal all the inner dispositions of men, since Peter, out of warmth and zeal, would deny Him, the Disciples would desert Him, Pilate would express regret by washing his hands, his wife would believe through a dream at night, the centurion would believe from the signs, Joseph and Nicodemos would be occupied with matters of the funeral, Judas would strangle himself, the Jews would give money to the guards to conceal the Resurrection. And indeed, "there will be some conflict and discord of thoughts and opposing speculations."

The prophecy does not refer only to the Incarnation and the crucifixion, but also TO THE WHOLE CHURCH, WHICH IS THE REAL BODY OF CHRIST. SOME ARE SAVED, REMAINING IN THE CHURCH, AND OTHERS ARE CONDEMNED DENYING ITS SAVING WORK. Also, since through Baptism, WE HAVE RECEIVED THE GRACE OF GOD IN OUR HEART AND IT NEVER LEAVES US, but is simply concealed by the passions, therefore, WHEN WE SIN, WE FALL, AND WHEN WE STRUGGLE AND REPENT, WE ARE RAISED UP AGAIN.

Christ will be "FOR THE FALL AND RISING OF MANY" also in the next life, since we see Christ, but for some it will be Paradise and for others Hell.

Apart from Saint Symeon THE RECEIVER OF GOD, in the Temple there was also Anna, the Prophetess, who was granted to recognize God and to proclaim that He was her REDEEMER. Anna was eighty-four years old and was widowed after having lived with her husband for seven years [Luke 2:36-40].

The Church made the feast of Christ’s fortieth day after birth the infant is offered to the Temple by its mother. This offering has a double meaning. First, the mother is blessed for the end of her purification after the bleeding of her confinement. Just as the Church prays for every illness, so also it prays for the woman who has given birth and naturally feels tired and physically weak. It prays for her purification and because, as we know today, the manner of our birth came after the Fall. Secondly, it is a celebration of thanksgiving for the birth of a child. Since the conception and birth of a human being is not a work of nature alone, but of God’s ENERGY, WE FEEL THAT IT BELONGS TO GOD. So, we offer it to God and He, through our priest, gives it over to us again to bring it up. But IN REALITY IT BELONGS TO God. [ Source:  The Feasts of the Lord ]

[Personal note] Having said the above, think of what it says about the mother or father who knowingly commits abortion and murders the child, A CHILD THAT IN REALITY BELONGS TO GOD. Taking the life of a child that belongs to God Himself is an UNFORGIVABLE SIN! At the Final Day or Judgment Day all people will give an accounting of all their deeds committed during their lifetime and this will determine where each one will spend eternity, heaven or hell.]

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"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George