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December 29, 2022Christmas time brings family members together from all walks of life. Not all family members necessarily get along. One of the issues I encounter in ministry are faithful Christians distressed over family members who have abandoned the faith. In many instances, I counsel people who experience a sense of personal failure because they are not successful in convincing their wayward family members to return to the Church. This is especially true with parents who have adult children no longer practicing their faith.
Simeon, who “was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel,” longed to see the coming of the Messiah. Many of his own people had given up hope that God would fulfill his promise of salvation. However, the Holy Spirit had revealed to Simeon that he would witness the advent of Christ within his lifetime. What Simeon was not promised is that he would necessarily be present to witness all the events of the Gospel.
Given his age, Simeon likely did not live long enough to encounter Jesus in his public ministry, let alone witness the resurrected Jesus reveal the fullness of God’s plan to his disciples. Yet, it was enough for Simeon to see the child Jesus in the temple. He received the child with joy and acknowledged God’s saving presence. Where will things go from there? For Simeon, that is not a question. God’s word had been fulfilled in the Nativity of Jesus. Simeon had “seen the salvation” God “prepared in the sight of every people.”
I, too, have family and friends who have abandoned the faith or have given up hope in God’s plan for their lives. While I pray for them and continue to give witness to the presence of Jesus, I myself may not be present to see every one of them open their eyes to Christ in their lives. However, like Simeon, I am overjoyed to have received the gift of Jesus. I know he is in the world, continuing to enlighten the hearts and minds of so many people. In God’s time (not my time!), according to The Father’s plan (not my plan!), Jesus will call to himself all who truly seek the peace that only God can give.
