Simeon, Episode 21 (12/18/2021)
Episode 2: Simeon
"Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, 'Lord, now let your servant depart 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.'" Luke 2:25-32
My name is Simeon and I am a simple Jewish man. What is that one thing in the world you have always wanted to see? There are so many amazing things! Soaring mountains, crystal clear tropical waters, exotic animals, ancient buildings that are thousands of years old… so, so many things.
While there are so many things one can see in this life, all I have wanted is to see God! I have wanted to see Him face to face! And guess what? Just the other day, I know that I saw Him. His name is Jesus which means ‘God saves’. I even got to hold Jesus for He is just a little baby.
My Jewish ancestors and I have been waiting and waiting for the promised coming of God’s Holy One who will be a king and savior. We have desired to see this promised Savior more than anything else, even more than all the wonders of the world and the universe! Why? Because He will be God with us! Because God keeps His promises, I have believed that I shall see Him with my own eyes. And now that I have, there is nothing more that I want.
When we see the presence of God in our lives, there is nothing else that will satisfy us like Him. This Advent, learn from me: a relationship with Jesus is the one necessary thing we need; everything else will fall into place!
Dear Lord, one day we will see you face to face. What an amazing, joyful day that will be. But even now you make Yourself known to us. During this Advent season, help us prepare ourselves prayerfully so that our eyes and hearts may be open to seeing you in our lives, even now as we await that moment when we will see You, Lord, face to face in Heaven.
Prayer Starter for Parents
Did you know that in Heaven we will really be able to see God face to face? St. John writes: "We shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." (1 John 3:2) St. Paul wrote about heaven saying: "For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face." (1 Corinthians 13:12) This gift of being able to see God as he is, face-to-face, is something that only God can make happen. But he does! He really will give all those in heaven the capacity to see him. The Church calls this contemplation of God in his heavenly glory "the beatific vision". That's a fancy way of saying that our ability to see God face to face will be the cause of our complete happiness and blessedness:
"How great will your glory and happiness be, to be allowed to see God, to be honored with sharing the joy of salvation and eternal light with Christ your Lord and God, . . . to delight in the joy of immortality in the Kingdom of heaven with the righteous and God's friends." (St. Cyprian)
Today, as you begin your prayer time with your kids, teach them or remind them that we really believe this is true! What do they think about being able to see God face to face? What do they think it will be like? Far greater or more beautiful than the most beautiful sunset, or starry night, or anything that we've ever seen that takes our breath away!
Here's part of a Psalm you can pray with your kids today, to help them express a desire and longing to see God face to face:
One thing I ask of the Lord;
this I seek:
To dwell in the Lord’s house
all the days of my life,
To gaze on the Lord’s beauty,
to visit his temple.
“Come,” says my heart, “seek his face”;
your face, Lord, do I seek!
Do not hide your face from me;
I believe I shall see the Lord’s goodness
in the land of the living.
Psalm 27: 4,8,9,13
Episode 2: Simeon
"Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, 'Lord, now let your servant depart 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.'" Luke 2:25-32
My name is Simeon and I am a simple Jewish man. What is that one thing in the world you have always wanted to see? There are so many amazing things! Soaring mountains, crystal clear tropical waters, exotic animals, ancient buildings that are thousands of years old… so, so many things.
While there are so many things one can see in this life, all I have wanted is to see God! I have wanted to see Him face to face! And guess what? Just the other day, I know that I saw Him. His name is Jesus which means ‘God saves’. I even got to hold Jesus for He is just a little baby.
My Jewish ancestors and I have been waiting and waiting for the promised coming of God’s Holy One who will be a king and savior. We have desired to see this promised Savior more than anything else, even more than all the wonders of the world and the universe! Why? Because He will be God with us! Because God keeps His promises, I have believed that I shall see Him with my own eyes. And now that I have, there is nothing more that I want.
When we see the presence of God in our lives, there is nothing else that will satisfy us like Him. This Advent, learn from me: a relationship with Jesus is the one necessary thing we need; everything else will fall into place!
Dear Lord, one day we will see you face to face. What an amazing, joyful day that will be. But even now you make Yourself known to us. During this Advent season, help us prepare ourselves prayerfully so that our eyes and hearts may be open to seeing you in our lives, even now as we await that moment when we will see You, Lord, face to face in Heaven.
Prayer Starter for Parents
Did you know that in Heaven we will really be able to see God face to face? St. John writes: "We shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." (1 John 3:2) St. Paul wrote about heaven saying: "For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face." (1 Corinthians 13:12) This gift of being able to see God as he is, face-to-face, is something that only God can make happen. But he does! He really will give all those in heaven the capacity to see him. The Church calls this contemplation of God in his heavenly glory "the beatific vision". That's a fancy way of saying that our ability to see God face to face will be the cause of our complete happiness and blessedness:
"How great will your glory and happiness be, to be allowed to see God, to be honored with sharing the joy of salvation and eternal light with Christ your Lord and God, . . . to delight in the joy of immortality in the Kingdom of heaven with the righteous and God's friends." (St. Cyprian)
Today, as you begin your prayer time with your kids, teach them or remind them that we really believe this is true! What do they think about being able to see God face to face? What do they think it will be like? Far greater or more beautiful than the most beautiful sunset, or starry night, or anything that we've ever seen that takes our breath away!
Here's part of a Psalm you can pray with your kids today, to help them express a desire and longing to see God face to face:
One thing I ask of the Lord;
this I seek:
To dwell in the Lord’s house
all the days of my life,
To gaze on the Lord’s beauty,
to visit his temple.
“Come,” says my heart, “seek his face”;
your face, Lord, do I seek!
Do not hide your face from me;
I believe I shall see the Lord’s goodness
in the land of the living.
Psalm 27: 4,8,9,13
Welcome to the St. John the Evangelist’s Advent Podcast. Today is Episode 21, and I am Simeon!
Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, "Lord, now let your servant depart 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.” Luke 2:25-32
My name is Simeon and I am a simple Jewish man. What is that one thing in the world you have always wanted to see? There are so many amazing things! Soaring mountains, crystal clear tropical waters, exotic animals, ancient buildings that are thousands of years old… so, so many things.
While there are so many things one can see in this life, all I have wanted is to see God! I have wanted to see Him face to face! And guess what? Just the other day, I know that I saw Him. His name is Jesus which means ‘God saves.’ I even got to hold Jesus for He is just a little baby.
My Jewish ancestors and I have been waiting and waiting for the promised coming of God’s Holy One who will be a king and savior. We have desired to see this promised Savior more than anything else, even more than all the wonders of the world and the universe! Why? Because He will be God with us! Because God keeps His promises, I have believed that I shall see Him with my own eyes. And now that I have, there is nothing more that I want.
When we see the presence of God in our lives, there is nothing else that will satisfy us like Him. This Advent, learn from me: a relationship with Jesus is the one necessary thing we need; everything else will fall into place!
Dear Lord, one day we will see you face to face. What an amazing, joyful day that will be. But even now you make Yourself known to us. During this Advent season, help us prepare ourselves prayerfully so that our eyes and hearts may be open to seeing you in our lives, even now as we await that moment when we will see You, Lord, face to face in Heaven.
Thank you for listening to our podcast!
Tune in tomorrow for Episode 22 when we will hear from the cave where Jesus was born.
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