THE PRESENTATION IN THE TEMPLE
'My eyes have seen your salvation' (Lk 2, 30)
(From the Bible the work reference tracks produced by Mosaic School of Friuli and, in short, the comment / explanation of Paolo Orlando author of the artworks. Ph.: Ulderica Da Pozzo)
Lk 2, 22-38
When they made the days of 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 consecrated to the Lord - and to offer a sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, as required by the law of the Lord.
Now in Jerusalem there was a man named Simeon, just and devout man, who was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. The Holy Spirit had announced that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
He moved by the Spirit he came to the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do what the Law prescribed about him, he took him in his arms and blessed God, saying:
"Now you can leave, O Lord, which thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word,
For my eyes have seen your salvation,
you have prepared in the presence of all peoples:
light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel. "
The father and mother were amazed at what was said about him. Simeon blessed them and to Mary, his mother, said, "Behold, he is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and as a sign of contradiction - and you yourself a sword will pierce your soul - so that the thoughts may be revealed of many hearts. "
There was also a prophetess, Anna, daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. It was a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, was then widowed and now she was eighty years old.
She never left the temple but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. And coming up at that moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke of him to all who were looking for redemption in Jerusalem.
A holy man, whose name was Simeon, who lived in Jerusalem, had received the Holy Spirit insurance can not die without having first seen with his own eyes the expected Savior. He was already an old man, as he recognized, one day, in the midst of so many children that the parents brought in the Temple offered to the Lord.
Three lamps hanging from the ceiling indicate the sacred place, where even Joseph makes the offering of two doves, while Mary offers and, at the same time, receives the baby Jesus, as happens in the liturgical action. Simeon welcomes the Lord, bowing and with covered hands; the old prophetess Anna, who did not depart from the Temple, proclaiming the praises of God.
St. Simon, then, with the "Nunc dimittis" complete the third and final gospel song, which the Church indicates for daily prayer (along with the "Benedictus" in the morning and the "Magnificat" in the evening).