will be for all the people. Today in the town
of David a Savior has been born to you; he is
Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You
will fi nd a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in
a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly
host appeared with the angel, praising God and
saying,
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth
peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
When the angels had left them and gone into
heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s
go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has hap-
pened, which the Lord has told us about.”
So they hurried off and found Mary and Jo-
seph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
When they had seen him, they spread the word
concerning what had been told them about this
child, and all who heard it were amazed at what
the shepherds said to them.
But Mary treasured up all these things and
pondered them in her heart. The shepherds re-
turned, glorifying and praising God for all the
things they had heard and seen, which were just
as they had been told.
Jesus Presented in the Temple
Luke 2:21-40
On the eighth day, when it was time to circum-
cise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel
had given him before he had been conceived.
When the time of their purifi cation according
to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph
and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him
to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the
Lord, “Every fi rstborn male is to be consecrated
to the Lord”), and to offer a sacrifi ce in keeping
with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair
of doves or two young pigeons.”
Now there was a man in Jerusalem called
Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was
waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the
Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed
to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die
before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple
courts. When the parents brought in the child Je-
sus to do for him what the custom of the Law re-
quired, Simeon took him in his arms and praised
God, saying:
“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you
now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes
have seen your salvation, which you have pre-
pared in the sight of all people, a light for revela-
tion to the Gentiles and for glory to your people
Israel.”
The child’s father and mother marveled at
what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed
them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is
destined to cause the falling and rising of many
in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken
against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will
be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own
soul too.”
There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daugh-
ter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very
old; she had lived with her husband seven years
after her marriage, and then was a widow until
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Senior
she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but
worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.
Coming up to them at that very moment, she
gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to
all who were looking forward to the redemption
of Jerusalem.
When Joseph and Mary had done everything
required by the Law of the Lord, they returned
to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. And
the child grew and became strong; he was fi lled
with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon
him.
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Connections December 2018
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