“Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, ‘This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed -- and a sword will pierce your own soul too.’” (Luke 2:34-35 NRSV)
Evidently Simeon was a very old man. We are told that within the Jewish community he was known as a man who was righteous and devout, and that the Holy Spirit rested upon him. We are also told that he was waiting for the consolation of Israel. This meant he was waiting for the vindication of Israel to her enemies by God's messiah or savior. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that rested upon him that he would not see death until that happened. The scripture we are looking at today contains what Simeon said to Mary after he had praised and thanked God for what he was privileged to see.
Many years ago a science fiction movie was made in which visitors from another civilization visited earth and left behind some strange little devices. As they were given into the hands of a wide variety of people the people were told that the devices represented life and death. When the first device was activated several thousand people died within the radius of hundreds of miles. As scientists clamored over the devices in order to study them a great controversy arose as word of the devices spread. Power hungry people and self-proclaimed saviors wanted control of the devices because they represented life or death. Soon the whole world knew of the devices, and panic began to spread as people feared power that might get out of control when unleashed. Finally one quiet individual understood what the aliens had really said. The visitors had spoken of the power of life and death and not life or death. Without asking anyone for permission that quiet person unleashed the power over the entire earth. Those who had compassion, caring, and love for others lived, and the rest did not.
That story is science fiction, but Simeon saw God's reality. Simeon saw not merely the consolation of Israel but the consolation of all humankind. Perhaps Simeon even realized that God's messiah was a redemptive and loving savior of life and death rather than a might warrior of life or death. Jesus, Simeon said, "...is destined for the falling and the rising of many...." What did Simeon see as he said that? We will never know. What did Simeon see when he said that Jesus was destined "...to be a sign that will be opposed...."? Again we will never know.
There are things that we do know. We know of the falling of the Roman Empire and of the rising of Christ's church. We know about the opposition to Jesus' ministry, and how that opposition climaxed in an open tomb instead of a cross. The church is a Christmas people because it is an Easter people. We are fascinated with the manger because of an empty tomb.
My novel, "Aliens Are God's Children Too," reflects on these realities by doing theology through storytelling.