My name is Simeon. I’m an old Jew who is now at peace with himself and his maker. Today I saw our messiah: not just ours of course but everyone’s. I’m a simple soul who has lived in Jerusalem all my life. I’ve seen life as well: Romans trying to give the impression of not being an occupying army for instance. And our own rulers toadying up to them for power.

It’s a really cosmopolitan city is Jerusalem. The streets and markets are filled with traders from, oh, everywhere – lots of Greeks of course, Persians, Indians, Ethiopians, Arabians ………… There are so many voices and so much vigorous activity. And we Jews love all this for the most part; we are dab hands at trading ourselves of course; we know how to spin a coin and make it double. And its not just traders who pass along our streets and passageways, who dart in and out of alleys and side entrances.

There are bands of Jews who want to be free of Rome and all the imperial might stands for. They want to be free of the constriction of fear and the dead hand of the ruling elite. These folks, better not name their names just in case someone is listening, talk about rising up and taking back the nation; of starting again; of having a new exodus with a new Moses.

Of course they read into our prophet Jeremiah and talk of the Son of Righteousness, and Daniel and the coming prince. They get all worked up – “we were free under Maccabeus and we can be free again” they say. They are young, and when you are young anything is possible. Yet they can’t be completely wrong; I have felt for so long that I would actually see Messiah myself – not after I am dead or anything so spiritual, but before I die.

Hah, how can that be? I say; why would it be in my lifetime; why would he be manifest to me, me Simeon? But I can’t get rid of the feeling that somehow I shall see him in the flesh. Snap out of it Simeon, you’re day-dreaming again.
Have I told you about the temple? Oh, you have to see it. It’s been 14 years in the building and still the courts and wall apartments are not finished. The masons finished the inner part in 18 months but there is still so much to finish – yet you can see how grand it is even unfinished. Herod had 10,000 skilled workmen and 1,000 masons working on it at one time. And of course they all needed feeding and putting-up – so that brought in a lot of income to people like us.

Of course, to us it’s difficult to separate the temple from the city; they sort of merge together. The one grows out of the other. They say there are tombs in Egypt shaped like pyramids which are huge but I reckon the temple is bigger: and it’s not a place for the dead either! But it’s not a place for the living either really. The problem is I reckon it has no soul. There are courtyards and traders and money-changers and bird sellers and pickpockets – and noise and blood.

As you enter through the gateways you walk closer and nearer to the vast building which is the sanctuary.

As a Jew I can get quite close, and see the daily sacrifices being performed. Death and blood, blood and death and ceremony. A lot of ceremony. But not a lot of life.
Our rabbis talk a lot. Well yes, they do talk a lot. They talk a lot about Shechinah. Have you heard that word? Its not one that actually appears in our sacred texts but it describes what is missing here. They say the Shechinah was the glory of God and it appeared as the cloud and fire as our long dead ancestors journeyed across the wilderness on their way to this land. And then it came and stayed in the temple built by Solomon. The glory of God actually present in the holy of holies. Now that was life if you ask me.

Of course, it was too good to last and we saw God not as our life but as a thing to be used when we wanted it to help us in war or whatever. We lost our relationship and turned to our own independent ways. Actually, we so lost the plot that we don’t actually know when this Shechinah left although our prophet Ezekiel gives us a graphic picture of the going. What’s the good of a special people, a special temple, if there is no life, no love, no relationship?

The rabbis also speak of this Shechinah as a dwelling place of royalty, royalty itself in fact; they say it brings joy and enables prophecy and praise. Some of that would be good round here – most of the priests are just in it for the money and power – heaven forbid we should have joy.

There was an odd story going around from some peasants about strange lights in the sky, angels and light. You think and hope and wish: but that can’t be the Shechinah – the Glory lives in the temple. Am I going on? Well what if I am. I haven’t told you the best bit yet.

So I got up today, slowly – the bones are very achy. My daughter, may heaven bless her, made me a little breakfast and told me to get off to the temple. Well, I nearly didn’t go – not if I was being told to; but I did. It takes me a while to get there. The paths are uphill all the way and there is always such a throng to get through. The sun was hot on my face and arms and I had to squint. And squinting hurts.
I made it to the court of the women and greeted Anna. I’ve got a thing for her you know – she’s been a widow so long but I never did ask her. I said I was simple – stupid more like.

The sun beat on any bare bits of pavement and glared at me – I got into the shade of a wall and re-focused my eyes. Dust and noise, everyday life; exciting but dead. There was a young couple (they’re all young to me) she was obviously here for her ritual purification – they had bought a couple of doves and I saw them trying to work out quite what to do; it was all so strange to them of course. As a kindness I offered to guide them and then I saw the child.

Sometimes you see something but don’t see it. Do you know what I mean?
I held the baby and stood beside them as they gave the priest the doves; then I gave him back again. Then I knew. I don’t know how I knew, but I knew. My heart leapt within me and praise gushed out. I has seen the Messiah! I had seen the Shechinah come back to the temple; I had seen The Light. I was in a place of profound peace and the baby was smiling. I looked at the couple and blurted out:

LORD, now I can die in peace
As you promised me
I have seen the saviour you have given to all people.
He is a light to reveal God to the nations
And he is the glory of your people Israel.

Where did that come from? Was that what the Shechinah does for you? I was looking at his mother, and she was looking at me, questioning and thoughtful. I offered them the blessing of an old man, just and full of faith and then I said something I really wished I hadn’t said. I’ve forgotten what I said but I know it implied that the child would be rejected by some but be a joy to others; and his mother would suffer also. But how could that be if this was messiah?

Did I remember that Isaiah said something about your servant suffering? How could we reject the one we longed for so much? Another question for another day.
And then along comes Anna as I am talking with them. She saw him too; I mean really saw him. And boy did she let everyone know! And she gave me a kiss. What a day, what a wonderful day. I’m rather tired and must go to bed now. Shalom.

Prayer

Father, thank you for Simeon and Anna.
Thank you for their simple trust,
And determination to trust you in the face of improbabilities.
Shall we too be people who experience the extraordinary in the ordinary times of life
As we place our ordinary faith in an extraordinary God.

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