Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/456

 There was  also  in  Jerusalem  a prophetess  named  Anna — a woman  far  advanced  in  years,  who  departed  not  from  the  Temple — by prayer  and  fasting  serving  the  Lord  night  and  day. She also coming  in,  and  seeing  the  Child,  gave  praise  to  the  Lord, and spoke  of  Him  to  all  who  were  looking  for  the  Redemption of Israel. And when  these  things  were  accomplished  in  obedience to the  law  of  God,  Mary  and  Joseph,  with  the  Divine  Babe,  returned to  Galilee,  to  their  own  city  of  Nazareth,  and  dwelt  there in peace.

The Faithfulness  of  God.  By  the  Presentation  of  Jesus  in  the Temple, the  prophecy  of  Aggeus  (Old  Test.  LXXX)  was  fulfilled.

Jesus is  the  Messias. The  Holy  Ghost  revealed  Him  as  such  to Simeon,  who,  full  of  joy,  greeted  Him  as  the  Saviour  of  all  men,  and the Light  of  revelation  to  the  Gentiles.

Jesus is  God.  Anna,  by  the  inspiration  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  testified to this,  when  she  extolled  the  Child  as  “the  Lord”,  and  joyfully  announced that in  this  Child  God  had  revealed  Himself  as  the  Redeemer.

Faith is  a gift  of  God.  It  was  only  by  the  help  of  the  Holy  Ghost that Simeon  and  Anna  were  enabled  to  recognise  in  the  Child  Jesus the Divine  Saviour  of  the  whole  world,  of  Gentiles  as  well  as  Jews.

Good works.  Simeon  and  Anna  obtained  the  great  grace  of  faith in our  Lord’s  Divinity  by  a faithful  observance  of  the  law,  by  fasting and prayer,  and  a great  inward  desire  for  His  coming.

Belief in  Jesus  Christ  drives  away  all  fear  of  death.  Simeon  now rejoiced at  the  prospect  of  death. Such a sensation  was  hitherto  unknown in  Israel. “Pious Israelites  closed  their  eyes  in  death,  weary  of life  and  submissive  to  God’s  will;  not  altogether  hopeless,  but  full  of horror  of  the  future. Death was  a thing  to  be  feared,  and  each  new day of  life  which  was  granted  was  looked  on  as  a gain”  (Grimm). But