Listen "The righteous man and the prophetess"
Episode Synopsis
Luke 2:21–40. We’ve come to a particularly beautiful scene in Luke’s infancy narratives, though not without a degree of trepidation. Simeon is a remarkable character and I’ve often wondered whether he had witnessed the rather unusual events that had taken place at the temple just over a year earlier. He was here at the temple awaiting the fulfilment of the hope of all hopes: “the consolation of Israel.”Simeon’s involvement here is as one who represents “the best of expectant Israel” – a role he shares very shortly with Anna who was “to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.” His hymn, or song of praise, is particularly well known, though generally not within its context. The ‘Nunc Dimittis,’ as it is known, is one of the most beautiful hymns within the Scriptures.The inclusion of Anna, the elderly prophetess, is just one of many instances in Luke’s writings where the marginalised outcasts of society are favoured by God. We have already seen this in his choice of Mary, as the young woman through whom his Son will enter the world, and in his announcement to mere shepherds “keeping watch over their flock by night.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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